Nate Diaz has a new adversary, but in the courtroom and not a ring, and he has promised “justice will prevail.”
Diaz on Monday filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Miami claiming Fanmio CEO and founder Solomon Engel went back on an agreement to pay him $10 million for his boxing match against Jorge Masvidal earlier this month.
Diaz said he was paid only $1 million, and according to the suit Engel told him he couldn’t pay the full $10 million because the fight did not meet financial expectations. Additionally, Engel told Diaz he was going back on their verbal and written agreements because “his wife might divorce him over the financial loss.”
Hours after Diaz filed the suit, Engel released a statement disputing Diaz’s claims.
“Nate Diaz has filed a frivolous lawsuit against Fanmio which claims that fraud and breach of contract were committed by Fanmio, yet neither has taken place,” the statement reads. “In fact, Diaz has already been paid seven figures in connection with the fight. I look forward to resolving this dispute through the appropriate process and am confident that justice will prevail. Making salacious and defamatory statements to the media in order to harm my family and I has only strengthened my resolve to ensure that the truth will triumph.”
Engel’s statement mentions a seven-figure payday, which jibes with Diaz’s claim he was paid $1 million. But the statement does not mention Diaz’s claim of $10 million, per the lawsuit.
Fanmio’s first foray into combat sports was the Diaz-Masvidal boxing match that took place July 6 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Diaz won by majority decision. His lawsuit against Fanmio alleges fraud and breach of contract for failure to pay the full amount.
