Fan-favorite UFC star and boxer Nate Diaz is suing digital company FanMio and its CEO for not paying him a large portion of his fight money after a recent boxing bout.
Diaz defeat Fellow MMA star Jorge Masvidal turned boxer late on the night of July 6, 2024. The fighter appeared to have made a great effort to draw attention to the bout, with Diaz holding more press conferences and promoting it on social media than usual.
With the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, sold out, it may have become clear why Diaz spent so much time promoting the fight.
A new lawsuit filed by Diaz and his lawyers alleges that Diaz is still owed $9 million in fight fees because Juan Mio and CEO Solomon Engel failed to pay most of the money.
Journalist Ariel Helwani revealed the lawsuit on his show “The MMA Hour” after receiving legal papers from Diaz’s manager, Zach Rosenfield. Read the introduction He said he broadcast the complaint, filed in the Southern District of Florida, live and explained the details of the lawsuit.
“This case concerns the apparent fraud perpetrated by Defendant Juanmio and its president and owner Solomon Engel against renowned mixed martial artist and boxer Nathan Diaz,” Helwani began.
He added that “Mr Diaz and his agents had doubts about whether Fanmio and its agents had sufficient funds to pay Mr Diaz, but were ‘repeatedly’ assured that the company had the ‘financial resources’ to pay Mr Diaz and that payment was guaranteed.”
The lawsuit said $1 million was paid up front and $9 million was to be paid after the fight.
“Fanmio and Engel have now reneged on their promises,” the lawsuit continues, with the company allegedly making “multiple frantic phone calls” to Diaz’s representatives to make excuses for why it couldn’t make the payment.
Diaz’s attorneys alleged that Engel told Diaz that if he paid him the full amount, the event would result in a larger-than-expected loss and that his wife might seek divorce over further financial losses.
He also allegedly argued that if he paid Diaz in full, he might have to file for bankruptcy.
Fanmio’s CEO issued a statement calling Diaz’s lawsuit “baseless.”
“Nate Diaz has filed a baseless lawsuit against Juanmio alleging fraud and breach of contract committed by Juanmio, neither of which have occurred. In fact, Diaz has already received seven-figure amounts in connection with this fight.”
Engel went on to argue that the comments made about him rose to the level of defamation.
“The obscene and defamatory statements made to the media to harm me and my family have only strengthened my resolve to ensure that the truth prevails.”
Solomon also said he looked forward to “resolving this dispute through due process” and was “confident that justice will prevail.”
Diaz’s manager said the player would not comment publicly about the lawsuit.
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