Diaz suing Fanmio over unpaid $9M boxing purse

Mixed martial artist Nate Diaz is filing a lawsuit against Fanmio, claiming the company still owes him $9 million from his contracted payout after his boxing match with Jorge Masvidal.

Fanmio served as the promoter of the bout between the former UFC veterans. The lawsuit was filed on Monday in the U.S. District Court, Southern Court of Florida against the promotion and its owner, Solomon Engel, according to a copy of the 17-page document obtained by MMA Fighting's Damon Martin.

Diaz initially agreed to terms on a contract that would pay him a total of $10 million, with $1 million paid upfront and the remaining $9-million payment expected to be made following the bout on July 6.

The lawsuit claims that Engel and Fanmio are reneging on paying Diaz what he's owed because they're going to lose money on the event. Engel reportedly contacted Diaz's representatives numerous times to plead with them about the money that was owed, sharing that he was concerned that his wife might divorce him if he paid Diaz and threatening to declare for bankruptcy in the suit.

Engel called the lawsuit "frivolous" and denied that the company engaged in any fraud or breach of contract in a statement obtained by MMA Junkie's Nolan King.

"Diaz has already been paid seven figures in connection with the fight," Engel wrote. "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."

The 39-year-old Diaz defeated Masvidal by a majority decision at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California in front of a sellout crowd. It marked a rematch for the two fighters after they had previously fought in a mixed martial arts match at UFC 244 in 2019. Masvidal walked away from the first meeting with the inaugural BMF title due to a doctor's stoppage that came after Diaz sustained a cut in the third round.