In 2019, Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal met within the UFC Octagon for the primary combat for the ceremonial “BMF” title. On Saturday, the pair meet once more, although this time in a boxing match on the Honda Middle in Anaheim, California.
It is a unusual combat, to make certain, with two males who made their bones as fan favorites within the cage deciding to satisfy within the boxing ring now that neither are underneath UFC contract. That is the second time each males have boxed professionally, with Masvidal getting a win in 2005 and Diaz struggling a 2023 determination loss to Jake Paul.
Diaz and Masvidal have appeared disinterested in selling the combat throughout a multi-city media tour, with Diaz being particularly immune to speaking up the combat. That lack of hype modified a bit when the 2 groups engaged in a brawl at a June 6 press convention after Diaz tried to stroll out early.
Masvidal’s boxing coach Jorge Capetillo was attacked in the course of the state of affairs, which has left Masvidal steaming.
“My coach is in his mid-40s and is not an expert fighter, getting attacked by an expert fighter and one different man and being on the bottom and getting kicked and punched, to me, you guys are cowards,” Masvidal informed CBS Sports activities’ Shakiel Mahjouri. “It is f—ing coward shit.
“That is the individual you got down to assault? Two of you f—ing Nate Diaz’s gimps. It simply reveals what sort of character that they and Nate are as a result of Nate began that complete shit. There was no pushing or shoving. His guys f—ing instantly tried to do his soiled work and he took off. He did not even come again and experience for his folks. It reveals what a coward of a common he’s. He had all his gimps there and he could not even present face for his gimps. He is most likely hoping I might get damage, my fingers, punching considered one of these f—ing morons.”
Masvidal thrashed Diaz of their UFC assembly, scoring a TKO through physician’s stoppage after the third spherical. These outcomes will not instantly translate to boxing and its completely different ruleset however they may play into the psychological video games within the ring.
“I simply really feel like over time, I am getting sharper. I am all the time working and bettering,” Diaz mentioned on the last press convention. “I’ll do what I all the time do. I am right here for the enjoyable and I am right here for the enterprise. I am right here to get the job performed.”
The undercard additionally includes a combined bag of inventive matchmaking and veterans seeking to make a reputation for themselves. Former middleweight titleholder Danny Jacobs is again in an intriguing tremendous middleweight contest in opposition to Shane Mosley Jr. Jacobs has simply two fights within the final 4 years, a win over Gabriel Rosado by cut up determination in 202 and a loss by cut up determination to John Ryder in 2022. Elsewhere on the cardboard, former UFC light-weight champion Anthony Pettis continues his crossover into boxing when he takes on one other former MMA fighter turned boxer Chris Avila. Pettis scored a majority determination win over a 54-year-old Roy Jones Jr. final yr to kickstart his boxing profession.
“That is about legacy. I’ve by no means ducked anybody, and it is a prime instance of that. He is a terrific fighter, however I am trying ahead to displaying simply how nice I’m. I can not wait to place all of it collectively,” Jacobs mentioned on the last press convention. “I am excited to be again. I am soaking all of it in. I am a fan of this sport so seeing these followers yesterday who had been excited to see us carry out provides me motivation.”
Let’s take a better have a look at the remainder of the combat card with the newest odds earlier than attending to a prediction and choose on the principle occasion.
Diaz vs. Masvidal combat card, odds
- Jorge Masvidal -225 vs. Nate Diaz +210, mild heavyweights
- Daniel Jacobs vs. Shane Mosley Jr., tremendous middleweights
- Amado Vargas vs. Sean Garcia, lightweights
- Chris Avila vs. Anthony Pettis, mild heavyweights
- Devin Cushing vs. Manuel Correa, lightweights
- Alan Sanchez vs. Luis Lopez, welterweights
- Kenneth Lopez vs. Andres Martinez, tremendous middleweights
- Curmel Moton vs. Nikolai Buzolin, lightweights
- Jose Aguayo vs. Bryce Logan, welterweights
- Steven Dunn vs. Gabriel Aguilar Costa, heavyweights
- Luciano Ramos vs. Dan Hernandez, junior welterweights
Viewing info
- Date: July 6 | Location: Honda Middle — Anaheim, California
- Begin time: 9 p.m. ET
- The way to watch: DAZN PPV, PPV.com | Value: $49.99
Prediction
In most methods, it is anybody’s guess how a combat that includes two MMA fighters will play out within the boxing ring. Probably the most direct info now we have on the boxing talents of both man come from Diaz’s loss to Paul. Paul clearly gained the combat and dropped Diaz within the fifth spherical, however Diaz tried to make use of his trademark strain and cardio strategy to throw Paul off his recreation.
Diaz, by no means recognized in MMA for sheer energy, did not seem to have loads of sting on his punches in larger boxing gloves. This may very well be to Masvidal’s benefit because the extra highly effective puncher. Masvidal additionally got here to MMA via a streetfighting background and is comfy buying and selling fingers.
Whereas something may occur, Masvidal is a favourite for a motive and needs to be a bit tighter in his recreation to edge out a win on the playing cards. Choose: Jorge Masvidal through UD
