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Former UFC rivals Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal will rekindle their rivalry in a boxing ring. The 2 former MMA stars will check their boxing expertise towards each other on a pay-per-view card Saturday evening from the Honda Middle in Anaheim, California.
Diaz and Masvidal have been two of the largest attracts for the UFC throughout their time with the group. Now, they may see if that drawing energy can switch over to boxing as they anchors a pay-per-view that additionally features a tremendous middleweight bout between Daniel Jacobs and Shane Mosley Jr.
Diaz and Masvidal’s paths collided after they met at UFC 244. Masvidal beat Diaz with a third-round physician stoppage TKO to win the promotional “BMF” belt in 2019.
This is a have a look at all the cardboard info you may have to catch the battle in addition to a preview and prediction.
When: Saturday, July 6 at 9 p.m. ET
The place: Honda Middle, Anaheim, California
Odds: Masvidal -275 (wager $275 to win $100); Diaz +210 (wager $100 to win $210)
Whereas each males have been identified for his or her hanging of their MMA heydays, there is not a lot boxing expertise between the 2 of them.
Each have only one skilled boxing match on their ledger. Masvidal earned a four-round majority resolution win over Joseph Benjamin again in 2005. Diaz misplaced his solely official bout with a 10-round unanimous resolution loss to Jake Paul in 2023.
There’s clearly nothing to glean from Masvidal’s one battle. It was almost 20 years in the past and Masvidal has come a great distance as a combined martial artist in that point. It could be protected to imagine that he is a a lot better boxer at this level.
In any case, his boxing debut wasn’t that far faraway from his days as a avenue fighter.
We’re additionally nicely previous his prime at this level. Masvidal walked away from the UFC on the heels of a four-fight dropping streak, together with a unanimous resolution loss to Gilbert Burns in April 2023.
Diaz, then again, was not less than 2-3 over his closing 5 fights with the UFC. He beat Tony Ferguson with a fourth-round submission victory earlier than hitting free company and placing on the boxing gloves with Jake Paul.
He did not look all that nice in that bout. Paul dropped him in Spherical 5 en path to a convincing resolution loss.
There’s all the time some guesswork in simply how an MMA fighter’s hanging recreation will translate within the ring. The dynamics of a boxing battle and the lack to throw another strikes modifications the sport sufficient.
Nevertheless, we have seen Diaz field not too long ago. He was praised for his unorthodox boxing fashion as an MMA fighter, however he was pretty sloppy within the loss to Paul.
We do additionally know that he is an extremely robust fighter to really knockdown and even knockout.
Assuming Masvidal can use his measurement and energy to bully Diaz a bit and defend himself towards Diaz’s energy punches, he ought to be capable of win it on the playing cards.
Prediction: Masvidal by way of resolution