The Nate Diaz-Jorge Masvidal boxing match Saturday ended up delivering much more than the Nate Diaz-Jorge Masvidal UFC match. Together with a unique end result.
Diaz defeated Masvidal by majority resolution (95-95, 97-93, 98-92), avenging his TKO loss within the Octagon at UFC 244.
Given the doubtful histories of MMA fighters-turned-boxers, we are able to at the least say the battle was entertaining. Diaz opened the primary spherical with a flurry of blows, with a few of them connecting, whereas Masvidal was extra affected person and often landed punishing mixtures and counter photographs.
Diaz confirmed off each his chin, consuming energy punch after energy punch from Masvidal, and his showmanship. He smiled, he danced a pair occasions, he even walked away from Masvidal mid-round at one level drawing large cheers from the sold-out Honda Heart in Anaheim, California.
Maybe most spectacular was Diaz’s cardio, with 740 whole punches thrown throughout 10 rounds. Masvidal, nonetheless, outlanded him in each whole punches (182) and energy punches (152). Followers needed to wait till previous 10 p.m. native time on the Honda Heart in Anaheim for the 2 to stroll out, however they positively appeared to get their cash’s value.
The judges ended up rewarding Diaz’s method.
Diaz did not appear desirous about a trilogy after the match, proposing a unique plan as an alternative: “I will beat Jake Paul’s f***ing ass.” He later talked about UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards and any extremely ranked boxer as different potential opponents.
In the meantime Masvidal disputed the choice and referred to as for a rematch, needing to be restrained within the ring after the interview.
“I believed I received. I had the tougher photographs,” Masvidal stated.
Diaz’s win was a victory for his former rival Conor McGregor as properly. The previous UFC featherweight and light-weight champion stated he wager half 1,000,000 {dollars} on the Stockton native to maintain enterprise.
I’ve determined to place $500,000 on Diaz to win tonight’s boxing match. Vary, kind, expertise, solely fingers getting used, I can’t see Masvidal inflicting any issues to Nate in a boxing ring by any means. They’re each little mess around dipshits in a battle, mess around bollox, however I…
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 6, 2024
The bout was a rematch from each fighters’ days within the UFC, when the 2 confronted off for the inaugural “BMF” belt. Diaz referred to as out Masvidal particularly after defeating Anthony Pettis at UFC 241, resulting in a UFC 244 conflict that noticed Masvidal defeat Diaz by way of TKO. It was an anticlimactic ending, with a health care provider stopping the battle on account of a lower over Diaz’s eye.
It was the ultimate win of Masvidal’s MMA profession.
Each fighters entered this match after a prolonged UFC profession that did not precisely finish with both on the prime of their sport. Masvidal, well-known because the proprietor of the quickest knockout in UFC historical past, misplaced his ultimate 4 fights with the promotion, whereas Diaz was a sporadic presence at finest after his rematch with Conor McGregor.
They each nonetheless possessed appreciable cachet in MMA circles although, particularly of their respective house states of California and Florida. A boxing match was a pure step for every to take, although Diaz obtained began earlier together with his profitable loss to Jake Paul.
Regardless of their related profession arcs, there was no love misplaced within the run-up to Saturday’s bout. A brawl broke out at a information convention final month, whereas Diaz continued to indicate his trademark contempt for seemingly all proceedings that did not immediately contain him getting into the ring.