In 2019, Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal met within the UFC Octagon for the primary battle 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 battle, to make sure, with two males who made their bones as fan favorites within the cage deciding to satisfy within the boxing ring now that neither are beneath 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 battle throughout a multi-city media tour, with Diaz being particularly proof against speaking up the battle. 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 scenario, which has left Masvidal steaming.
“My coach is in his mid-40s and is not knowledgeable fighter, getting attacked by knowledgeable fighter and one different man and being on the bottom and getting kicked and punched, to me, you guys are cowards,” Masvidal advised 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 entire 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 individuals. It reveals what a coward of a basic he’s. He had all his gimps there and he could not even present face for his gimps. He is most likely hoping I would get harm, my arms, punching one in every 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 straight translate to boxing and its totally different ruleset however they may play into the psychological video games within the ring.
Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at the remainder of the battle card with the most recent odds earlier than attending to a prediction and choose on the principle occasion.
Diaz vs. Masvidal battle 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 best way to watch: DAZN PPV, PPV.com | Value: $49.99
Prediction
In most methods, it is anybody’s guess how a battle that includes two MMA fighters will play out within the boxing ring. Essentially the most direct info now we have on the boxing skills of both man come from Diaz’s loss to Paul. Paul clearly received the battle and dropped Diaz within the fifth spherical, however Diaz tried to make use of his trademark strain and cardio method to throw Paul off his sport.
Diaz, by no means identified in MMA for sheer energy, did not seem to have quite a lot of sting on his punches in larger boxing gloves. This might be to Masvidal’s benefit because the extra highly effective puncher. Masvidal additionally got here to MMA by a streetfighting background and is snug buying and selling arms.
Whereas something might occur, Masvidal is a favourite for a purpose and must be a bit tighter in his sport to edge out a win on the playing cards. Choose: Jorge Masvidal through UD