After nearly five years, on Saturday, Nate Diaz finally received his comeuppance against Jorge Masvidal in a professional boxing ring.
In a 10-round fight that was the main attraction of a pay-per-view event at Honda Center in Anaheim, California, Diaz defeated Masvidal by majority decision. Diaz prevailed in the match, which featured competitive, back-and-forth action, according to the scores of 98-92 and 97-93 from two of the three judges. At 95-95, a third gave it an even draw.
With this win, Diaz exacted revenge for his third-round TKO loss to Masvidal in their UFC debut BMF title match in November 2019. When a doctor determined that Diaz couldn’t continue because of a cut, Masvidal prevailed; Diaz disagreed. Following his victory on Saturday, Diaz demanded two more rematches with Jake Paul, the UFC champion, and the man who had defeated him in boxing the previous year.
“I’m going to beat Jake Paul’s f—ing ass and I’m down to fight the highest-ranked boxer I can find,” Diaz stated. “My main objective is to be the best fighter in the world, so I want to go back and get a UFC title. [UFC welterweight champion] Leon Edwards, Jake Paul and anybody the f— else, you’re dead.”
Masvidal, 39, stated he didn’t agree with the scorecards and demanded a third fight versus Diaz. Masvidal retired from mixed martial arts in April, but he has already made suggestions about a potential return.
Masvidal declared, “I thought I won.” “I thought I hit the harder shots. We can do it again, we’re 1-1. We’ll find a place and do it again.”
Throughout the 175-pound battle, Diaz just outclassed Masvidal in volume. It was a vintage Diaz effort. Although Masvidal seemed to hit the stronger shots, Diaz’s infamous chin held up admirably, and he used his pace as a weapon the entire evening. He would occasionally laugh and turn away from Masvidal, and they would trade blows until the last bell rang.
Co-promoted by Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing and Diaz’s Real Fight Inc., the event aired on DAZN. Other well-known figures from the world of combat sports were present as well, like as Anthony Pettis, the former UFC champion who was defeated by Diaz’s longtime partner Chris Avila.