ANAHEIM, Calif. – Whereas Nate Diaz and his crew blared a Bay Space rap traditional, Dru Down’s “Pimp of the Yr,” subsequent door in celebration of a victory, a somber Jorge Masvidal stepped to the rostrum within the bowels of Honda Heart.
Backside line: He thought he received.
Sadly for Masvidal, two of three judges disagreed and awarded Diaz the victory by majority determination (95-95, 97-93, 98-92) in an exhilarating boxing match Saturday evening earlier than an introduced crowd of 18,040 followers – nearly all of them on Workforce Diaz.
“I positively know the judges have been influenced by the gang,” Masvidal advised reporters, together with MMA Junkie, within the post-fight information convention. “Lots of these photographs have been touchdown within the nook. I used to be simply getting my timing down – throw three, 4 photographs that wouldn’t land, after which I’d throw a superb energy shot. I’d see that I harm him or again him up, or he’d begin goofing round. I harm him to the physique quite a few occasions. I believe one of many judges solely gave me two rounds, and there’s simply no manner.”
The story of the combat over 10 rounds was quantity vs. energy. Whereas Diaz threw punches in bunches, Masvidal landed the largest photographs. Nonetheless, he in the end fell quick.
“From what I noticed, I positively harm him far more than he ever harm me,” Masvidal mentioned. “I received manner cleaner photographs, particularly to the physique. He by no means even did something to my physique. I positively harm his physique. A pair occasions I harm him, he backed up. He put plenty of stress and was coming ahead, however he by no means harm me. I don’t assume he landed any significant punches. Eight (rounds) to 2 is f*cking nuts.”
Jorge Masvidal punches Nate Diaz of their boxing match at Honda Heart. (Esther Lin/Fanmio)
For Diaz, the end result was a measure of revenge after dropping the inaugural BMF title combat to Masvidal in November 2019 at UFC 244. That combat, although, ended with the physician stopping it within the third spherical due to a reduce underneath Diaz’s eye. With their boxing match ending by majority determination quite than reaching a extra decisive finish, there may very well be motive for a trilogy.
If Masvidal had his manner, he and Diaz would run it again in boxing.
“Positively boxing. I suppose name me a sore loser, however I’d need to do boxing,” Masvidal mentioned. “And if he needed to do MMA after that, we might do it. However positively I need to do boxing over every part. Do it once more.”
Masvidal, who got here out of retirement after 15 months to rematch Diaz, mentioned he’s nonetheless underneath contract with the UFC for 2 fights and likewise has two fights left on a take care of Fanmio, which promoted the Diaz rematch. And he’s desperate to combat once more – whether or not it’s towards Diaz or not.
“I like to compete, and now I’ve simply received to search for the following one,” Masvidal mentioned. “I’m a canine, I’m a subject canine, I don’t like being in no cage or no kennel, so I’m simply gonna get proper again to work, get my ass in form, and let’s go.”
For extra on the combat, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for Diaz vs. Masvidal 2.
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