Tomorrow night, two MMA legends will have their rematch inside the boxing ring. About four and a half years after the inaugural BMF title fight which went down at MSG, Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal (35-16 MMA) and Nate Diaz (21-13 MMA) will run it back in the squared circle.
In April of last year, Masvidal made the walk for the final time in the UFC against Gilbert Burns. The fight went down in his home of Miami and Masvidal lost a decision. He just looked like he had lost a step and talked about that after the fight. He felt his reflexes really weren’t what they used to and said he’d walk away. From there, he turned his attention to Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA and being a promoter.
However, Masvidal started getting that itch to come back and compete earlier this year. There’s always been a sense of unfinished business with him and Nate Diaz. The parties started talking and a boxing match was booked where they will hopefully settle things once and for all.
In their first fight at MSG, Nate Diaz was getting beaten up early on and sustained a really bad cut. However, in the middle rounds, Diaz started to build some momentum as Masvidal was starting to get a little tired. Before the fourth round could start, the fight was waved off due a cut over the eye of Diaz. Fans were furious and the BMF title went to Masvidal.
Since then, Diaz fought twice in the UFC including against current champ Leon Edwards. He moved to boxing last August and took on Jake Paul. Diaz had his moments, but he was also dropped in the matchup and lost a decision.
Boxing Prediction
When it comes to this matchup, I think a lot is going to come down to the cardio of Jorge Masvidal. I fully expect Masvidal to land bigger shots early on and that will likely get him the first few rounds. Diaz is going to start picking things up in the middle rounds and I bet he’s focused on the fact that this is a ten-round boxing match.
If Masvidal starts to fade in the middle rounds, I think he’s going to be in big trouble. That said, Diaz can’t do what he did against Jake Paul. Diaz tried to use this same strategy, but he wasn’t aggressive enough in the later rounds. If he has Masvidal on the ropes and Masvidal is tired, he cannot clown too much. He has to put his foot on the gas and score points.
Considering how the first fight went, I don’t think Diaz will make that mistake. After a hot start for Masvidal in this boxing matchup, I expect Diaz to take over around the fifth round and win a close decision in the end.
Prediction: Nate Diaz by Decision