Nate Diaz takes revenge on Jorge Masvidal with boxing victory

It took nearly five years, but Nate Diaz finally got revenge on Jorge Masvidal in a professional boxing ring on Saturday.

Diaz defeated Masvidal by majority decision in their 10-round match, which headlined a pay-per-view event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Two of the three judges who judged the competitive, back-and-forth bout scored it for Diaz via scores of 98-92 and 97-93. A third ruled it a draw at 95-95.

The win avenged Diaz’s third-round TKO loss to Masvidal in November 2019, when the two met in the UFC’s first BMF title fight. Masvidal won after a doctor ruled Diaz unable to continue due to a cut; Diaz disagreed. Following Saturday’s victory, Diaz called for two more rematches with Jake Paul, who defeated him in boxing last year, and UFC champion Leon Edwards.

“I’m going to beat Jake Paul’s f—ing ass and I’m willing to fight the highest ranked fighter I can find,” Diaz said. “My main goal 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 everybody else, you’re dead.”

Masvidal, 39, who retired from MMA in April but had hinted at a possible comeback, said he disagreed with the scorecards and called for a third fight against Diaz.

“I thought I won,” Masvidal said. “I thought I hit the harder shots. We can do it again, we’re 1-1. We’ll find a spot and do it again.”

It was a classic Diaz performance as he simply overwhelmed Masvidal with sheer volume throughout the 175-pound contest. Masvidal seemed to be landing the harder punches, but Diaz’s notorious chin held up beautifully and his pace was a weapon for him all night. At times he’d smile and turn his back on Masvidal, and the two kept trading punches until the final bell.

The event aired on DAZN and was co-promoted by Diaz’s Real Fight Inc. and Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing. It also featured other notable names from the fight world, including former UFC champion Anthony Pettis, who lost to Diaz’s longtime teammate Chris Avila.