Nate Diaz, Jorge Masvidal ditch MMA for rematch in boxing June 1،
A rematch of a renowned UFC headliner will take place in boxing.
Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal will face off again June 1 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif., in a boxing match, officials told ESPN on Wednesday. The two fought in MMA in the main event of UFC 244 on November 2, 2019 at Madison Square Garden, for the legendary BMF title. Masvidal won this fight via TKO (doctor's stoppage).
Diaz vs. Masvidal is under contract for 10 rounds at 175 pounds.
The event, distributed by Fanmio, will be dubbed “Last Man Standing.” A multi-city promotional tour is being planned.
Diaz and Masvidal, two of the UFC's biggest stars of that era, have since left the promotion, Diaz as a free agent and Masvidal via retirement. The UFC has approved Masvidal to make this fight, as he is still under contract. Diaz and Masvidal have been involved in three of the top 10 UFC pay-per-view events of all time.
Diaz made his professional boxing debut last August in a decision loss to YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul. Diaz entered this fight with an arm injury.
This will be Masvidal's return to competition after retiring in April 2023 following a UFC loss to Gilbert Burns.
Masvidal defeated Diaz in the fourth round at UFC 244 when the ringside doctor stopped the fight due to Diaz being cut. This is momentum for the rematch. There is unfinished business; Masvidal wants to remove all doubt, while Diaz wants revenge.
“Nate is a dead man walking,” Masvidal said in a statement. “I can't wait to prove that last time it wasn't a fluke. He was saved by the referee. Now we're boxing, which he says is his strong point, but he didn't no chance of fighting. I'm not going to give in. give him an inch in this ring to even breathe. If he thought our MMA match was bad, it would be much worse. I'm going to drown him. I want to put everything aside talk that he and I are the same, or that the referee saved the day. All this talk ends on June 1. Violence and hand-wringing are in both of our bloods, but as I have proven before, I am a far superior athlete and I am a worse fighter. When June 1st comes, I will end all unanswered questions, I will live for the world to see.
Fanmio has already distributed major combat sports events, including Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul in 2021.
“When we began our boxing journey, we wanted to bring together only the most entertaining fights that could help transcend the world of combat sports,” Solomon Engel, CEO of Fanmio, said in a statement. “Being able to stage the Diaz vs. Masvidal rematch in the boxing ring is consistent with that vision. These guys are the original, authentic BMF, they have continually sold out arenas and sold millions of pay-per-views views. June 1 gives everyone the opportunity to write a new chapter in their rich history, settle scores and show the world who will be the last man standing.”
