Jorge Masvidal has some issues with Nate Diaz.
On June 1, Masvidal and Diaz face off in a 10-round boxing match on the Kia Discussion board in Los Angeles. The bout was rumored for a while however solely got here collectively formally in March, and in line with Masvidal, a variety of that was resulting from problem in negotiating with Diaz.
“At one level, as a result of Vegas was booked out, a variety of locations have been booked out, New York was a powerful risk and he was like, ‘I received’t struggle if it’s in New York. I received’t struggle.’ I used to be like, what the f***?” Masvidal stated Monday on The MMA Hour. “What’s the meat? That is boxing. That was in MMA [where] you bought your ass whooped. However I get it. Alright.
“Then one other diva second, he stated he additionally wouldn’t struggle if the struggle’s in Miami. ‘I’m not combating if it’s in Miami.’ OK, cool. ‘Effectively, final time I had a foul expertise with my boxing match in Texas, so I’m not combating in Texas.’ What the f***?! To ebook a venue of that magnitude, it’s not like it could occur in per week or a weekend. It occurs months prematurely. … So all these issues and it’s like, dude, I’m simply attempting to f****** struggle. What are you attempting to do? It might have been in April in a special place, however this dude wasn’t attempting to do it, in order that simply felt very diva-ish.”
These aren’t the one points Masvidal has with Diaz, although.
The 2 initially fought one another for the inaugural “BMF” title struggle at UFC 244 in 2019, and Masvidal received by physician stoppage on the finish of the third spherical. However regardless of his victory, Masvidal says Diaz is demanding A-side therapy from the promotion.
“Then different issues that hold dropping within the press which might be all on the contract aspect,” Masvidal defined. “Like, it’s ‘Nate Diaz-Masvidal.’ Effectively, I rattling almost killed you, so which means I’m imagined to get these little privileges. It’s imagined to say Masvidal [first]. However as an alternative of attempting to barter, he’s like, ‘I’m not combating if it’s not like that.’ So the promoter is getting again to me, telling me, ‘There’s no budging there. He’s simply not going to struggle. He says he’ll simply transfer on and go struggle any individual else.’ Bro, do you wish to struggle? I’ve acquired quite a few different [examples of] motives to not struggle. So it simply makes me query, perhaps he don’t need this warmth, bro.
“Wished his identify first, walkout second, on the weigh-ins he has to weigh in final,” Masvidal continued. “Brother, you didn’t win the final struggle. What the f*** are you speaking about? A whole lot of me was like, ‘Eff that.’ As a result of there was a giant likelihood the struggle was going to be in Miami, I used to be actually pushing for Miami — clearly I did so effectively there within the UFC — and Nate was like, ‘I’m not going to struggle in Miami. I’m not going to struggle in Miami.’ And I’ve to stroll out first? Is that this man r*******? How would you stroll out final in my metropolis? I’m not going to stroll out first in my metropolis in opposition to you. I already mopped you up. So this stuff are making me query his f****** motives. Do you wish to scrap or what, bro?”
In the end, Masvidal stated he agreed to Diaz’s phrases as a result of he “desires to f****** beat his ass” and Diaz’s calls for are fairly minor. There may be one factor, although, that actually did trouble Masvidal: The date.
Diaz vs. Masvidal takes place on the identical day as UFC 302, headlined by a light-weight title struggle between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier. Masvidal believes counter-programming the UFC with a pay-per-view occasion isn’t one of the best concept, and given what he and Diaz each stand to make as a part of the promotion, that is the purpose that angered Masvidal probably the most.
“Even with this date, we might have pushed it again per week as soon as the UFC introduced they’re going to go June 1,” Masvidal stated. “And I used to be prepared to go Memorial [Day] weekend, the weekend earlier than, however he was like, ‘No, I already introduced on my Instagram we’re combating on this present day. I don’t give a f*** concerning the UFC, we’ll go head-to-head with them.’ That’s simply not good enterprise. I’m a f****** promoter, he claims to be a promoter — that’s simply not good enterprise. There’s completely nothing that weekend, we might take over that weekend.
“I’m attempting to promote pay-per-views. I lastly carved one thing good out for myself the place I’m getting a very good quantity of the pay-per-view, boxing type. I’ve an excellent assure, however the again finish might be approach larger than the assure, so why not go when there’s completely nothing? However this dude is like, ‘I’m not employed by the UFC, I don’t give a f*** concerning the UFC, we’ll go head-to-head with them.’ That is silly to me. That is dangerous enterprise. So for all these causes, I’m slightly additional amped up, as a result of now you’re f****** with my pockets on prime of it. I don’t wish to go in opposition to the UFC.”
Masvidal guarantees that additional vitality goes to indicate itself within the ring. As a result of whereas Diaz might have been demure at their first press convention on Friday, he’s not going to have that possibility come June.
“I felt like he didn’t wish to be there,” Masvidal stated. “And I get it, perhaps he had weed to smoke and f****** vegan plates to eat or one thing. However his vitality, the best way I used to be studying, was like he didn’t wish to be there.
“He is aware of one factor — whether or not I’m in form or not, I’m coming to struggle. For those who pull that s*** you pulled out with [Jake Paul], you present up like that to our struggle, what’s going to occur — and it’s going to occur quite fast, as a result of I’m going to place the strain on you straight away. I’m not going to allow you to slide for 10 rounds coming in off the sofa like that. That’s not the identical Nate Diaz we’re accustomed to within the UFC. I don’t suppose he took Jake significantly in any respect. So I hope he’s been getting ready and getting himself prepared for battle, as a result of he is aware of that’s simply the best way I roll, the best way I scrap. I’m attempting to kill your ass.”