Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal will meet in a boxing rematch of their 2019 UFC fight, which Masvidal won by doctor’s TKO while headlining the June 1 pay-per-view event at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.
Diaz and Masvidal, both 39, met in Masvidal’s hometown of Miami to continue promoting the fight this week, and as always, Diaz was enthusiastic and ready for fight night.
“If the last fight had continued and ended, this would have been my city,” Diaz said. “He won the first fight, but I’m coming back for more. So that’s what pops up. This is a fresh fight and I’m here to win.
“I expect him to do his thing there. He has a good coach and he does what he needs to do in training, but I’ve been doing it for a long time. We’ll see how it goes for him.”
Diaz, who made his professional boxing debut last August after a clear 10-round loss to Jake Paul, says he expects a different and tougher fight against Masvidal, who has had one official professional boxing fight himself, but the fight returned in 2005 year.
“I’m preparing for a much tougher fight with Jorge than with Jake Paul. 100 percent,” Nate said. “Jorge is as experienced as it gets, so I’m ready for what he brings. But having those rounds definitely helped.
I only know that we have been trying to make this rematch happen for a long time. He was the biggest chance of the game.”
Masvidal expressed mutual respect for his opponent, but said that after the bell, it would all come down to the fight and competition between the two.
“I respect what Nate has done in his career, but it disappears when we step into the ring. I only have one thing on my mind. I will end this rivalry,” Masvidal said.
“I owe it to this city more than anything to get W and some of them out. I’m in a really good place right now and I need to go back and get those W’s for this spot right here. Do or die.
“I want to get the referees, judges and doctors out of this situation, leave it in my hands and get him out of it Kimbo Slice style. Dade County Styles. These people here want this violence.
“It’s a badge of honor to face someone who is willing to put everything on the line. That being said, I will be done with this guy on June 1st.
“This BMF belt shows that if you put your mind to it, you can do it. It doesn’t matter who you are, you just need to put that nonsense aside.