The final press conference for the Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal 2 fight took an unexpected turn towards chaos. The UFC veterans, set to face off in a 10-round, 175-pound boxing match on July 6 in Anaheim, California, had relatively uneventful prior press conferences.
However, during the last event of the media tour on Thursday, things escalated quickly when a brawl broke out as Diaz was exiting the press conference.
The boxing match was initially planned for June 1 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood but has since been moved to the Honda Center in Anaheim on July 6.
History between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal
The rivalry between Diaz and Masvidal had been intensifying since their previous showdown in the UFC for the inaugural BMF championship in 2019. However, their highly anticipated rematch took a sour turn when a doctor halted the fight due to a cut above Diaz's eye, leaving fans wanting a definitive conclusion to their battle.
Masvidal emerged as the victor and the inaugural BMF champion, yet unresolved tensions lingered between the two fighters, prompting them to seek closure in a boxing ring. However, during Thursday's press conference, Diaz seemed disinterested and unengaged.
“I'm done with this whole press conference s—,” said an irritated Diaz via ESPN’s Andreas Hale.
“I'm glad we're here promoting these great fights that are happening, but, besides that, my work here is done.”
Triggering the Diaz-Masvidal camp brawl
Diaz stood up and started to leave, prompting organizers to call him back for a face-off with Masvidal. After briefly flexing for the cameras, the Stockton, California fighter departed before Masvidal could engage with him. Words were exchanged between the two, leading to a tense moment as both teams rushed in.
As tensions escalated, a member of Diaz's team threw a punch at Masvidal after the latter slapped him. In response, one of Masvidal's boxing coaches, Jorge Capetillo, also threw a punch, sparking a brawl between members of both teams.
After security regained control, Masvidal appeared unscathed and showed no signs of injury from the scuffle. Meanwhile, Diaz was notably absent from the brawl and wasn't captured in any of the videos circulating on social media.
Masvidal and Diaz fight records
Masvidal, aged 39, boasts a professional MMA record of 35-17. His claim to fame includes the fastest knockout in UFC history, achieved in just five seconds against Ben Askren in July 2019.
Despite two attempts, Masvidal fell short in his bids for the UFC welterweight championship against Kamaru Usman. He has also earned the distinction of being a four-time Performance of the Night recipient.
Jorge Masvidal has made a foray into boxing before, albeit quite some time ago. He secured a victory in a four-round professional bout against Joseph Benjamin through a majority decision back in June 2005.
Diaz, also aged 39, holds a record of 21 wins and 13 losses. He has secured notable victories over high-profile opponents such as Conor McGregor, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Jim Miller, and Tony Ferguson. Despite a title bout for the lightweight championship against Benson Henderson in 2012, Diaz experienced defeat through a unanimous decision.
Masvidal makes a comeback to combat sports after retiring from MMA last year following UFC 287, where he lost to Gilbert Burns amidst a four-fight losing streak.
Nate Diaz, on the other hand, is back in professional boxing following a loss to Jake Paul last year. Despite this, he hasn't completely ruled out a return to the UFC after his upcoming bout with Masvidal.
The anticipation is building between Diaz and Masvidal as they approach their boxing showdown, promising an exciting lead-up to the event for fight enthusiasts.
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