Nick Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Is A Fight Between Two Welterweights With Chips On Their Shoulders • MMA News

Nick Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal Is A Fight Between Two Welterweights With Chips On Their Shoulders • MMA News

The MMA world was pleasantly shocked this week when ESPN broke the information that fan favourite Nick Diaz is predicted to return subsequent March in Las Vegas at UFC 235 when he takes on former Strikeforce/UFC alum Jorge Masvidal in what is bound to be one of the highly-anticipated welterweight bouts of 2019. Each Diaz and Masvidal are thrilling fighters who’re coming off of lengthy layoffs, making it a principally even match between two boxing specialists who know their BJJ. The oddsmakers agree, as they opened the battle as a close to Choose ’em on the sports activities books. Stylistically, this bout has “Fight of the Night” written throughout it.

Not solely ought to this battle be entertaining for the followers based mostly on the stylistic matchup, however the matchmaking right here additionally makes loads of sense contemplating what each guys are searching for in an opponent. All through their careers, each Diaz and Masvidal have been two very sturdy fighters who look to face and commerce with their opponents. Each guys have criticized wrestlers who’ve taken them down and managed them. It was good to match them up in opposition to one another as a result of the chances of both of those guys taking one another down are slim to none. The UFC booked this matchup understanding each Diaz and Masvidal shall be a standup-first sort of battle, and each fighters are seemingly going to ship the products.

For Diaz, this battle in opposition to Masvidal is the proper alternative for him to step again into the Octagon at age 35 and present that he’s nonetheless a viable contender for the welterweight title. The legend from Stockton has not fought since a 2015 No Contest in opposition to Anderson Silva and previous to that misplaced back-to-back choices to Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Condit. His final win got here in October 2011, when he defeated BJ Penn by determination at UFC 137. Diaz’s followers are satisfied he deserves one other title shot, however he clearly must get a win to get again into the title image. Though he’s tremendous common and superior to observe compete, Diaz isn’t Brock Lesnar and gained’t get a title shot after having not gained in ceaselessly. This battle in opposition to Masvidal is the proper alternative for him to step into the Octagon in opposition to a revered veteran who can also be coming off of an extended layoff. After turning down quite a few opponents up to now, the Diaz camp clearly noticed the advantages to taking this particular battle in opposition to Masvidal, and so they took it.

For Masvidal, preventing Diaz is a well-deserved bout as he will get to tackle a giant title in his comeback after a 12 months away from preventing resulting from filming a actuality TV sequence. Masvidal is an incredible fighter who has sadly got here up quick in some massive spots and misplaced some shut choices, however he all the time brings the battle, and like Diaz he’s a man who likes to face and bang. This needs to be a giant payday for him and like Diaz he was working out of a place of power as neither man actually wants the cash, however each will battle for the correct quantity of money. The UFC now has a giant battle to co-main occasion UFC 235 (if not headline, although it’s seemingly a title shall be on the road in the principle occasion). Masvidal has all the time needed to battle one other man who will stand and strike with him, and the UFC has discovered the proper dance associate in Diaz. It’s only a nice matchup for the followers, as a result of it’s two guys who’ve complained about fighter pay and stylistic matchups up to now. Going up in opposition to one another presumably for good cash, neither man has something to complain about now.

The UFC has made a terrific matchup by reserving Diaz and Masvidal at UFC 235. It’s a good battle between two guys with nice boxing and BJJ who haven’t fought in a very long time, and it additionally is smart as a result of it’s two guys who’ve brazenly complained to the UFC up to now. Each guys have been begging for a giant battle for some time, and now each will get it once they tackle one another subsequent March. The UFC is about to kick off the ESPN period and a giant battle like Diaz vs. Masvidal reveals the promotion is as wholesome because it’s ever been. And the followers are grateful for that as this needs to be a incredible bout.

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