Jorge Masvidal sees former UFC opponent Nate Diaz having success in boxing.
Diaz makes his pro boxing debut Aug. 5 in Dallas, where he’ll take on YouTuber-turned-pro-boxer Jake Paul in an eight-round, 185-pound matchup that headlines a pay-per-view co-promoted by DAZN and Diaz’s Real Fight Inc.
Masvidal fought Diaz at UFC 244 in 2019, stopping him by TKO due to doctor’s stoppage to capture the inaugural “BMF” title. Diaz parted ways with the UFC last year after 27 octagon bouts, and “Gamebred” has warned Paul that he’s in for a battle.
“Nate’s definitely going to have the experience over you, and he’s got crazy endurance,” Masvidal told Paul on BS w/ Jake Paul. “I think the opening round is going to tell me a lot. … He’s got great cardio, and I think especially in boxing, he’s going to make an easy transition. I would think out of all the categories you could have in martial arts, boxing is something that comes very natural to him. I think he’s going to be a decent boxer.”
Masvidal currently runs his own promotion, Gamebred Boxing, and would love to lace up the gloves himself. Although he’s currently retired, he needs to be granted permission by the UFC to compete since he’s still under contract.
“Definitely I would box,” Masvidal said. “That’s something that I wanted to do, especially since I started progressing more in my skillset, and I have a pro boxing fight. It took place like 14, 15 years ago. Boxing was like my first love, so I would definitely do a boxing match if the UFC would permit me. They would have to give me permission. They’d have to be like, ‘Yeah, go do your thing,’ you know. If not, can’t do no boxing match.”
For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s hub for Paul vs. Diaz.
