Jorge Masvidal is all about competition, but a little bad blood never hurts when it comes to picking a fight.
“Gamebred” will step into the boxing ring this Saturday to face Nate Diaz, nearly five years after their first bout at UFC 244, when Masvidal won by doctor's stoppage to become the inaugural “BMF” champion.
Masvidal and Diaz have, for the most part, spoken of one another with respect — both fighters became fan favorites at UFC with their exciting styles and no-frills personalities — and that realness spilled out in chaotic fashion when the two collided after a June 7 press conference in Anaheim, California.
After that, it's all gone for Masvidal.
“At the end of the day, for me it's just about fighting,” Masvidal told media at a scrum in Los Angeles. “The stakes are higher this time than the last one because every fight, no matter how small it is or how big it is, leads to this. So I approach every fight with the same amount of care and respect. Whoever I'm fighting, I've got two hands, you know?”
“Now, on a personal level, I don't like the guy at all because of what happened with the coach and stuff. But I think we'll sort that out when we get to the game on July 6.”
During a brief scuffle, members of Masvidal's and Diaz's teams exchanged several punches, separating the two fighters. Masvidal, a veteran of 52 professional mixed martial arts bouts, returned to the gym after the incident and switched it on.
“I went from boxing to preparing to kill,” Masvidal said. “All I want to do is hurt this guy badly.”
One notable figure in the post-press conference brawl was Diaz's teammate, professional fighter Nick “Killshot” Cole, who can be seen going one-on-one with someone from Masvidal's camp.
Cole has a record of 13-2 and most recently competed in a BKFC bare-knuckle boxing event in March of this year, defeating Kyle McElroy by first-round knockout.
Had Masvidal known his past, he may have been more aggressive towards Diaz's associates. As things stand, he's confident Killshot will get paid off either way.
“So I [Kohring]”I shook him around… I didn't hit him because I thought he was just a motherfucker,” Masvidal said, “Now I see you're a professional fighter and you're attacking my coach with another guy from your posse. Cheer up, brother, that motherfucker is going to have to meet me or my posse one day.”
“I like a fight, especially if it annoys my friends. It's your choice, and if he doesn't meet me, he'll soon meet the devil.”
