While Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal 2 will go down in history as a boxing bout, the broadcast also had a UFC component, with UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 MMA, 1 NC UFC) serving as commentator.
O'Malley was part of the “Last Man Standing” pay-per-view broadcast team and was ringside when Diaz defeated Jorge Masvidal in a 10-round majority decision boxing victory that was awarded to him by two of the three judges.
During the co-main event between Shane Mosley Jr. and Daniel Jacobs, longtime boxing and MMA commentator Mauro Ranallo asked O'Malley for an update on his upcoming title defense, which he followed up with an impressive win over Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March.
UFC News: Dana White denies giving 'Golden Egg' Sean O'Malley an 'easy fight'
O'Malley was brief but did his best to provide a complete picture of UFC's scheduling woes, with the Sept. 14 UFC Sphere event still up in the air with no confirmed main event card at the time of writing.
Boxing News: Nate Diaz defeats Jorge Masvidal via majority decision
“We're hopeful that the Sphere will be held in Las Vegas, but if it can't be held, it will be in December. That's what we're aiming for. [The Sphere] But nothing has been confirmed,” O'Malley said Saturday night.
It's unclear whether UFC's second “Noche” will take place, as will the 2023 edition (dubbed “Fight Night”). Barring a catastrophic event, the pay-per-view is expected to go ahead as scheduled. UFC CEO Dana White has vowed the event will be “the greatest live sporting event of all time” from a television and internal UFC standpoint, but that remains to be seen.
While O'Malley's next fight has not been officially announced, all signs seem to point to a bout against Merab Dvalishvili, a top contender in the division.
As of now, with just over two months to go until the event, only time will tell.
UFC 298 results: Merab Dvalishvili demands 10-round bout after statement win
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