California weigh-ins happen on fight day – not just once on the scales. In 2017, the California State Athletic Commission instituted a plan to try and curb excessive weight cutting. These rules included a cap on how much a fighter could hydrate from official fight weigh-ins. Jorge Masvidal escaped the narrow 15% margin; any more and he would not have faced Nate Diaz.
Diaz (1-1 boxing, 21-13 MMA) defeated Jorge Masvidal by a 10-round majority decision in their Fanmio Pay-per-view headliner. At “Last Man Standing”, the duo came full circle at Honda Center, Anaheim. ‘Gamebred’ had first got one up on Nate Diaz via third-round TKO at UFC 244 to win the inaugural BMF belt.
Diaz weighed in at 175.6 on Friday and returned Saturday night at 190.2, up 14.6 pounds (versus Masvidal’s 28.9). While nobody exceeded the 15 percent mark, the 39-year-old Masvidal kept to his plump attire. Dillon Danis has often squabbled with him over this. During his UFC 300 Media Day check-in, even Justin Gaethje disregarded getting the belt from him.
Fight Night Weights for “Last Man Standing” Fanmio Pay-per-view (Image Credit: SBNation Network)Diaz went from 175.6 to 190.2 lbs on the weights ist (8 percent); Masvidal went from 175.2 to 204.1 (16 percent). Daniel Jacobs (169.2 to 188.7 = 12 percent), Anthony Pettis (175.3 to 184 = 5 percent), Arnado Vargas (134.1 to 143.2 = 7 percent), Sean Garcia (138.1 to 147.1 = 7 percent), Dan Hernandez (140 to 154.5 = 10 percent) are such other variations.
Michael Bisping praises Nate Diaz – Jorge Masvidal ‘instant classic’ fight
Masvidal (1-1 boxing, 35-17 MMA) gave shape to a passive rivalry years in the making when he transitioned again to the squared circle. He announced his retirement from MMA on a four-fight losing streak against top-tier names like Gilbert Burns, Kamaru Usman, and Colby Covington. Touting a heavier midriff, the one-half pioneer gangster wasn’t installing much confidence in his boxing return.
Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal receive praise after boxing match (Source: X/boxemag.com)Neither was the Stockton pride. Before the 10-round, 175-pound matchup, Diaz faced a decision loss to cruiserweight pugilist Jake Paul in crossover boxing. However, both Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal gave an all-around tethered yet trying performance. ‘Gamebred’ especially, performed beyond expectations, executing definitive single or dual-punch power shots to the body.
Having said that, the 39-year-old Stockton Brawler clearly came into his rematch in far better shape. Michael Bisping can’t help but praise both.
It was phenomenal, for 10 rounds both of these men just went at it, it was an instant classic and I found myself having so much respect for both men…Jake Paul was lucky because the Diaz that showed up against Jake Paul was not the Diaz that showed up [against] Jorge Masvidal. It just wasn’t the same guy… He definitely underestimated the Disney boy.
Michael Bisping via the “Believe You Me” Podcast (@bispingpodcast)
Diaz has already called out Paul yet again. Meanwhile, loss or not, even Masvidal might just keep to his boxing ambitions further. ‘Problem Child’ has taunted Diaz for dismissing his $15 million on the plus-worth PFL fight purse offer. Bisping says that Paul was “lucky” that Diaz underestimated his mettle last year, otherwise, it could’ve been a different fight.
