Opinions are plentiful in the world of combat sports. However, fighter’s opinions are much more valuable due to their experience. Enter Sean O’Malley, UFC bantamweight champion and newly-minted commentator. O’Malley’s latest hot take was his result for the Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal rematch.
Sean O’Malley recently made his commentary debut, offering fresh takes on the boxing world. His take on the result of the boxing match between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal differed from what the judges revealed. Speaking on his podcast, ‘Suga’ didn’t see a winner of the Fanmio PPV main event bout.
You know what happened, it [Diaz vs. Madvidal] was a draw… The first fight, doctors stoppage, the second fight, a draw. We need a trilogy.
Sean O’Malley via The Timbo Sugar Show EP. 293
This assertion from O’Malley came despite the official judges scoring it a win for Diaz. O’Malley’s perspective adds an interesting wrinkle to an already contentious match-up. Many thought that Masvidal was robbed of the win due to the fight being held in California, where Diaz hails from. Even in terms of shots landed, ‘Gamebred’ landed better power shots than the Stockton native.
Diaz and Masvidal’s rivalry has been simmering for years, captivating fight fans worldwide. Their first encounter in the UFC ended with a doctor’s stoppage. This boxing rematch was meant to settle the score once and for all. Nevertheless, Sean O’Malley‘s scorecard offers a fresh perspective, and the rivalry remains unresolved.Â
Sean O’Malley’s coach disagrees with his take on Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal fight
Opinions fly faster than punches after Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal slugged it out at their recent boxing bout. Enter Tim Welch, coach and confidant to UFC star Sean O’Malley. Welch recently weighed in on O’Malley’s controversial scorecard for the high-profile bout. His take is a bit different from O’Malley’s take.
Tim Welch’s opinion differs from Sean O’Malley’s (via Bad Left Hook/ CanvasRebel Magazine)O’Malley had called the match a draw, but the official decision favored Diaz. Tim Welch, however, sees where his protege is coming from. The esteemed coach admits he could envision the fight ending in a draw. As such, Welch leaned slightly towards Masvidal as the victor.Â
It was such a hard one to score. I think Jorge was landing harder shots. He was ringing Nate’s bell a few times. And on the punch counter, Jorge won… It definitely could be a draw. It wasn’t that big of a robbery.
Tim Welch via The Timbo Sugar Show EP. 293
It’s a nuanced take that adds another layer to the ongoing debate. Welch’s perspective bridges the gap between O’Malley’s draw and the official Diaz victory. The coach’s comments also highlight the subjective nature of fight scoring. If one sees a power shot as impactful, another might view pressure and volume as the same.
