Jorge Masvidal Would Take Nate Diaz Fight ‘In A Heartbeat’
After beating Ben Askren in devastating fashion at UFC 239, Jorge Masvidal said he’d only accept a title fight or if not a title fight, something big. And it’s safe to say that a fight with Nate Diaz would come under that category.
Nate takes on Anthony Pettis this weekend at UFC 241, in another fight that is definitely ‘something big’. If the younger Diaz brother comes through his co-main event against Pettis, there will obviously be calls for the trilogy fight with Conor McGregor. But I can’t imagine any fans being upset, if he’s booked to fight Masvidal next.
When asked by The Mac Life (as transcribed by MMA Junkie) if he would accept a fight with Nate, Masvidal said he would accept it ‘in a heartbeat’.
“In a heartbeat, we’re signing. I’ve been chasing the belt for 16 years, but that’s such a fight for me, for the fans, for the sport, and it’s two Latin dogs just going at it. We haven’t seen that in the sport too much. We need to see it. You’re just going to lock up two dogs in the cage and let them go. Let’s find out what happens. That’s a fight I would love. If that fight gets offered, we’re taking it.”
Coming off of two huge knockout finishes over Darren Till at UFC London and Askren last month, Masvidal reiterated his point that it’s got to be either a title shot next or a big money fight.
“I’ve got 16 years working with one goal in mind, and that’s to get the belt, and if I’m not fighting for that belt and I’m so close to it and it was promised to me after the Ben Askren fight, it has to be something of significant force – and they’ve gotta pay me, man. That’s about it.”
And it’s not just about the money, ‘Gamebred’ wants fights that are going to excite him and the fans. Although Kamaru Usman wouldn’t excited him, he has what Masvidal wants, the UFC welterweight belt. A fight with Nate on the other hand, would be all the motivation that the 34 year needs.
“I want the fights that will push me over the top. The title for me means everything because I don’t have it, but Kamaru’s not like a dangerous dude. It’s not a fight that I’m scared to get hurt in. A guy like Nate, I know he’s going to try to rip my head off. He’s going to try to take my soul. So those big fights like that motivate me to work out, to get in there.”
Although he was promised a title shot if he beat Askren, UFC president Dana White, has recently confirmed that Masvidal’s good friend Colby Covington will fight Usman next. Whether Masvidal fights Nate next or Leon Edwards, the Brit ranked one place below him in the UFC welterweight rankings, and who famously received a ‘three piece and soda’ from Masivdal backstage at UFC London, you can expect fireworks next time he steps inside the UFC Octagon.
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