Josh Thomson and "Big" John McCarthy believe that Nate Diaz could have the advantage over Jorge Masvidal in their upcoming boxing match, provided he maintains his aggressive pressure-fighting style.
Diaz is set to square off against Masvidal this Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The highly anticipated rematch between the former UFC stars is scheduled for 10 rounds in the light heavyweight division.
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The pair first clashed in the Octagon at UFC 244 in November 2019, where 'Gamebred' emerged victorious over Diaz with a TKO in the fourth round, securing the inaugural BMF title. Masvidal dominated the initial three rounds with relentless strikes, causing a deep gash above Diaz's eyes and leaving his face bloodied.
Although both fighters were eager to continue, the Octagon-side doctor stopped the fight just after the third round due to the severity of Diaz's injuries.
While Masvidal is gearing up to make his professional debut in the squared circle, the upcoming match will be the Stockton native's sophomore boxing fight. Last August, Diaz faced Jake Paul but lost by unanimous decision in a fairly one-sided bout.
Diaz recently admitted to having minimal preparation before his fight with "The Problem Child." However, according to Thomson and McCarthy, the former UFC lightweight title challenger has shown unwavering dedication this time around in preparation for his bout against Masvidal...
Thomson & McCarthy Believe Diaz's Aggressive Approach Key to Beating Masvidal
During a recent episode of their WEIGHING IN podcast, Thomson and McCarthy analyzed the boxing rematch between Diaz and Masvidal. "The Punk," who previously secured a TKO victory over Diaz in the Octagon, emphasized that the Californian must deliver early damage to Masvidal with his trademark forward pressure, which could prove decisive in the fight.
Nate Diaz is just being someone if once he gets the pressure going as he used to when he was younger," Thomson said. "I think the reach is going to be a factor if he can like I said, get this thing going early... He's gotta get started early if he wants to have a chance to win this fight.
The veteran MMA referee concurred with Thomson's analysis and shared an insider scoop about Diaz's training camp. He revealed that he heard Diaz is in excellent shape and has performed well in sparring sessions. In contrast, "Gamebred" has had limited training sessions due to the demands of promoting the bout, which might affect his performance.
I know Nate's been training," McCarthy said. "I've heard that Nate's been actually looking good; his boxing is back to where it was at a certain point. I think it's a pick'em fight.