Jorge Masvidal calls out Nick Diaz: “He has to avenge his little brother”
Jorge Masvidal defeated Nate Diaz on Nov.2 and became UFC’s first and only “BMF” title holder. Now he is after Nate’s older brother Nick Diaz.
In a recent talk with former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub on the “Food Truck Diaries,” Masvidal layed out his plans to take on the former Strikeforce and WEC welterweight champion (transcript by MMAjunkie):
“If he’s got that fire lit under him, I know we’re going to have a fight,” Masvidal said about Nick Diaz. ”
“I know Nick’s a dog. He’s going to take whatever I can give, and I’m going to give him everything that I got to hit the off button, to turn him off, as well, so I’m excited for the fight.”
“I know he wants to hurt me. He has to avenge his little brother, so it’s a fight that pumps me up.”
Nick hasn’t competed since his early 2015 bout against Anderson Silva and hasn’t picked up a win since 2011. But that didn’t stop Nick from calling out Masvidal, shortly after Masvidal’s somewhat controversial stoppage win over his younger brother Nate:
“I’ll fight anybody,” Nick Diaz told Ariel Helwani. “[Masvidal] can do anything he wants to do right now to make the most money possible.”
Nick’s manager also confirmed that they wanted to fight Masvidal in the spring of 2020, at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Since Masvidal is arguably UFC’s biggest star at the moment, and the Diaz brothers are hugely popular, Jorge Masvidal vs. Nick Diaz could be a potential mega fight that could draw huge numbers.
Masvidal feels there is also a very compelling backstory to the fight, beyond his win over Nate:
“Huge fight, and it has a huge backstory, too,” Masvidal told Schaub. “It’s definitely a fight, and always growing up, me and Nick both fought in Strikeforce in different shows, and I’ve always liked Nick’s style, as well. I’ve always liked how he scraps.”
“I never thought he was the most skilled guy, but I think he’s one of the guys with the biggest heart, you know? Would just lay it all out there, win or lose.”
“He’d always give it his all, and that’s something that I truly admire, that quality in a fighter,” Masvidal continued.
“If he’s the fastest, strongest, it’s good, but my favorite quality in a fighter is the dog, is the guy that just doesn’t take no for an answer – even if he gets beat up, but he just never took no for an answer.”
