MIAMI – Jorge Masvidal felt the full support of those around him when he mocked and harassed rival Nate Diaz on a recent tour to promote his upcoming boxing match.
On Wednesday night, Masvidal and Diaz spoke to the media and fans at a press conference for “The Badest Tour” in Miami. By chanting “305” and constantly and loudly booing Diaz, the crowd let Diaz know he was in enemy territory.
Masvidal said he was happy and proud to see people supporting him, and he believes that affected Diaz as well.
“It’s Dade County. I don’t care who you are, you’re definitely going to feel the heat here,” Masvidal told MMA Junkie. “From the moment you got on that damn plane and got to the airport, you were going to feel that heat, and he definitely felt it.
“He now understands why I’m so violent and why I give everything to the crowd. We just grew up a little differently here. From soccer players to boxers, you can see that everything we do here is violence.”
Masvidal and Diaz are scheduled to fight in a boxing match on June 1st at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. The two fought in the UFC in 2019, so this is a rematch of sorts. The match ended with a TKO victory by Dr. Stop, and that night, Masvidal went on to become the first BMF champion at Madison Square Garden.
“Gamebred” believes the cancellation of this press tour was very necessary as the crowd in Miami encouraged them.
“It’s always helpful and always motivating to see my peers working hard for me,” Masvidal said. “When I look at their faces, no matter what stage they’re at, those motherfuckers are who I was when I grew up and when I got older. I see myself in them. It definitely gives you something extra.”
Masvidal doesn’t want the fight to go down, much less for it to be called off on medical advice. He wants to finish off Diaz and secure victory.
Asked to predict the fight, Masvidal replied, “Knock him out.” “I don’t want any questions or anything. I don’t want anyone interfering with what I have to do. I have to kill that guy, and that’s why I got these bad guys here.” That’s why I collected them.”
For more information on the fight, check out MMA Junkie’s Diaz vs. Masvidal 2 event hub.
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