Nate Diaz Defeats Jorge Masvidal by Majority Decision: Round-by-Round Fight Recap

It took almost five years for the rematch, but it was worth the wait for fans of Nate Diaz. Diaz defeated Jorge Masvidal by majority decision on Saturday night in a 10-round light heavyweight bout at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The judges scored the fight 95-95, 97-93, and 98-92 in favor of Diaz.

"It feels good to get the job done for sure," Diaz said. "Mission accomplished."

The 39-year-old fighters exchanged heavy blows throughout the fight, maintaining an impressive pace. Masvidal believed he won, stating, "I thought I hit the harder shots. He did land more volume, but I definitely thought I landed the way, way better shots."

The two former UFC stars faced off more than four and a half years after their first fight for the inaugural BMF belt, which Masvidal won after it was stopped due to a cut below Diaz's left eye.

Round-by-Round Fight Analysis

Round 1: Diaz started aggressively, but Masvidal quickly took control. Diaz had Masvidal cornered but couldn't land any significant punches. Masvidal slipped out easily. The pace slowed down, with Diaz shadowing Masvidal. Diaz shook his head after a punch from Masvidal landed. Diaz 10, Masvidal 9.

Round 2: Masvidal looked technically superior and landed several punches early. Diaz's slow movement seemed to throw Masvidal off balance at times. Masvidal landed two hard rights, asserting himself. Diaz 19, Masvidal 19.

Round 3: Diaz charged out and cornered Masvidal again, but Masvidal countered with right hands, snapping Diaz's head back. Masvidal showed more speed and seemed to solve Diaz's style. Spirited exchanges followed. Masvidal 29, Diaz 28.

Round 4: Diaz's punches didn't look powerful, but Masvidal respected them. Diaz started working the body, and Masvidal responded with a flurry of punches. Diaz kept coming forward, creating a brawl-like atmosphere. Masvidal 38, Diaz 38.

Round 5: Both fighters came out swinging. Diaz lacked quickness but made up for it with relentlessness. Masvidal pounced, but Diaz got him into a corner again and landed several punches. Masvidal fired back before the bell. Masvidal 48, Diaz 47.

Round 6: Diaz embraced his role as the aggressor. Masvidal welcomed it and proved effective as a counterpuncher. Diaz's punches seemed to hurt Masvidal, but Masvidal fought back. Diaz moved forward again, landing several punches. Masvidal 58, Diaz 56.

Round 7: Masvidal threw some powerful punches, but Diaz kept coming forward. This was a different Nate Diaz than the one who fought Jake Paul. Diaz looked more prepared and focused. The round ended with both fighters exchanging punches. Masvidal 67, Diaz 66.

Round 8: Diaz continued to back Masvidal into corners and landed flurries of punches. Masvidal countered effectively, but Diaz played to the crowd, earning cheers. Masvidal landed a couple of big shots, causing the crowd to groan. Masvidal 77, Diaz 75.

Round 9: Masvidal's punches appeared to be stronger, but Diaz kept coming. Both fighters were visibly exhausted, exchanging punches until they started to hold onto each other for support. Masvidal 86, Diaz 85.

Round 10: Running on fumes, both fighters dug deep for the final round. They exchanged combinations, with heads snapping back. Despite being 39, they fought with the energy of much younger men. Masvidal raised his arms in victory prematurely as the punches continued to fly until the final bell. Masvidal 95, Diaz 95.

Post-Fight Reactions

After the fight, Jake Paul quickly responded to Diaz's declaration that he planned to beat Paul's "backside," claiming that Diaz had ducked a $15 million offer for an MMA match in the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

Diaz announced his future plans, saying, "I'm going to beat Jake Paul's [expletive] [expletive]." This drew cheers and laughter from the crowd. Diaz also mentioned his intention to return to the UFC and win another championship.

In summary, Nate Diaz emerged victorious in an intense rematch against Jorge Masvidal, winning by majority decision in a hard-fought 10-round battle. The fans were treated to an exciting fight, and Diaz looks forward to future challenges, including a potential showdown with Jake Paul.