Latest news with #JorgeMasvidal
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Nate Diaz Names Four Opponents For Potential UFC Return
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Nate Diaz is seen in the corner of Kron Gracie during the UFC 310 ... More event at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) The last time Nate Diaz fought under the UFC banner was in September 2022, when he scored a submission win over Tony Ferguson in a fight that came to be when his initial opponent, Khamzat Chimaev, came in overweight for their main event welterweight matchup. The matchup at UFC 279 was the final fight on Diaz's UFC contract. The now 40-year-old Diaz seems interested in making a return to the UFC in 2025. "I plan on going back to UFC," Diaz said on "The HJR Podcast." "If they'll have me, I would like to go back and (expletive) whoop someone's ass there. I'm not fighting at (155 pounds), though. Right now I'm not fighting in there because there's nobody to fight really. It's kind of slow rolling. I don't really have a name in mind right now in the UFC. That's why I'm not there right now." Diaz (21-13 MMA, 16-11 UFC) has not competed in MMA since his win over Ferguson. Instead, he picked up a 1-1 record in boxing during his time away from the Octagon, losing a decision to Jake Paul in 2023 and then beating former UFC opponent Jorge Masvidal by decision in 2024. As for who Diaz could face if he makes a UFC return, the one-time UFC lightweight title challenger said that a trilogy fight against Conor McGregor would be on the table. "Whenever he's back, I'm sure we're going to fight," Diaz said of the man he went 1-1 against. "Me and him for sure got unfinished (business). Got to happen." In the first Diaz vs. McGregor matchup, the Stockton, California competitor scored a second-round submission upset over his Irish opponent at UFC 196 in March 2016. The two then met in a rematch at UFC 202 in August 2016, with McGregor picking up a majority decision win in that matchup. Both Diaz vs. McGregor meetings won "Fight of the Night" bonuses. As for other potential opponents, Diaz expressed interest in facing former UFC featherweight champions Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria. "Those are the guys right there who I would want to fight, like Max Holloway," Diaz said. "I would like to fight the other guy who's really good too, Topuria. He's really good, but he's smaller than me. I'm done with 155. I'm cool off that. It always was (a hard weight cut). When I was 18, it was hard. I'm staying at '70. I'll fight at 185, too." Not long after speaking about McGregor, Holloway, and Topuria, Diaz uploaded a video to his YouTube page where he said he would be willing to face former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad. I'll fight Belal's ass," Nate Diaz said while watching Muhammad lose his title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315. "I think I'd beat the (expletive) out of Belal Muhammad." UFC CEO Dana White has not spoken about a potential Diaz return to the promotion, but Diaz seemed to fight out his contract on good terms with White and the promotion. "I always joke around about dealing with the Diaz Brothers. These two, you see it now. They're two iconic fighters that20 years from now everybody will remember and talk about. This will always be Nate's house. Nate grew up here," White said in 2023. "He came up on 'The Ultimate Fighter.' He fought some of the biggest fights ever here. We love the kid. I don't know about fighting in the future, but this is always going to be his house. We'll see."
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Darren Till on why he is the ideal star for Misfits Boxing – and the one the UFC needs back
Darren Till was in pugilistic purgatory in the dying days of his UFC run. Once touted as the Scouse answer to Conor McGregor, Till in fact peaked on his path to a title shot, leaving a prophecy unfilled. Following that early submission by Tyrone Woodley came an infamous knockout by Jorge Masvidal. Then there was the encouraging victory over Kelvin Gastelum, only for three straight losses to ensue: against Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson and Dricus Du Plessis. Yet there was no shame in any of these defeats, so despite Till's deteriorating form and injury issues, it was a shock when he announced he was leaving the UFC in 2023. Till, just 30 at the time, insisted he departed the MMA promotion on good terms. He vowed not only to return one day, but to fulfil the prophecy that others had long dismissed: Darren Till, UFC champion. But Till, now 32, might have found a different calling in the meantime. Following a strange boxing outing last summer, an exhibition with Mohammad Mutie that ended in a brawl, Till made his professional debut in January. In that bout, under YouTube star KSI 's Misfits banner, Till dispatched Anthony Taylor, before bowing to an adoring Manchester crowd at the Co-op Live. It seemed a rebirth for Till, yet he plays it down now, telling The Independent: 'It was just another day at the office, but it was good to be back on the big stage, especially the Misfits stage. I'm a misfit, aren't I? I have been my whole life, in the UFC, on social media. I'm probably the only real misfit, the only difference with me is: I can actually fight; all these others can't fight.' With that, he flashes a trademark grin with his Turkey teeth. Taylor, though, was a stand-in. Till had been due to box Tommy Fury, half-brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson, until Tommy withdrew. When Fury cited Till's threat to kick him in their boxing match, the bizarre excuse seemingly confirmed what the latter already knew. 'I said to my coach after the press conference, 'He'll pull out of the fight,'' Till says. 'My coach said: 'Make sure you make it public.' And I said: 'I don't want to give it no energy.' Then one day, I come in the gym, and he starts screaming [online] about how he's pulled out. I don't think the Furys have been seen since, so everyone in boxing should thank me, because you all got terrorised by the Furys for years. Then I come along and absolutely terrorise him. Every time any boxer sees me now, he wants to f*****g shake my hand. Everyone was sick of them.' Next, however, Till mounts a surprising defence of Fury. 'People give Tommy more s*** than I do,' he says. 'I've got nothing bad to say about him in terms of his personal life. I don't know Tommy, so I couldn't comment on his characteristics or anything like that.' Still, the Liverpudlian offers his own explanation for Fury's withdrawal. 'I think when they accepted the fight, they heard I was out of camp and I was maybe a bit chubby, looking like a bit of a cake. Then when I got into camp, I think they heard how I am in the gym, because I know rumours fly. I spar with no head guard on, and when you're coming to spar me, you better bring your f*****g balls with you, because I'm coming to take heads off. 'I think he was like: 'Na, I don't want none of that.' But if that's not the truth, then sound. All I know is he was very disrespectful in the manner he pulled out of the fight, and now he's fighting in Budapest. What a comedown. He could've had it all with me; I was making us money on pay-per-view, we were gonna have a big fight, there probably could've been a rematch after I beat him.' Fury won in Budapest on 9 May, outpointing the 5-1 Kenan Hanjalic to stay unbeaten. Ironically for Fury, there is more hype around Till's next outing, as he faces fellow ex-UFC fighter Darren Stewart on Friday (16 May). For Till, could this be the next rung on a surprising ladder to unforeseen heights in boxing? 'My coach thinks I can turn pro and do well,' he says. 'I'm gonna have to go off what he says, he's trained many high-level pros. I don't like to get too far ahead of myself, I like to keep feet on the ground. But look, I'm f*****g very good, put it that way,' he adds, flashing his 'Turkey teeth'. And what of that UFC return? 'It depends on how life goes. I've always had good things to say about them, they've always liked me. I'm still only 32, so if I choose to go back in two years after I've damaged this boxing game... but I might not. I think everyone feels like I was destined to win a title, so maybe I've got to do it for them and myself. And they need me back in the UFC, because have you seen the state of it right now? My God, it's on its arse. There are no superstars left, but that's for another conversation.' Until that conversation, Till looks to continue his escape from pugilistic purgatory.
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC full fight: Gilbert Burns spoils Jorge Masvidal's Miami homecoming
UFC full fight: Gilbert Burns spoils Jorge Masvidal's Miami homecoming Watch Gilbert Burns notch arguably his biggest career win Gilbert Burns's most recent UFC win was a big one. At UFC 287 in 2023, the former UFC welterweight title challenger handedly defeated Jorge Masvidal, inaugural BMF champion, in a unanimous decision in Masvidal's backyard of Miami. It was a solid victory for "Durinho" and arguably the biggest one of his 30-fight MMA career. It was also his second win in a row, following an instant-classic war with Khamzat Chimaev the year prior. You can watch Burns' dominant win over Masvidal in the video above. Burns (22-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC returns to the cage this Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night 256 (ESPN+) – which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. He takes on rising, undefeated contender Michael Morales (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in a five-round bout.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jorge Masvidal, Mike Perry, Urijah Faber, Loopy Godinez, GFL news and more
The Ariel Helwani Show | Jorge Masvidal, Mike Perry, Urijah Faber, Loopy Godinez, GFL news and more The original BMF is back! (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) (Jeff Bottari via Getty Images) Ariel Helwani is BACK ... IN ... YOUR ... LIFE! Join "The Ariel Helwani Show" live on Uncrowned and YouTube at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/5 p.m. UK time as Ariel and the Boys In The Back set the table for the week to come in combat sports. Monday's rundown can be seen below. Advertisement 1 p.m. ET: Ariel and the crew kick off the show with some breaking GFL news. 1:15 p.m. ET: Jorge Masvidal checks in with the latest news in his life. 1:40 p.m. ET: Loopy Godinez looks back at her big win over Julia Polastri at UFC Mexico. 2 p.m. ET: Mike Perry returns to talk the latest with BKFC and Dirty Boxing Championship. 2:30 p.m. ET: MMA legend Urijah Faber stops by to discuss his GFL comeback and more. 3 p.m. ET: We break down the weekend in combat sports. Catch all new episodes of "The Ariel Helwani Show" live every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET on Uncrowned and The Ariel Helwani Show's YouTube page. To listen to every episode, subscribe on Spotify or iTunes.
