UFC 244 on Saturday will feature two fan favorites, Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, throwing down for the title of “Baddest Mother F*cker.”
It started out as a respectful callout between gangsters, but the UFC promotional machine has gotten behind this matchup and taken it to a whole new level. Aside from creating a custom belt for the occasion, there’s the N.W.A. “Straight Outta Compton”-themed poster and “Grand Theft Auto”-inspired video promos. Although I’ve already expanded on my thoughts about the UFC’s crossover into Quentin Tarantino’s universe, I thought it might be fun to focus on the “gangster” element of Diaz’s callout, ranking my favorite gangster moments from their careers.
Without further ado …
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10. ‘I don’t know what kind of f*cking show this is, man’
Diaz has to be at the top of the proverbial mountain with Derrick Lewis when it comes to post-fight interviews, but his in-octagon interview with Jon Anik after topping Gray Maynard in 2013 is still my favorite from Stockton’s finest.
Diaz starts off the interview with a quote that I saw fit to lead this pick off, opting to ignore Anik’s initial question by voicing almost aimless displeasures with the production to start off his victory lap. Then, in typical Nate fashion, Diaz starts in on his usual laundry list of shoutouts, listing off every name from Ronda Rousey to Chis Avila.
In fact, as someone who was in attendance, Rousey and a huge Diaz contingent were uncharacteristically allowed to form cageside while the younger Diaz brother went on to hold court, proclaiming Gilbert Melendez and himself as the best lightweights in the division (doing everything but sparking a joint up to celebrate). And when Anik asked if he could quickly take us through the finish, Diaz plainly replied, “I won. That’s what’s up,” as he closed with, “I’m hungry. I got sh*t to do.”
It was a pretty gangster moment, if you ask me, but it was also a precursor of post-fight moments to come.
Check it out:
Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz's 10 most gangster moments, ranked
