Masvidal Vows To Give Diaz First Title Defense

Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports

Gilbert Burns? Colby Covington?

Nah, Jorge Masvidal has other plans. Plans that include a promise he made to welterweight rival Nate Diaz about getting a rematch after doctors forced a stoppage in their first fight at UFC 244 in New York, one that awarded “Gamebred” the “BMF” belt.

“There’s two guys that are on my radar heavy and Nate is definitely one of them,” Masvidal told ESPN (transcribed by Adam Martin). “Because no matter what, it was a good fight. Nate or the world didn’t get the results that we wanted.”

Masvidal also plans to rematch welterweight “Wonderboy” Stephen Thompson.

“I know Nate obviously wants to run it back, I’m telling you, speaking from the heart, I want to run it back,” Masvidal continued. “When I get this title, would nothing be better than to give [Diaz] the opportunity he gave me to fight for his BMF belt. Come on, come fight for this belt now.”

In order for Masvidal to start planning title defenses he must first win the actual title. That opportunity will come against Kamaru Usman in the UFC 251 pay-per-view (PPV) main event on July 11 in Abu Dhabi, a fight he scored when Burns popped for coronavirus.

For the finalized UFC 251 fight card and line up click here.