Masvidal vs Diaz 2 As A Co-Main Event? Not Likely…

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Earlier today (Tues., Sept. 1, 2020) reports surfaced revealing that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was looking at booking a couple of big time fights at UFC 256 on Dec. 12 to close out 2020, including a Welterweight title fight between division king, Kamaru Usman, and No. 1 contender, Gilbert Burns.

The other fight in UFC’s crosshairs is a highly-anticipated rematch between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz, who originally collided at UFC 244 in 2019 for the “BMF” title. That meant if initial reports held true, Masvidal vs Diaz 2 would be co-main event, or perhaps even lower on the main card seeing as how Amanda Nunes is in line to defend her Featherweight title on the same night.

Now, ESPN’s Ariel Helwani is reporting that the do-over between the two scrappy 170-pound fighters will not be taking place on that card — or in 2020 — as the rematch is on tap to headline the promotion’s first pay-per-view (PPV) event of 2021 in January.

And it makes all of the sense in the world, really, as the first fight ended in anti-climactic fashion after the Octagon-side doctor put an end to the fight in the third round due to a nasty cut above Nate’s eye. That gave “Gamebred” the win and the title, but left fight fans — as well as the combatants — wanting more as many expected a full five-round war.

And since UFC 244 reportedly did well at the box office, UFC 257 in January could do the same, especially if fans are finally allowed back into the arenas.