UFC 244: A reminder that not all high-profile fights need trash talk
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When Nate Diaz returned from a nearly three-year layoff, he welcomed an opponent in Anthony Pettis who was prepared for war and came with a little bit of beef.
In typical Diaz fashion, he let his dislike for Pettis be known, as well as took aim at other fighters throughout the lightweight and welterweight divisions. Then he showed up to fight at UFC 241. In what could have come as a surprise to some, didn’t shock many, as Diaz looked like his old-self against Pettis.
Diaz brought his relentless pressure, great ground game, and all his striking tools into his fight with Pettis, walking away with a clear and decisive decision victory.
Following his first win in almost three years, Diaz created a new division, with his own belt, that he said he defended that night of UFC 241, and it was the “BMF” belt. Those that know Nate Diaz, would have no problem considering him one of the UFC’s “Baddest Mother F***ers” but he claims he is the baddest, and he had a belt in his mind to prove it.
As he mentioned this new belt and division, he also created a massive fight and huge cash grab for the UFC, that nobody saw coming.
The “Baddest Mother F***er”
Unlike Diaz’s callout of Conor McGregor back in 2015 that had more TV censors than actual words. After his win at UFC 241 this past August, Nate Diaz gave props to Jorge Masvidal for his electrifying knockout of Ben Askren, which set a UFC record for quickest knockout at five seconds.
Paying respect to Masvidal and calling him a “gangster” but noting that he wasn’t a “West Coast gangster” like Diaz himself. The callout came with respect, a wild cheer from those at home, and money signs across the eyes of everyone involved at the UFC.
In just one interview, Nate Diaz created a fight with Masvidal, a ‘BMF’ title, and then a debate among many about who would be in a ‘BMF’ created division. The UFC took notice, and quickly went to work in making Diaz vs. Masvidal a dream matchup come true. Then they went the extra mile and created a ‘BMF’ title just for this fight at UFC 244.
It will be the first PPV main event without a title since 2016, which saw Nate Diaz face Conor McGregor in a rematch from their first fight in which Diaz shocked the world and beat the Irish superstar.
The stage is set for Diaz vs. Masvidal, two fighters have been through it all in their careers, who are finally getting the respect they deserve and don’t need to trash talk every opponent to gain notoriety.
UFC 244 will take place at Madison Square Garden on November 2, 2019, and fans wish it could happen today. Matter of fact, fans would likely pay to see Diaz and Masvidal fight each other, any time and anywhere.
“Gamebred”
For Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal, who grew up fighting in Kimbo Slice’s backyard fights, it’s been a long journey to get to the main event slot at MSG. But it’s a well-deserved position.
After beating Darren Till in his own backyard back in March, Masvidal went viral for serving Leon Edwards a “three-piece and a soda” after their backstage encounter. That is when he put all fighters on notice, he’s not here for trash talk or games, he’s here to fight.
Masvidal’s style of just being ready to fight was on full-display as he prepared for his fight against Ben Askren at UFC 239. Not even willing to mention his opponent’s name in conversations with the media before the fight, while Askren continued to chirp throughout, Masvidal said he’d do his talking in the cage. The conversation was quicker than a one-liner.
In five seconds Masvidal became a massive star and set a UFC record for fastest knockout when he landed a flying knee to Askren. He followed by a couple punches that “Gamebred” deemed “super necessary” in his post-fight press conference. Masvidal didn’t arrive to UFC 239 to talk trash or build up a fight with Askren, he came to win and he took as little time as needed to do so.
While both Masvidal and Diaz have some memorable quotes and one-liners in previous encounters with former opponents, both are best known for what they do inside the Octagon, and that’s simply fight.
Trash Talking Isn’t Needed
In the social media era where fighters are engaging in back-and-forth, trash talk or calling fighters out with disrespectful comments, no unnecessary drama is needed for UFC 244.
Masvidal and Diaz respect each other as fighters, and they’re looking to fight each other to see who is the ‘BMF’ in the UFC. That’s how they were raised in their fighting lives. It was never about who could get the most likes on social media or who could make the crowd laugh, for Diaz and Masvidal, it’s always been about who is the best fighter and getting what they deserve throughout their career.
As the welterweight title is held up with talks stalling between champion Kamaru Usman and the very outspoken Colby Covington, Diaz and Masvidal have bypassed everyone in the division. With a title that Diaz created on his own, that gave the UFC a masterful main event to bring to one of the most iconic arenas in combat sports history.
Fans have been raving about the fight since it was announced and while some were unimpressed with the lack of trash talk between the two fighters at their first press conference. Maybe this is a reminder that there is not always a need for drama. Both fighters have quite the following and those fans believe that each of them are the baddest fighter in the game.
They’ll be facing each other to see who walks away with that title, both the physical belt and the label.
At UFC 244, it’s all business, with no drama necessary. UFC got behind two of their most beloved fighters who are known for simply that, fighting. A belt was created, a division has been debated among fans and media alike, and all that’s left is a fight between Diaz and Masvidal.
It’s a fight that many would say, even without trash talk, is super necessary.
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The Scrap’s Mike Pendleton has worked for numerous MMA outlets and has a passion for telling stories within the combat sports industry. Follow him on Twitter (@MP2310) and listen to his On The Mic Podcast on iTunes.
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