In a truly entertaining 10-round boxing match, Diaz got the nod over Masvidal by majority decision as the UFC veterans traded shots in a back-and-forth battle in front of a sold-out crowd at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The difference for the two judges who scored the fight for Diaz seemed to be his relentless volume and pressure, which constantly kept Masvidal on his back foot.
Masvidal definitely landed the bigger power punches, but that didn’t sway the scorecards that ultimately cost him the fight.
In the end, the judges scored the contest 97-93 and 98-92 for Diaz, with the third official submitting a 95-95 draw.
That was still enough for Diaz to get the win in his second professional boxing match.
“It feels good to get the job done,” Diaz said afterward. “Mission accomplished. I could feel the love out here every time. Shout out to California. It’s all love.
It’s always been respect for anyone I’m fighting. He showed up and came to fight and so did I, so it’s all good.”
It was a classic Diaz performance early as he came out throwing punches in bunch, going to the head and body and backing Masvidal against the ropes.
That death by 1,000 cuts style that worked so well for Diaz in MMA seemed to translate for him in boxing as well, as he showed no fear stepping into the pocket for the exchanges with Masvidal.
