For a moment, it seemed all but inevitable that recently retired UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal would enter the squared circle against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
The pair exchanged barbs via social media and the press for months, but eventually died down. Now, speaking with Paul on his BS podcast, Masvidal revealed that the fight was never even close to materializing. The UFC simply was not going to let Masvidal, then a major star for the promotion, step outside the Octagon.
Jorge Masvidal Reveals The UFC Would NEVER Let Him Box
“If I’m being honest with you, the conversations I’ve had with the UFC, they’ve never wanted to let me go do boxing. They’ve shut down things of that nature.
I don’t think you know how far away we really were from doing something. That’s why it doesn’t happen often when you’re under full contract, especially somebody like me. They’re very picky.” Although Masvidal is retired, he remains under the UFC banner, and would need their permission to enter another sport.
“Definitely, I would box. That’s something I wanted to do, especially as I started progressing more in my skill set. I have a pro boxing fight, it took place like 14 or 15 years ago. Boxing was like my first love.
So I would definitely do a boxing match if the UFC would permit me. They would have to give me permission. They’d have to be like, ‘Yeah, go do your thing.’ If not, can’t do no boxing match.”
Masvidal also offered Paul his opinion on Paul’s next fight, against a former opponent of Masvidal’s: Nate Diaz. Masvidal defeated Diaz via doctor’s stoppage when they fought, and “Gamebred” had some advice for the younger fighter.
While Diaz was likely best known for his aggressive, effective jiu-jitsu, Masvidal pointed out that his greatest weapon was always his endurance. Masvidal expects Diaz to be a decent boxer when he makes his debut against Paul.
“Nate’s definitely going to have the experience over you. He’s got crazy endurance. I think the opening round is going to tell me a lot. He’s got great cardio, and I think, especially in boxing, he should make an easy transition.
I would think out of all the categories you could have in martial arts, like wrestling being one of them, boxing, [etc.,] boxing is something that comes very natural to [Diaz]. I think he’s going to be a decent boxer.”
Do you think Jorge Masvidal will ever get to box? Now that he’s retired from the UFC, will he make an ideal opponent for Jake Paul? Let us know in the comments.
