Opening Odds for BMF Rematch: Masvidal a Huge Favorite Over Diaz

As MMA fans get prepared some big UFC fights over the next few months, UFC President Dana White dropped a bombshell on the sport when he announced that a rematch between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz is in the works.

The two men first fought in November 2019 in an exciting bout that most critics and fans felt was prematurely stopped by the doctor due to Diaz suffering a nasty cut.

The news of this rematch didn’t just blow up social media platforms like Twitter, but it also lit up online sports betting sites as the opening odds for this rematch sparked a lot of debate.

BMF rematch coming 👀

Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz bout “is being discussed” for January, per @arielhelwani pic.twitter.com/UoSGvzKLIw

— Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) September 1, 2020

When Will the Rematch Take Place?

For the last 10 months, Dana White has shot down all rumors or ideas about Jorge Masvidal defending the BMF title during that span. White went on record numerous times saying that the BMF title was a one-time thing. Apparently, Dana’s had a change of heart over the last week.

White addressed the media following a recent episode of his Contenders Series and made the following comments about a rematch between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal:

“(Masvidal) wants to defend it against Diaz. They were the first two to fight for it. You know what I mean? They were the guys that fought for it. He wants to put it up versus Nate again.”

White would go on to say this rematch is “being worked on” and that it’s not 100% done yet. However, all signs are pointing to the two popular fighters facing each other again in January 2021.

That would be an ideal time for this fight to take place as it’s expected that fans will be able to return to live events by then.

Masvidal vs Diaz 2 Betting Odds

The following betting odds are courtesy of BetOnline:

• Jorge Masvidal (-325)
• Nate Diaz (+275)

At first glance, these odds have an incredibly large disparity. In their first fight, the lines were even as both men opened at -110 odds. They closed with Jorge Masvidal as the favorite in a range of -140 to -170. Nate Diaz closed at a range of +105 to +140.

For the rematch, Masvidal opens as a massive betting favorite at -325 and Diaz is listed at +275.

You have to go all the way back to UFC 178 in September 2014 to find a fight where Masvidal opened as this big of a favorite. At that event, Masvidal fought James Krause and won via unanimous decision.

For Diaz, his first fight against Conor McGregor saw him open at +260 and close anywhere from +280 to +400. Nate Diaz won that bout via 2^nd round submission.

In his bout against Donald Cerrone at UFC 241 in December 2011, Diaz opened as a +280 underdog. He would win that fight via unanimous decision.

What Happened in the First BMF Fight?

The first fight took place in the main event of UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden. It was a huge PPV event where fans were buzzing around the globe. In fact, megastars like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and one of boxing’s all-time greats Roberto Duran were in attendance.

In the first contest, Jorge Masvidal started off the fight as the aggressor and was getting the better of Nate Diaz. He was far ahead on the scorecards and opened up a nasty cut over Diaz ‘s right eye, which eventually led the doctor to stop the fight after the third round.

Despite looking beat up, Diaz was starting to come back in the fight and is well-known for pouring it on in the 4^th and 5^th rounds. Team Diaz, the fans and critics were disappointed that the doctor stopped the fight at that point.

Masvidal was disappointed as well. Jorge said after the event, and every time that the media has asked him since then, that he would give Diaz a rematch whenever he wanted.

It appears that we’re finally going to get the opportunity to see these two veterans of the sport face-off one more time.

What Have They Done Since UFC 244?

Since their first contest, Nate Diaz has been relatively quiet for such an outspoken fighter. We’ve seen a few things here and there on Twitter, but no significant interviews or demands for a fight. Other UFC stars have called Diaz out, but he has remained stoic in his silence.

Jorge Masvidal fought at UFC 251 against Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title and ended up losing via unanimous decision. Masvidal took the fight on one week’s notice, had to travel to Abu Dhabi, and clearly didn’t have the endurance to win that contest.

Nevertheless, Masvidal’s stock remains high and there were plenty of speculations on who he would fight next. Diaz was one of a few possible opponents being mulled over by the UFC.

Just a few days prior to this publication, Tyron Woodley confirmed that Masvidal had been helping him train for his upcoming bout against Colby Covington on September 19^th. Woodley and Masvidal go way back since their days together at ATT.

Who to Bet on for Diaz vs Masvidal BMF Rematch

I’m a fan of both fighters and can see the arguments for both men winning in the rematch. From a strictly betting perspective, these opening odds offer tremendous value for Nate Diaz.

It’s crazy to see Diaz being listed as this large of an underdog. I fully expect these UFC betting odds to come down as we get closer to January’s rumored fight date.

That’s why I believe if you are going to bet on this fight right now, it’s best to take Nate Diaz since his odds are so high.

Dana White: ‘BMF’ title would be up for grabs in Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz 2 https://t.co/rsXGxZDmDh

— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) September 2, 2020

I believe Diaz has a solid chance at defeating Masvidal in a rematch because he will have learned from the first fight and take a different approach in the opening rounds. More than likely, Diaz will take the fight to the mat sooner.

If you are going to back Jorge Masvidal then wait until we get closer to fight night as his odds will come down to a more reasonable wager. Right now, he’s a 3-to-1 favorite which means you would have to bet $325 dollars to win $100 dollars.