Brawl, Brawl, Brawl. In the end, what was supposed to be concluded as talks came to a halt with push and shove and then fists? It’s not the ending scene of a Hollywood thriller. But the press conference for the upcoming Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz boxing match retained all the drama nonetheless. As they congregated for the fight presser in Anaheim, California, a full-fledged brawl broke out between their respective teams. Understandably, the incident would be subject to the ‘Rashomon Effect’. So, is there a better way to get a clear picture? Apparently, there is. From those who were present in the thick of the fracas. A clip from FightHype features one of the security personnel who eventually brought the situation under control. It’s a different fact; his resume highlights an association with none other than Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Four years after their inconclusive business at New York’s Madison Square Garden, the two UFC legends decided to settle the pending argument in the squared circle. A fight date of June 1 was fixed for a ten-round light heavyweight bout at the Los Angeles-based KIA Forum. Subsequently, the event met with a change in date and venue. July 6 was confirmed as the new fight date. It will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Mayhem at Anaheim and the Timely Intervention
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Reaching out to ‘Jizzy Mack’, a reporter asked, “Jizzy, what happened from your vantage point? You almost had control there crowd control….almost had….did a great job, man. You did a great job.” The veteran security guard replied that he and his team need to ensure that, in such a situation, things don’t go out of hand. Because a free-for-all might result in unwarranted injuries, which in the long run doesn’t bode well for the fight or the event.
Emphasizing the risks involved, the reporter highlighted that most of the team members had some experience in mixed martial arts. Nevertheless, when push comes to shove, ‘Jizzy Mack’ continued that they need to stay middle-of-the-road in a non-partisan way.
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Appreciating the ex-Mayweather Jr. security and his team, the reporter said that the organizers had picked the ideal candidate for the firefight. They have the requisite experience and wherewithal. In the end, they performed exceptionally. ‘Jizzy Mack’ replied, “That it’s all about control and making sure everybody’s okay.” As he walked towards the exit, the reporter made a passing remark that had it not been for him and his team, then things could have become unmanageable.
Who is ‘Jizzy Mack’?
Tehran-born Ray Vinci ‘Jizzy Mack’ Sadeghi has been in the personal security business for some time. Perhaps most of the fans and followers remember him on account of his tenure with boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr., whose security detail he reportedly joined in 2013. He was once asked how he would handle being confronted with a situation such as the infamous Khabib Nurmagomedov–Conor McGregor UFC 229 post-fight melee.
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‘Jizzy Mack’ replied, “At the end of the day, Floyd is my family; he’s my brother. If anybody go come at Floyd, they’re gonna get it from me, regardless of who they are. Whether it’s Khabib, whether it’s Conor, whether it’s Bruce Lee, I don’t care. I’m coming at you.” With a degree in dentistry under his belt, the 42-year-old boasts an exhibition boxing fight as well. At age 40, he fought Koji Tanaka in Japan two years ago. Unfortunately, he lost the bout via technical knockout.
What’s your take on the Masvidal-Diaz commotion? Do you think, given the terms between the two, the fight would proceed smoothly or disasters such as the latest one would be the norm?