Jorge Masvidal calls Nate Diaz ‘borderline vegetable’ and backs move to quit UFC before suffering ‘serious brain damage’

JORGE MASVIDAL claims Nate Diaz is a "borderline vegetable" who risks more "serious brain damage" if he returns to UFC.

The two MMA legends are both 37 but Masvidal reckons Diaz has lost his "wittiness and sharpness" and pauses longer when answering questions.

Diaz appeared to SLAP one of Jake Paul's team just before the YouTuber beat Anderson Silva in the boxing ring on Saturday night.

And Diaz, who defeated and then lost to Conor McGregor in 2016, has himself been linked with a fight against Paul.

But Masvidal is sure the Californian was right to bow out of UFC following his victory over 38-year-old Tony Ferguson last month.

The Florida welterweight told MMA Fighting: "That's good for him to leave the big leagues before he gets serious brain damage.

"I think the guy's a borderline vegetable. His interviews, his spunkiness, his wittiness and sharpness has gone to s***.

"You have to wait for him. The pauses have gotten longer.

"You used to ask him a question, it used to be like a two-second pause — now it's like a 30-second pause."

Masvidal overcame Diaz three years ago in a 'BMF' title fight and they spoke respectfully of each other afterwards.

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But now Masvidal insists: "He shouldn't be in the big leagues. He's going to get hurt, man.

'Take that old a** dude somewhere else. Plus, I almost killed his a** until the referee saved him. I don't really like him too much."

Diaz has moved on from the UFC but his fighting days may not be over just yet.

He has been linked with a boxing match against Jake Paul who is set to fight another UFC legend in Anderson Silva on Saturday night.