COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – When Nate Diaz hopped on the microphone after his decision victory over Anthony Pettis at UFC 241 and called out Jorge Masvidal, his rationale was unusual – but on-brand.

The main reason he wanted the fight? There are “no gangsters in this sport anymore” who compete the way Diaz prefers.

The feeling on Masvidal’s end is seemingly mutual. When Masvidal (34-13 MMA, 11-6 UFC) was asked about the callout from Diaz (20-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC) at an American Top Team media day Thursday, he gave his best guess: lack of steroid use.

For years, Diaz (and his brother Nick) has commented on their belief performance-enhancing drug use is rampant in MMA. Diaz made this clear when asked about Jon Jones’ positive test during UFC 200 fight week, saying “everybody is on steroids.’

A fellow pre-U.S Anti-Doping Agency-era competitor, Masvidal attributes their longevity in MMA to avoiding performance-enhancing substances.

“Like Nate, I’ve never used steroids,” Masvidal said. “I don’t think that dude has either. I don’t live with him, so I don’t know. But his body hasn’t really changed. He gets in better shape. Some fights, maybe he didn’t take it as seriously and wasn’t in crazy shape.

“But I don’t think he’s ever done steroids. I’ve never done steroids. That might be a big thing toward the longevity.”

After 19 years of competition, Masvidal is still competing at the highest level. His popularity is at an all-time high, and he is likely closer than ever to a UFC title shot. According to the 33-year-old welterweight, steroids were never a part of his lifestyle regiment – a self-attribute he feels very passionate about.

“This what you see here is natural, God given, hard work abilities,” Masvidal said. “Ain’t no (expletive) bottles, injections in my ass, (or) ‘Two years I was really good. I won a (expletive) belt. Then when USADA came in, don’t nobody knew where the (expletive) I’m at. Nobody seen me.’

“I’m still here. I beat Till – that’s a young bull (at) 25 or something like that. Kid is a stud. I beat him, man. They put me up with Ben because they said it’d be a bad fight matchup for me. Murdered him, you know?

Fired up, he continued, “I must be doing something right. Or I must have not cheated back in the day, like a lot of (expletives) did when all of you media (expletives) were covering them, knowing these (expletives) were on juice. Not worried about the natural killers, man. The real killers, man. Because when these curtains close, some wild (expletive) on this side, man.”