Jorge Masvidal says he wants to prove he is better than Kamaru Usman even if it means passing up a potential match with Conor McGregor.
Jorge Masvidal recently headlined UFC 251 opposite Kamaru Usman for the Welterweight title. The eagerly anticipated match however, failed to live up to expectations with Masvidal looking gassed after the first-round while Usman seemed content with outwrestling his opponent rather than go for the kill.
Also read: Jorge Masvidal reacts to UFC 251 record Buyrate
In Masvidal’s defence however, his participation in the event was only confirmed a week before the pay-per-view cutting him off valuable preparation time to train and make weight. Originally scheduled to face Usman, Masvidal pulled out due to a contract dispute with the UFC.
Gilbert Burns took his spot in the title bout. However, Burns tested positive for Covud-19 leaving the UFC in the hunt for a new challenger. Masvidal took up the challenge on short notice and naturally came short against a fighter who has now gone 12-0 in the UFC.
Burns looks like Usman’s possible challenger in the future. Leon Edwards, who has now gone 8 consecutive victories has also dropped his hat in the mix. However, Masvidal wants an immediate rematch ahead of them.
“I’m not going to be judging anybody,” Masvidal told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. “Is Gilbert good? Yes. Is Leon good? Yes. These guys are good, but I’m going to vote for myself. I want to fight Usman next.”
Jorge Masvidal wants Kamaru Usman rematch over mega fight with Conor McGregor
Despite losing a seemingly one-sided match, Masvidal is far from deterred. Instead, the loss has strengthened his resolve to prise the UFC Welterweight title from Usman’s tight grip. He expressed his desire to fight once again this year as long as the opponent is Usman even if it means passing up a big money fight against Superstar Conor McGregor.
“I want that damn belt, and I’m stubborn,” Masvidal said. “And I know I’m better than Usman, and I want to prove it. I want to fight again.
“I’m not going to take nothing from him; he won the first one. Let’s do it again.”
“You can tell me that McGregor right now would make X, Y, Z dollars, the biggest pay-per-view you get in history, right, and I’m going to get paid forever,” Masvidal added. “I feel I’m getting compensated well enough now that if I keep making the right decisions I’ve been doing; this money is forever money. So, it’s not about money.”
UFC 251 recorded a reported 1.3 million buys. This is the highest since UFC 229 when McGregor took on Khabib Nurmagomedov. Obviously there is incentive for the UFC to book this match. Masvidal, used the lure of their huge draw to preposition Usman into a rematch.
“We’ll talk to [the UFC],” Masvidal said. “I’m sure Usman would be onboard, because this is the most money he’s made.
“So if he wants to make that big-boy money again, gotta run it back, come on, let’s go. So in business that makes sense. I don’t know what his management is thinking or what he’s thinking, but obviously that’s what I want to do.”
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