UFC president Dana White has said that a fight between Jorge Masvidal and Connor McGregor would be the biggest event in UFC history. Yet, ‘Gamebred’ seems willing to forgo that for a rematch with Kamaru Usman.
Masvidal lost to Usman via unanimous decision this past weekend at UFC 251, having replaced Gilbert Burns one week’s notice after the Brazilian tested positive for the coronavirus.
“I want that damn belt”
Speaking to ESPN‘s Ariel Helwani, Masvidal gave credit to Usman for beating him on Fight Island but promised that he’ll get his hand raised next time.
“I want that damn belt, and I’m stubborn. 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.”
Whereas at the start of 2020, Masvidal insisted that he was putting money fights ahead of title fights, seven months into the year and the reverse is true now.
“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 said. “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.”
Immediate Rematch?
Despite the loss at UFC 251, Masvidal appears to have come out of it without losing any of the hype he built in 2019 with three huge wins over Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz. Now he has set his sights on an immediate rematch with Usman and he’s confident that the champion will be onboard with the idea.
“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.”
Masvidal will have competition to challenge Usman from Burns and Leon Edwards, who are both deserving of a shot at the title on paper. ‘Gamebred’ however, is adamant that he deserves a second shot at the title.
“I’m not going to be judging anybody,” Masvidal said. “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.”
Do you think Jorge Masvidal deserves an immediate rematch with Kamaru Usman?
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