This weekend, the “BMF” champion will once again have an opportunity to grab true UFC gold and as the fight draws nearer, Jorge Masvidal is ramping up his trash talk.
On Saturday, Masvidal will rematch welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC 261. The two first fought 10 months ago at UFC 251 with Masvidal losing a unanimous decision. However, many things have changed since the two first fought. For instance, UFC 251 took place in Abu Dhabi and without fans in attendance whereas Saturday’s card takes place in Jacksonville, Fla., and will be the first event with full fan attendance in over a year, something Masvidal is excited about.
“For starters, let me say what an honor,” Masvidal told ESPN. “That I get to welcome the world back to regular-ness and to headline a full event, full capacity, and I’m the one headlining it. It is such an honor. Just for life to go back to the way it is, I love it. What an honor, what a blessing it is, truly.”
Fans in attendance aren’t the only difference though. When Masvidal first challenged Usman, he stepped in on a week’s notice to replace Gilbert Burns after Burns’ coach tested positive for COVID-19, forcing him out of the event. Masvidal did well early but faded after the first round and lost a unanimous decision, a loss he has since blamed on not having enough time to prepare. Now though, Masvidal has had a full training camp and says he’s in much better shape.
“Usually I cut seven to nine pounds for a fight when I have proper notice and that’s the same exact thing I’m cutting now,” Masvidal said. “Last time it wasn’t the same, it was about 20 pounds. I’m just excited. I’m ready to go. I’m ready to shut this s*** down. It’s gonna be violent action from start to finish. I’m gonna expose the coward that he is and I say that with all honesty because he’s nothing but a coward. He said a lot of things that crossed the line. So let’s go. Let’s get in there and find out who is a real man and who is not.”
It’s unclear exactly what Usman has said that “crossed the line” for Masvidal but over the past year, the war of words between the two has remained pointed. In fact, it’s part of the reason Usman called for the rematch in the first place. Masvidal has not fought since losing his title shot last year whereas Usman defended his title in February, overcoming adversity to knock out Burns in the third round. It’s a performance that impressed a lot of people but not “Gamebred.” Masvidal dismissed Usman’s KO of Burns by throwing shade at the fighters he has beaten and assured fans that on Saturday, he would right the wrong that happened last July.
“I got in there 25 minutes with him and I never wobbled,” Masvidal said. “He never hit my chin and I said, ‘Oh snap, I don’t want to get hit again.’ I was very tired, I was fatigued, and that’s usually when the hit will hurt you. That’s like times triple. If you’re fatigued and somebody touches you, it’s way worse. He doesn’t hit, he doesn’t crack.
“The scouting report? Who is he doing it against? The last guy that he beat up was a BJJ guy and the fight before that that he broke his jaw was some fragile wrestler guy (Colby Covington). These guys are not dudes that are made out of stone. They’re not dudes that made a living off this (brandishes his fist). Those guys that he beat up on the feet are dudes that made a living off ‘Let me hug another man’ and stuff like that. I don’t compete like that, I don’t make my money like that. People pay to see me because I’m gonna give them what they want: entertainment and nothing but violence.”
UFC 261 takes place Saturday at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.
TOP STORIES
Results. John Lineker destroys Troy Worthen with first-round KO at ONE on TNT 3.
Paid in half. Drakkar Klose to receive show money, promotional compliance pay following UFC Vegas 24 scratch.
Retirement. Kamaru Usman not sure who’s next after Jorge Masvidal but admits ‘walking away’ in the near future is an option.
Rematch. Dana White declares Colby Covington is next in line for title shot at welterweight.
Partners. UFC partners with COVID-19 screening app, mask maker for UFC 261.
Ambien. Chuck Liddell reveals what really happened during his infamous, incoherent interview from 2007.
VIDEO STEW
UFC 261 Media Day.
Embedded 3.
Top finishes.
Usman’s journey to UFC champion.
Congratulations!
How GSP spent his first $1M.
LISTEN UP
Heavy Hands. Discussing the top fights at UFC 261.
Jack Slack. Discussing the top fights at UFC 261.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Nice.
Thank u for support from around the world.
10 months ago I had a hip replacement thinking I was done.
Coming back to fight on @onechampionship against a killer like @niekyholzken really was a dream come true.
Just got a doctor check after that head kick and looks like I’m fine. pic.twitter.com/yjJofQlM2N— John Wayne Parr (@johnwayneparr) April 22, 2021
No excuses.
Full camp, no excuses. It’s time to end it. #UFC261 pic.twitter.com/B5cC0vNK4P
— UFC (@ufc) April 21, 2021
That tracks.
Nah I got paid more in my pro boxing debut that I took on less than 12 hours notice than I did in all my pro MMA fights before the @ufc combined
— Luis Antonio Pena (@violentbobross) April 21, 2021
Still throwing shade.
Spending quality time with my son. Them #2CHECKSSS allowed me to purchase my son a zebra, wrestling headgear, 10 Wrestling privates with Jordan Burroughs and a roundtrip ticket to AKA to train with DC! pic.twitter.com/JTrly581Mc
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 21, 2021
Congratulations.
Can’t argue with this.
Ive travelled the world and nothing even comes close to Tescos £3 meal deal.
— Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) April 21, 2021
For those asking this is todays meal deal and yes its a jagggggg its also my dads pic.twitter.com/H6BLcZAJen
— Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) April 21, 2021
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lorenz Larkin (22-7, 1 NC) vs. Costello van Steenis (13-2); Bellator 258, May 7.
Karina Rodriguez (8-4) vs. Daiana Torquato (10-3); Invicta FC, May 21.
Alesha Zappitella (8-2, 1 NC) vs. Jessica Delboni (10-2); Invicta FC, May 21.
Francisco Figueiredo (12-3-1) vs. Malcolm Gordon (12-5); UFC Fight Night, July 17.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
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