Jorge Masvidal is excited to fight in the co-main event of UFC 287, the first UFC event in Miami in 20 years, and remains confident that with a win, he will get another shot at the UFC welterweight title.
Jorge Masvidal is excited that the UFC is returning to Miami after 20 years. On Saturday, he will compete in the co-main event of UFC 287, a significant fight card with personal importance for Masvidal. He had been in attendance at UFC 42 two decades ago, and he shared his memories of the event at the UFC 287 media day. He said, “Twenty years ago, I was 17, about to turn 18… I was at the event, the nostalgia of seeing all these fighters I’ve been f****** dissecting since I was 11, 12 years old… After that, all that euphoria, I was able to analyze what was happening and … I looked over to my boy and I said, ‘Not only can I do this, but I’ll bring this show, eventually, one day, here.’ That eventually took 20 years, so it took me a little bit, but we’re here.”
Facing a challenging matchup against Gilbert Burns, Masvidal is currently on a three-fight losing streak and is the biggest betting underdog on the card. Despite the odds, he remains confident in his ability to put on a show for the Miami crowd. He said, “It’s not no diss to Gilbert or nothing, I just feel like throughout my whole career, I would match up very well with him… At any point in my career, I could beat this guy, stylistically… I just feel I just have to go out there and do my job Saturday.”
However, Masvidal’s future remains uncertain even if he manages to secure another highlight reel knockout. Though he and welterweight champion Leon Edwards have a preexisting rivalry, UFC president Dana White has already declared Colby Covington as the next title challenger. Masvidal argues that a fight against Edwards would sell significantly more pay-per-views due to his own star power and their contentious history. With a win on Saturday, he believes that he will jump the line and secure his third shot at the UFC welterweight title. UFC 287 takes place Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami.