Jorge Masvidal hinted at possible retirement if he loses to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287, stating that winning would mean things are headed in the right direction for him.
Could UFC 287 be the last time we see Jorge Masvidal inside the cage? The fighter, known as “Gamebred,” hinted at possible retirement in the countdown to UFC 287, where he is set to face Gilbert Burns. Masvidal mentioned that he might retire should he lose to Burns on Saturday, stating, “This could be the last one. If I lose, I’m pretty much calling it quits. But a win against Gilbert means that things are headed in the right direction.”
Currently, Masvidal is on the longest losing streak of his career, having lost three straight main event bouts, all before turning 38 years old. He was defeated in back-to-back title challenges against Kamaru Usman and then lost a unanimous decision to longtime rival Colby Covington at UFC 272 in March 2022. However, before this losing streak, Masvidal emerged as a star in the MMA world, with notable victories over Nate Diaz, Ben Askren, and Darren Till.
Heading into his 52nd pro bout and marking his 20th year as a professional fighter, Masvidal remains optimistic about having one last championship run. He expressed his mindset going into the fight, stating, “I think I’m at my best right now. My mental, my physical, now I’ve got to go out there and prove it.” He added the importance of starting his resurrection in his hometown, Miami, and declared, “April 8, I give it all I got and I win we keep rolling that dice until we get that f****** belt. Let’s go.” The UFC 287 Countdown featured the Burns vs. Masvidal segment and gave a closer look into both fighters’ preparation for the upcoming bout.