BMF champion Jorge Masvidal will take on UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on short notice at Yas Islands in Abu Dhabi this weekend at UFC 251.
Initially, it was Gilbert Burns who was scheduled to fight Kamaru Usman, but the fight fell apart after Burns tested positive for Covid-19.
The UFC had to improvise and they made a deal with Jorge Masvidal. Initially, it was Masvidal who was going to fight Usman, but the fight fell apart after UFC and Masvidal failed to reach the financial agreements.
But with Masvidal vs Usman set for UFC 251, the fight is now even bigger. Masvidal’s short notice replacement has made media waves throughout the world indicating a rise in the Cuban’s popularity. As a result, Masvidal is on high demands amongst media outlets which have led to displeasures in Kamaru Usman’s camp.
According to Masvidal’s manager Ibrahim Kawa, Kamaru Usman is upset that the Cuban is getting all the media attention.
Rumor has it that usman is upset that Jorge is getting all the media attention and has asked the ufc to please include him in the national media spots.
— Ibrahim Kawa (@Abraham_kawa) July 9, 2020
“Rumor has it that usman is upset that Jorge is getting all the media attention and has asked the ufc to please include him in the national media spots,” Kawa said.
Jorge Masvidal is in fighting shape: Dustin Poirier
While Jorge Masvidal may have taken the fight on short notice, he was already in a fighting shape according to Dustin Poirier.
Poirier revealed that Masvidal was helping him prepare for Dan Hooker fight and they were sparring with each other for nearly five weeks.
“It’s a short notice (fight) because he (Jorge Masvidal) didn’t have the contract signed. But let me tell you what. This guy was there my whole training camp (for Dan Hooker), he was my main sparring partner. We probably put in five weeks of sparring together. He flew in wrestlers, the best wrestlers in the world, I think they put them up just for Masvidal to use. Even when the fight fell through and they gave it to Burns, I think it was at the end of my training camp, Jorge was still in the gym every day like he had a fight,” Poirier said.
“I don’t know if he knew something we didn’t, but the guy was in training camp the whole time and never stopped. I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people with the shape he’s in, his timing’s going to be good because he was in my camp the whole time. Helping a few guys, not just me. He’s in fight shape, I know that much. This isn’t a guy who’s coming off the couch. This is a guy who was preparing to fight Usman and the fight fell through and he kept training,” Poirier concluded. (H/T – BJPenn.com)
Who do you think wins in a fight between Jorge Masvidal and Kamaru Usman?
ALSO READ: