https://www.scmp.com/rss/502629/feed Jorge Masvidal is a Cuban-American MMA fighter with the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com MMA legend Demetrious Johnson will be lighting up ONE Championship’s stacked 10th anniversary card in Singapore this weekend. But a less savoury tale has been hogging some of the spotlight this week. Jorge Masvidal is facing a felony battery charge after an alleged attack on his UFC rival Colby Covington outside a restaurant in Miami on Monday night. Covington beat Madvidal in a five-round unanimous decision this month, and former UFC flyweight champion Johnson feels no one has come out of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3171612/one-championships-demetrious-johnson-jorge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3171612/one-championships-demetrious-johnson-jorge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Mar 2022 18:50:31 +0000 Drake lost big on Saturday night’s UFC 272 main event – and Colby Covington made sure to let the Canadian rap superstar know he backed the wrong horse. Covington took a dominant unanimous decision against Jorge Masvidal, whom Drake had placed US$275,000 on to win. The 35-year-old singer and actor shared a video on his Instagram story of him placing the bet, while ring announcer Bruce Buffer made the introductions for the five-round fight – a wager which would have landed him over US$1 million... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3169475/ufc-272-colby-covington-mocks-drake-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3169475/ufc-272-colby-covington-mocks-drake-over?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Mar 2022 17:01:46 +0000 Colby Covington got the last laugh in his long-festering rivalry with Jorge Masvidal. The pair used to be training partners at American Top Team in Florida, and even shared a flat for a brief period. After a highly publicised falling out, they were given the chance to settle their differences in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 272 card in Las Vegas. Covington made it look easy. The 34-year-old American (17-3) got to work with his wrestling early, and did not relent. Masvidal enjoyed a brief... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3169436/ufc-272-colby-covington-dominates-jorge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3169436/ufc-272-colby-covington-dominates-jorge?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Mar 2022 07:12:39 +0000 Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington will soon have the opportunity to settle their score. According to a report from ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the two welterweight contenders will collide at UFC 272 on March 5, in Las Vegas Nevada. Their fight will serve as the card’s main event, meaning it will be contested over five rounds, rather than the three rounds typical for non-title bouts. Let's have some fun. Jorge Masvidal (@GamebredFighter) vs. Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) will headline UFC 272 on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3163028/ufc-272-jorge-masvidal-colby-covington-settle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3163028/ufc-272-jorge-masvidal-colby-covington-settle?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jan 2022 22:46:46 +0000 Jorge Masvidal did not take kindly to Jake Paul calling him out on Saturday night. The YouTube star-turned-boxer had just crumpled the former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley with a sixth-round KO in their rematch in Florida. He then begged UFC president Dana White to let him fight some of the promotion’s biggest stars, including Kamaru Usman, Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor – and Masvidal. The 37-year-old American “Gamebred” (35-15) – one of the UFC welterweight division’s top contenders, and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3160318/ufcs-jorge-masvidal-tells-jake-paul-you-cant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3160318/ufcs-jorge-masvidal-tells-jake-paul-you-cant?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Dec 2021 12:24:44 +0000 Bad news, fight fans: Jorge Masvidal will not be fighting Leon Edwards at UFC 269. Masvidal has been forced off the card, which is scheduled for December 11 in Las Vegas, with an undisclosed injury. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, who noted that there’s currently no word on whether the fight will rebooked for a later date, or if the UFC will look at new options for the two men. “Rocky” Edwards (19-3) and “Gamebred” Masvidal (35-15) are both ranked in the welterweight top-10,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3155623/ufc-269-jorge-masvidal-out-leon-edwards-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3155623/ufc-269-jorge-masvidal-out-leon-edwards-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Nov 2021 03:03:35 +0000 Shaking off his unanimous decision defeat by welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 268, Colby Covington renewed another old rivalry, taking aim at Jorge Masvidal during the post-event press conference. “I think the most logical step is the heated rivalry with me and my old roommate, ‘Street Judas’ Masvidal,” Covington told reporters backstage at Madison Square Garden in New York in the early hours of Sunday morning. “He should probably pull out of that fight with Leon Scott [Leon Edwards]... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3155191/ufc-268-colby-covington-begs-dana-white-let?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3155191/ufc-268-colby-covington-begs-dana-white-let?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Nov 2021 11:51:39 +0000 The scene was pure modern day Shakespeare: Conor McGregor, face bloodied, leg broken, back against the cage, being interviewed by UFC commentator Joe Rogan, lashing out in an expletive-laden tirade as he suffered his third loss in his fourth fight. Dustin Poirier, who had just beaten the UFC’s biggest star for the second straight time, walked from the Octagon with a dismissive smirk on his face, while his wife Jolie – who had become the target of unacceptable vitriol from “The Notorious” –... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3141220/end-conor-mcgregor-ufcs-biggest-icon-might?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3141220/end-conor-mcgregor-ufcs-biggest-icon-might?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jul 2021 10:09:21 +0000 Suffice to say Colby Covington was not impressed by former teammate Jorge Masvidal’s performance against champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 261 on Saturday. The former UFC interim welterweight champion, who lost to Usman via fifth-round TKO in what president Dana White called “one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen” in December of 2019, was cageside in Jacksonville, Florida, and is favoured for the next title shot. Covington (16-2) has been demanding a rematch with “human trash-bag” Usman (19-1),... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3131014/ufc-261-colby-covington-goads-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3131014/ufc-261-colby-covington-goads-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Apr 2021 10:51:35 +0000 Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman made sure to show Jorge Masvidal respect, but used one of his opponent’s most famous lines to defend the extra shots he landed after knocking him out at UFC 261. “The Nigerian Nightmare” (19-1) – who stunned “Gamebred” (35-15) with a second-round KO in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday - used the same quip Masvidal had used after his record-breaking win over Ben Askren in 2019, when he landed a few follow-up hammer fists having clearly knocked “Funky” out cold... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3131012/ufc-261-kamaru-usman-trolls-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3131012/ufc-261-kamaru-usman-trolls-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Apr 2021 10:41:51 +0000 Kamaru Usman retained his welterweight title in stunning fashion by knocking Jorge Masvidal out cold in the second round of their UFC 261 main event on Saturday night. After the pair had traded big shots in the stand-up during a back-and-forth first round, “The Nigerian Nightmare” (19-1) loaded up a huge right hand to sleep “Gamebred” (35-15), whose whole body went limp. Masvidal tried to get up but Usman put his lights out for good with more hammerfists at 1:02 of the second... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3130987/ufc-261-kamaru-usman-knocks-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3130987/ufc-261-kamaru-usman-knocks-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Apr 2021 04:54:01 +0000 Nine and a half months ago, Jorge Masvidal lay down on the floor of a sauna wrapped head to toe in towels as he pushed his endurance to the limit to cut 20 pounds in six days. “Gamebred” had just flown halfway around the world to take a UFC 251 welterweight title fight against Kamaru Usman in Abu Dhabi on a week’s notice, too. “It was rough. But I did it. I get s*** done,” Masvidal said after weighing in on Fight Island. “I’m hurting though, initially during the weight cut, but now it’s all... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3130939/ufc-261-jorge-masvidal-hurting-no-more-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3130939/ufc-261-jorge-masvidal-hurting-no-more-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Apr 2021 09:31:33 +0000 Jorge Masvidal certainly got into it with Kamaru Usman at a back-and-forth UFC 261 press conference on Thursday. UFC welterweight champ Usman (18-1) is the heavy favourite again going into Saturday night’s main event, having dominated their first encounter last July, but “Gamebred” (35-14) is promising to shock the world on a full camp. “Not having to cut 20 pounds in six days means a lot to me,” Masvidal said. “I will bring that title right back to Miami. All the energy I wasted on cutting... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3130843/ufc-261-jorge-masvidal-mocks-kamaru-usmans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3130843/ufc-261-jorge-masvidal-mocks-kamaru-usmans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Apr 2021 10:28:49 +0000 Having already knocked off contenders Colby Covington, Leon Edwards and Gilbert Burns, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman thinks Jorge Masvidal is about to start a trend. For “The Nigerian Nightmare”, Saturday night’s UFC 261 main event will mark his first title rematch of possibly many as he continues to dominate the 170-pound division. “You’ve got 14 losses in your career, seven of them in the UFC. You’re 3-3 in your last six. You’re sitting there today because I chose you,” Usman told... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3130795/ufc-261-kamaru-usman-tells-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3130795/ufc-261-kamaru-usman-tells-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Apr 2021 07:45:05 +0000 Jorge Masvidal’s larger than life personality has found its way onto the big screen. The UFC star known as “Gamebred”, who last fought at UFC 251 last July, in which he lost a short-notice five-round decision to welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, inspired a specific move for Cole Young, said Lewis Tan, who portrays the fictional character in Mortal Kombat. The Mortal Kombat reboot film is slated for April after being delayed due to the pandemic. One of the characters is Young, a former mixed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3122628/ufc-jorge-masvidal-inspires-mortal-kombat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3122628/ufc-jorge-masvidal-inspires-mortal-kombat?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Feb 2021 07:41:19 +0000 Jorge Masvidal has thrown some serious shade at Kamaru Usman after the welterweight champion dispatched challenger Gilbert Burns at UFC 258 over the weekend with a third round TKO. “Nigerian Nightmare” Usman (18-1), who is 13-0 in the UFC, passed former champion Georges St-Pierre for the most consecutive wins in the welterweight division, and said he would be open to a fight with the Canadian. The 33-year-old Usman then mentioned Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal (35-14) in his post fight interview,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3121773/ufc-jorge-masvidal-throws-shade-champion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3121773/ufc-jorge-masvidal-throws-shade-champion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Feb 2021 13:00:07 +0000 Kamaru Usman had kind words and hugs for former teammate Gilbert Burns after retaining his welterweight title with a third-round TKO at UFC 258. For Jorge Masvidal? Not so much. “We got this little street thug calling himself Jesus, he thinks he’s Jesus,” Usman told Joe Rogan backstage after his win in Saturday night’s main event at the Apex facility in Las Vegas. “Joe, we tried to make that fight several times, but he kept backing out. The only reason this man took the fight was because it was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3121697/ufc-258-kamaru-usman-tells-jorge-masvidal-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3121697/ufc-258-kamaru-usman-tells-jorge-masvidal-its?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Feb 2021 07:21:36 +0000 After his fight with Khamzat Chimaev was scrapped for a second time, Leon Edwards has no intention of hanging around and waiting. Welterweight contender Edwards (18-3) wants to keep his Fight Island date in Abu Dhabi – understandable, given he hasn’t fought since July 2019 after a series of cancellations caused by bad luck – and already has a name in mind. “Rest up Khamzat, I’m sure I’ll see you soon,” the Briton tweeted. “But I want to fight January 20 on the island @danawhite @seanshelby @ufc... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3115825/ufc-leon-edwards-calls-out-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3115825/ufc-leon-edwards-calls-out-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Dec 2020 07:47:10 +0000 Colby Covington insists there’s only one man holding up his potential fight with Jorge Masvidal – and that’s “Gamebred” himself. The former training partners and friends have been in talks for a showdown after Covington (16-2) stopped former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley (19-6-1) in September with a fifth-round TKO. The bad blood between the pair has been building for over 18 months following Masvidal’s (35-14) rise to prominence, and reached a crescendo with “Chaos” leaving the American... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3115649/ufc-colby-covington-says-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3115649/ufc-colby-covington-says-jorge-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Dec 2020 05:21:00 +0000 Conor McGregor claimed this week he had the highest grossing UFC pay-per-view of 2020. But Jorge Masvidal seems to have something to say about that. Former two-weight champ McGregor (22-4) tweeted out an official document which appeared to show UFC 246 – headlined by the Irishman’s 40-second demolition of Donald Cerrone – pulled in more than 1.35 million buys in January. “I am honoured to secure their highest PPV of the year,” the 32-year-old wrote. Congrats to the @ufc on a well fought 2020!... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3115115/ufc-jorge-masvidal-camp-disputes-conor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3115115/ufc-jorge-masvidal-camp-disputes-conor?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Dec 2020 09:29:58 +0000 UFC fan favourite Nate Diaz appears to be nearing a long-awaited comeback after calling out Dan Hooker for a fight. The 35-year-old American (20-12), who has not fought since losing to Jorge Masvidal for the “BMF” title at UFC 244 in November 2019, posted a caption-less video highlight on social media of New Zealander Hooker’s (20-9) first-round TKO win over No 1 welterweight contender Gilbert Burns more than two years ago. “The Hangman” Hooker’s teammate, the UFC middleweight champ Israel... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3105487/ufc-nate-diaz-calls-dan-hooker-fight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3105487/ufc-nate-diaz-calls-dan-hooker-fight?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2020 08:09:32 +0000 Gilbert Burns feels he played a major part in Jorge Masvidal getting the title shot at UFC 251 on Fight Island, and subsequently the contract he desired from the promotion. “If I didn’t say yes, that fight between Masvidal and Kamaru [Usman] would never have happened on Fight Island,” the Brazilian told SCMP MMA. “It might have happened later but I said yes and I got the fight and I got the deal done. Three title fights, Fight Island. I had the Covid, they pulled me out, and then Masvidal came... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3094677/jorge-masvidal-should-send-me-his-tequila-ufc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3094677/jorge-masvidal-should-send-me-his-tequila-ufc?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jul 2020 03:27:57 +0000 Darren Till is by all accounts happy and hungrier than ever after moving up to the UFC’s middleweight division. But bowing out at 170 pounds the way he did against Jorge Masvidal on home soil at UFC London in March 2019 remains a regret for “The Gorilla”, who had been coming off a second-round submission loss by then-champion Tyron Woodley. “I think we’re going to stick to the game plan,” Till (18-2-1) told a virtual media day ahead of Sunday’s bout against former middleweight champ Robert... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3094238/darren-till-says-hed-be-ea-sports-ufc-4-cover?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3094238/darren-till-says-hed-be-ea-sports-ufc-4-cover?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jul 2020 08:33:10 +0000 In early 2020 UFC lightweight fighter Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal sat down with American author and entrepreneur Grant Cardone for an interview. Masvidal, never one to shy away from a camera or microphone, threw out lots of hypotheticals, predictions and conclusions in his typical braggadocious style. One of his offerings was the Cuban-American has already thought about his life after the UFC, which now includes a decision loss to Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 over the weekend on Fight Island, his 49th... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3093230/ufc-jorge-masvidal-loses-kamaru-usman-wins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3093230/ufc-jorge-masvidal-loses-kamaru-usman-wins?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Jul 2020 06:19:27 +0000 Leon Edwards believes it’s his turn to fight for the UFC welterweight title, but he’s open to other options. The welterweight division is all fight fans are talking about after last weekend’s UFC 251 card, which saw the reigning champion Kamaru Usman defend his throne with a lopsided decision win over short-notice challenger Jorge Masvidal. Edwards, like anybody else with an interest in fighting, was tuned in for that championship bout, but he wasn’t surprised by the outcome. “I thought what... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3093406/ufc-jorge-masvidal-nothing-special-and-ill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3093406/ufc-jorge-masvidal-nothing-special-and-ill?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Jul 2020 05:45:23 +0000 Jorge Masvidal could be forgiven if he wanted to rest up after the crushing disappointment of losing his UFC 251 title fight against Kamaru Usman on Sunday. That’s not to mention the physical pain he must have been feeling, going five suffocating rounds with “The Nigerian Nightmare” after a “rough” 20-pound weight cut taking the fight on six days’ notice. Add to that another gruelling 18-hour flight home to Miami, and it was a surprise to see the 35-year-old Masvidal immediately pick up a bike... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3093258/jorge-masvidal-back-training-48-hours-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3093258/jorge-masvidal-back-training-48-hours-after?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jul 2020 06:39:37 +0000 If Dana White didn’t know Jorge Masvidal moves the needle, now he knows. Sunday’s stacked UFC 251 card on Fight Island – headlined by Masvidal’s unsuccessful tilt at Kamaru Usman’s welterweight title – drew a gigantic 1.3 million pay-per-view buys. It was the most for a UFC event since Conor McGregor lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018, which did a record 2.4 million buys. “He’s a big star,” admitted White at a media scrum in Abu Dhabi, ahead of Thursday’s UFC Fight Night:... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3093251/jorge-masvidal-big-star-admits-dana-white-ufc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3093251/jorge-masvidal-big-star-admits-dana-white-ufc?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jul 2020 06:04:14 +0000 Dana White had said interest in UFC 251 was trending something close to Conor McGregor vs Khabib Nurmgaomedov, and the reported figures show it was the company’s biggest show since that infamous October 2018 fight. The Athletic reported that Sunday’s stacked Fight Island card, headlined by UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal, did 1.3 million pay-per-view buys. Usman largely dominated fan favourite Masvidal en route to a unanimous decision. “The overwhelming amount of support I... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3093073/jorge-masvidal-reacts-huge-ufc-251-pay-view?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3093073/jorge-masvidal-reacts-huge-ufc-251-pay-view?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jul 2020 05:15:43 +0000 Colby Covington said he would fight Jorge Masvidal “for free” after a scathing review of his title fight against welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on Sunday. “Gamebred” lost to Usman on six days’ notice via unanimous decision at UFC 251 on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi. “The UFC has a new name to it: the Ultimate Footsie Championship. It was a pathetic performance and put me and my friends to sleep,” “Chaos” Covington (15-2) said to Submission Radio of the headline event. The 32-year-old Covington... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3093000/ufc-251-ill-fight-jorge-masvidal-free-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3093000/ufc-251-ill-fight-jorge-masvidal-free-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Jul 2020 11:32:45 +0000 After Jorge Masvidal came up short in his bid to win the welterweight title from Kamaru Usman in the UFC 251 main event on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, talk naturally turned to his next step in the company. One thing’s for sure – as long as “Gamebred” gets his way, he won’t be fighting Colby Covington. “The fragile guy with the MAGA hat, definitely not him, because he got finished by this guy [Usman] with a full training camp,” Masvidal said at the post-event press conference. Covington... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092858/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-shuts-down-chance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092858/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-shuts-down-chance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Jul 2020 12:12:03 +0000 As Jorge Masvidal and Kamaru Usman were in the process of walking out for Sunday’s UFC 251 main event on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, an interest tweet flashed up on broadcast. “A US$200,000 bet was placed on Masvidal at +230 against Kamaru Usman in tonight's welterweight title fight. If Masvidal were to pull off the upset, the total payout for the wager would be US$660,000,” wrote Chris Maathuis of CBS-affiliated television station KLAS-TV. “Masvidal is now priced at +220 at William Hill, while... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092849/ufc-251-kamaru-usman-ridicules-bettor-who?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092849/ufc-251-kamaru-usman-ridicules-bettor-who?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Jul 2020 11:21:24 +0000 An extremely “butt-hurt” Jorge Masvidal insisted he now has the “square root formula” to beat welterweight champion Kamaru Usman after losing via unanimous decision at UFC 251 on Sunday. The 35-year-old Masvidal (35-14), who fought for a UFC title for the first time in his near-17-year pro MMA career, was clearly devastated by the loss despite taking the fight on just six days’ notice. “I hate coming up short. I’m not gonna make excuses. He was the better man tonight,” “Gamebred” Masvidal said... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092847/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-insists-he-has-formula?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092847/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-insists-he-has-formula?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Jul 2020 10:41:26 +0000 It was a long road to a title shot for Jorge Masvidal. His 49th professional fight, and 19th UFC appearance to be precise. Derided as a “journeyman” by some – including Kamaru Usman – he couldn’t find the knockout magic that had brought him to the brink of a fairy tale title win at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi. Masvidal was announced during the broadcast as the cover star of the new UFC 4 video game, but welterweight champion Usman (17-1) spoiled the party and stretched his win streak in the UFC to 12... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092831/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-loses-unanimous?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092831/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-loses-unanimous?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Jul 2020 06:21:17 +0000 Conor McGregor’s infamous October 2018 grudge match against Khabib Nurmagomedov remains the UFC’s all-time record show for pay-per-view buys. But Dana White claims interest in UFC 251 on Fight Island is on similar levels. “This thing is trending off the charts. This thing is trending higher than a Conor McGregor fight. The only thing that this fight is comparable to is Conor-Khabib,” White told reporters in Abu Dhabi after Friday’s official weigh-ins. Jorge Masvidal (35-13) will challenge UFC... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092780/dana-white-claims-ufc-251-trending-high?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092780/dana-white-claims-ufc-251-trending-high?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jul 2020 07:57:50 +0000 Jorge Masvidal may have made it look easy. But his UFC 251 weight cut was no joke. “Twenty pounds in six days,” Masvidal told reporters after Friday’s official weigh-ins in Abu Dhabi. “That’s all I’m gonna say. It was rough. But I did it. I get s*** done.” “Gamebred” (35-13) slid in on short notice to save Sunday’s Fight Island main event against Kamaru Usman (16-1), after Gilbert Burns tested positive for coronavirus. He left Las Vegas for the UAE on Monday after passing preflight Covid-19... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092774/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-hurting-after-cutting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092774/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-hurting-after-cutting?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jul 2020 06:35:43 +0000 Jorge Masvidal was eating barbecue at a friend’s Fourth of July party when he got the call to negotiate a new deal to save the UFC 251 main event. He may have taken the fight on just six days’ notice, but don’t be fooled. As his American Top Team Teammate Dustin Poirier said, Masvidal “isn’t coming off the couch” to Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. “At the end of the day it’s a fight, it’s not a math test, it’s not an SAT test, that I’m not maybe the best at,” Masvidal told the UFC’s virtual media... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092613/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-thinks-kamaru-usman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092613/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-thinks-kamaru-usman?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jul 2020 04:28:43 +0000 Fighting in an empty arena on Sunday will be bittersweet for Kamaru Usman. While he feels it will help him “break” Jorge Masvidal “internally”, he wanted his previously incarcerated father to watch him live for the first time. UFC welterweight champion Usman’s father Muhammed was released from Seagoville prison in Texas in February after serving most of his 180-month sentence for health care fraud, according to ESPN. He had been watching “The Nigerian Nightmare” fight on “basic cable” in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092610/ufc-251-kamaru-usman-sad-his-father-wont-see?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092610/ufc-251-kamaru-usman-sad-his-father-wont-see?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jul 2020 04:15:05 +0000 There’s an air of menace Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal carries with him that pumps up PPV buys and puts bum on seats, a sense that even when the UFC welterweight is playing nice, things might soon turn nasty. It was all on show again during Friday morning’s virtual media day in the lead up to UFC 251 and the 35-year-old Cuban-American’s moment of truth – Saturday’s shot at the belt currently held by Kamaru “The Nigerian Nightmare” Usman (16-1). The question had been innocuous enough – asking... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092607/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-promises-more-super?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092607/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-promises-more-super?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jul 2020 04:06:51 +0000 UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman has criticised UFC 251 opponent Jorge Masvidal for seemingly having double standards after taking the fight on short notice – and for a much bigger payday than he was first offered. Usman’s (16-1) original opponent, Gilbert Burns, tested positive for coronavirus a week before Sunday’s fight on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. But Burns, coming off a dominant win over former champ Tyron Woodley in May, had only slid in after UFC matchmakers’ negotiations with Masvidal... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092593/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-out-himself-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092593/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-out-himself-after?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jul 2020 03:11:11 +0000 Dana White says Jorge Masvidal’s “BMF” belt will not be on the line against Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 this weekend. “Gamebred” Masvidal (35-13), who is stepping in to fight welterweight champion Usman (16-1) on six days’ notice, won the “BMF” belt after beating Nate Diaz via third-round doctor’s stoppage last November. White put to bed any rumours of two belts being up for grabs – despite protests from “The Nigerian Nightmare”. “It is not on the line. Usman wants it to be on the line so bad, he... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092314/ufc-251-kamaru-usman-terrorising-dana-white?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092314/ufc-251-kamaru-usman-terrorising-dana-white?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2020 08:05:54 +0000 Jorge Masvidal may have taken Sunday’s UFC 251 main event against Kamaru Usman on six days’ notice, but “Gamebred” may be more prepared than he’s letting on. “You know, it’s short notice because he didn’t have the contract signed, but let me tell you what, this guy was there my whole training camp, was my main sparring partner – we probably put in five weeks of sparring together,” Dustin Poirier told The Fight with Teddy Atlas. Masvidal’s American Top Team teammate Poirier, who beat Dan Hooker... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092272/ufc-dustin-poirier-says-jorge-masvidal-isnt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092272/ufc-dustin-poirier-says-jorge-masvidal-isnt?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2020 04:23:47 +0000 Jorge Masvidal will be without Mike Brown in his corner when he takes on Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 on Sunday in Abu Dhabi. The 35-year-old Masvidal’s long-time American Top Team coach tested positive for the coronavirus in preflight screening tests on Monday in Las Vegas. Brown did not travel on the UFC’s charter flight to Yas Island in the UAE. Combate first reported the news, which the 44-year-old American confirmed to MMA Junkie via text message. “Just heartbroken I’m not going to be able to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092263/ufc-jorge-masvidals-coach-mike-brown-tests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092263/ufc-jorge-masvidals-coach-mike-brown-tests?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2020 03:40:14 +0000 Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: Jorge Masvidal has got some stones for stepping into the UFC 251 main event on Fight Island on July 11. The 35-year-old “Gamebred” BMF belt-holder jumped in with less than a week to go after Gilbert Burns tested positive for Covid-19, and Masvidal now finds himself with a legitimate opportunity: a chance at the welterweight title against Kamaru “The Nigerian Nightmare” Usman. Problem is, this is most likely where Masvidal’s dream at finally holding... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092101/ufc-251-jorges-masvidals-title-shot-against?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092101/ufc-251-jorges-masvidals-title-shot-against?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jul 2020 12:00:15 +0000 Jorge Masvidal said he predicted the UFC would call him to arrange the short-notice replacement fight against Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 this weekend. Welterweight champion Usman’s (16-1) original opponent, Gilbert Burns, was taken off the Fight Island card headliner after testing positive for Covid-19. Masvidal, who had spent weeks in disagreement with the UFC over fighter pay, took the bout on six days’ notice. “We had to break them down … but I’m gonna do my job and provide for me and my... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092197/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-says-dana-white-will?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092197/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-says-dana-white-will?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jul 2020 10:34:32 +0000 Colby Covington will bet big on welterweight champion Kamaru Usman beating late-replacement Jorge Masvidal having lived and trained with the “lazy as f***” Cuban-American in the past. The 32-year-old former interim champion (15-2), who had expressed initial interest in replacing Usman’s original opponent Gilbert Burns at UFC 251, recalled sharing a flat with former American Top Team teammate Masvidal (35-13). “I was actually ready. I know Jorge. I lived with that guy for a year and a half. I... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092158/ufc-251-colby-covington-says-kamaru-usman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092158/ufc-251-colby-covington-says-kamaru-usman?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jul 2020 09:00:24 +0000 Kamaru Usman said he was cracking open a beer when he received the call that Jorge Masvidal would be stepping in to fight him at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi this weekend. UFC welterweight champion Usman (16-1), who is the promotion’s first African title-holder, had travelled home to Florida and loaded up on food after hearing about original opponent Gilbert Burns testing positive for Covid-19 on Friday. “We tried to reach out to Masvidal – he said no. We tried to reach out to Covington – he said no.... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092138/ufc-251-kamaru-usman-not-fooled-jorge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3092138/ufc-251-kamaru-usman-not-fooled-jorge?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jul 2020 07:31:01 +0000 Nate Diaz has weighed in on the late-notice replacement fight between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251 this weekend. American Diaz (20-12), who last fought in a loss to Masvidal (35-13) via third-round doctor’s stoppage in November last year, tweeted: “Real fights are better fights 100 [per cent]”. The comment came following news that welterweight champion Usman’s (16-1) original opponent, Gilbert Burns (19-3), pulled out last week after testing positive for Covid-19. Diaz, 35, has... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3091993/ufc-251-nate-diaz-calls-usman-vs-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3091993/ufc-251-nate-diaz-calls-usman-vs-masvidal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jul 2020 09:00:18 +0000 Jorge Masvidal has passed his Covid-19 test and is officially scheduled to face Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi this weekend. “Gamebred” Masvidal’s manager teased that the “BMF” champion was “negotiating” for the replacement fight on Sunday, with UFC president Dana White releasing the new, makeshift fight promo on Monday. Welterweight champion Usman’s (16-1) original opponent, Gilbert Burns, was whisked off the card on Friday after he and two cornermen tested positive for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3091965/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-passes-covid-19-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3091965/ufc-251-jorge-masvidal-passes-covid-19-test?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jul 2020 06:12:50 +0000 Colby Covington has once again blasted former teammate Dustin Poirier despite beating New Zealand’s Dan Hooker in a fight-of-the-year contender at UFC Vegas 4 last week. Former interim welterweight champion “Chaos” Covington (15-2) had previously apologised for breaking a “deal to keep it civil” with “The Diamond” Poirier (26-6, one no contest) and others from Dan Lambert’s American Top Team. Lightweight Poirier then dared Covington, who has since left the team, to return to the gym last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3091876/ufc-colby-covington-says-former-teammate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3091876/ufc-colby-covington-says-former-teammate?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jul 2020 08:18:09 +0000 Well, it looks like Jorge Masvidal will be heading to Fight Island after all. The UFC 251 main event for July 11 was scrapped on Friday night when Gilbert Burns and his two cornermen tested positive for Covid-19 in Las Vegas, just hours ahead of getting on a charter flight to Abu Dhabi. UFC welterweight champion Usman (16-1), who trains with Brazilian Burns (19-3) at Sanford MMA in Florida – where coronavirus cases have skyrocketed – did not board the flight either. But the UFC quickly threw a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3091868/jorge-masvidal-will-fight-kamaru-usman-ufc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3091868/jorge-masvidal-will-fight-kamaru-usman-ufc?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jul 2020 05:52:38 +0000