Jorge Masvidal will fight Kamaru Usman in UFC 251 main event ‘barring any last-minute hiccups’
- Masvidal undergoes coronavirus testing with negotiations for blockbuster ‘Fight Island’ welterweight title bout ‘moving in positive direction’
- ‘Gamebred’ and ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ hint their grudge match is on after Gilbert Burns tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday
Well, it looks like Jorge Masvidal will be heading to Fight Island after all.
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 Hail Mary and brought “Gamebred” Masvidal (35-13) back to the negotiating table.
First, Masvidal’s manager Malki Kawa posted Instagram stories of the “BMF” champion “negotiating” and getting tested for Covid-19 – suggesting a return to the Octagon is imminent. The 35-year-old has been on the sidelines since a third-round TKO of Nate Diaz at UFC 244 in November. Initial negotiations for a title shot against “The Nigerian Nightmare” Usman for UFC 251 had fallen apart, allowing No 1-ranked Burns to slide in after dismantling former champ Tyron Woodley in May.
ESPN’s Ariel Helwani then reported there are “active negotiations ongoing” to book Usman vs. Masvidal as next weekend’s UFC 251 main event. “I’m told the sides believe there is a now a path to make it happen,” he tweeted.
