Advertisement
Jorge Masvidal
Martial ArtsMixed Martial Arts
Patrick Blennerhassett
Patrick Blennerhassett

The Takedown | UFC 251: Jorge’s Masvidal’s title shot against Kamaru Usman on Fight Island will make or break his career

  • The ‘Gamebred’ BMF belt-holder has valiantly stepped in on short notice to face ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’
  • Masvidal, 35, could cap off his journeyman career with a championship performance, or quickly float back into obscurity

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Jorge Masvidal has talked the talk, now it’s time to walk the walk. Photo: AP
Patrick Blennerhassett

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.

Advertisement
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 a belt will turn into a night terror on Yas Island just off the coast of Abu Dhabi.

Usman (16-1) is heavily favoured to win this fight, he is as ferocious as he is technically sound. He previously defended the welterweight belt against Colby Covington (15-2) at UFC 245 in December via fifth-round TKO in a fight-of-the-night performance. Anyone watching saw a serious war of attrition, of two men relentlessly pummelling each other until one finally, after close to 25 minutes, emerged victorious.

Jorge Masvidal’s 2019 was impressive, but it is 2020 now and the UFC has a short memory. Photo: AP
Jorge Masvidal’s 2019 was impressive, but it is 2020 now and the UFC has a short memory. Photo: AP
Advertisement
Masvidal (35-13) is the third-ranked welterweight fighter according to the UFC’s website, however the 35-year-old is going to find himself with his hands full against Usman, who is 33 and the UFC’s sixth-ranked pound-for-pound fighter. Usman appears to be in the prime of his career, evident from a training video posted to his Instagram where he is seen beating the stuffing out of sparring buddy Justin Gaethje.

Masvidal picking up this bout on six days’ notice – ESPN reporting the two travelled from Las Vegas via a chartered flight – is not how this tilt was supposed to go down. Burns was the replacement for Masvidal after contract talks between the UFC and the Miami native fell through, and if you are heading into what could be the final tent pole fight of your career, you don’t want any easily explainable excuses for a loss.

Advertisement