Jorge Masvidal isn’t all that interested in fighting Michael Chandler.
Masvidal, a two-time UFC welterweight title challenger and ‘BMF’ champion, won’t seriously entertain Chandler’s recent callout – for now. Masvidal (35-16 MMA, 12-9 UFC) is looking to earn money and title-contender status in the division, and he doesn’t think beating Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) would get him either.
“In terms of Michael Chandler, that fight doesn’t do anything for me,” Masvidal told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “You need to be selfish in this sport. It’s all me, me, me, and me. Everything you can do for yourself. So look, he doesn’t get me closer to the title at 170 pounds. That alone doesn’t make me interested.
“It also doesn’t make me the most money in this sport, because he’s not a (pay-per-view) draw. He’s known, but in terms of pay-per-view, he doesn’t sell. So if the numbers aren’t there, what the hell am I doing? And then on top of that, he’s from another weight division – 155. So if I hit him, and he turns into ashes, people are going to say, this is what was supposed to happen because he’s a lightweight.
“So again, he doesn’t bring any reward. It’s not something that interests me remotely. Like I said, he’s got no (ranking) at welterweight, so it doesn’t interest me at all.”
Although a fight with Chandler doesn’t seem to interest Masvidal at the moment, that doesn’t it couldn’t make sense down the line.
Masvidal, who’s coming off a trio of losses to Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, had been angling to fight top contender Gilbert Burns, who’s set to return against Neil Magny on Jan. 21 at UFC 283.
If the fight against Burns materializes and Masvidal gets his hand raised, Masvidal could see a scenario in which he fights Chandler as a keep-me-busy bout as he awaits a bigger opportunity.
“Now, to make it in between fights, maybe I could do it,” Masvidal said. “I could fight Gilbert (Burns), and as a wait for a more serious fight, I could do something fun like fighting this guy, what’s his name, the d*ck sucker who doesn’t know how to say my name. I’ve already told him like three times, my name is Jorge, not George. All these fighters are like that. The guy doesn’t interest me.”
