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Until the contract is signed for a bout in London pitting Leon Edwards against Colby Covington, then Jorge Masvidal will still believe he is next in line for a shot at the welterweight title.
Masvidal faces off against Gilbert Burns this Saturday at UFC 287 in Miami, a homecoming for the self-proclaimed king of the city.
“I never underestimate any man, but this is a favorable matchup,” says Masvidal. “I’m going to run through him. And after next week, I’ll be competing for the belt.”
UFC president Dana White has been clear that Covington is next in line for a shot at welterweight champ Leon Edwards, and there is an unrelenting push from the company to ensure that fight occurs this summer in London. Yet Masvidal is not convinced that Covington will actually take the bout.
“This is not Colby’s title shot,” says Masvidal. “Colby won’t fight Leon.” In March 2022, Masvidal was arrested for allegedly punching Covington twice in the face outside a restaurant in Miami Beach. He is facing charges of aggravated battery and criminal mischief, with the trial currently set to begin in May.
“The reason why I’m facing these felonies is he’s saying I did this and that to cause him to have a brain injury,” says Masvidal. “How the f--- are you going to compete if you’ve got a brain injury? You’re not.”
In addition to his ongoing issues with Covington, Masvidal believes he is the better draw for a title bout against Edwards.
“Like Colby, Leon is another guy that doesn’t sell, especially [in] America,” says Masvidal. “Neither of those guys are draws. I’m the draw.
“Me and Leon have a little bit of history. I gave him the three-piece and the soda. All he could do is taste my fists. Next time, he’s getting the whole buffet. I’m his nightmare, and that nightmare is going to come to life.”
The next title shot will likely belong to Covington regardless of the outcome Saturday, but Masvidal certainly helps his case with a victory. Masvidal (35–16) has dropped three straight bouts, and the 38-year-old desperately needs this win.
“I’ve got the utmost respect for Gilbert,” says Masvidal. “I’ve known him and the circles he runs in for a while. It’s not personal, but come fight night, I’m trying to break his face.”
Masvidal is riding a high from the past weekend, where his Gamebred Boxing promotion held a star-studded card headlined by Anthony Pettis defeating Roy Jones Jr. José Aldo, Jeremy Stephens, Vitor Belfort and Ronaldo Souza were also part of the Gamebred 4 card.
“It’s friggin’ amazing,” says Masvidal, who has also promoted events with MMA Bare Knuckle and iKon Fighting Championship. “For starters, to have Roy Jones Jr., who in combat isn’t in utter awe of this individual? He’s just amazing. One of the better 155-pounders I ever saw compete was Anthony Pettis in his prime, and José Aldo is the best 145-pounder to ever live. It’s taken a lot of grinding, but we’re very proud of it. I’m the most blessed man in the world.”
For the first time since last March, Masvidal is back in the Octagon this weekend. Burns (21–5) is a tough matchup. He has won two of his past three bouts, and eight of his last 10. His calling card is not a wrestling-heavy approach, the kind that stifled Masvidal when he faced Covington and Kamaru Usman, opponents that account for his three-fight losing streak. Burns is phenomenal on the ground, so Masvidal needs to be successful in avoiding takedowns.
“I’m going to do everything in my power to throw bombs,” says Masvidal. “You want to see violence, you want to see two motherf---ers going at it, that’s what this will be. I’m not trying to win on points or sniff crotches. That’s why people spend their money when I’m in the equation. That’s why I’m a fan favorite.
“When you watch on Saturday, expect sheer violence.”
Israel Adesanya will enter uncharted waters with a loss at UFC 287
Israel Adesanya will enter uncharted waters if he loses at UFC 287.
That would mark back-to-back losses to Alex Pereira, who will look to immediately move to light heavyweight if he defeats Adesanya. Pereira is oversize for middleweight, and cutting weight is a legitimate concern, but those worries are eased if he moves up a weight class.
If Adesanya loses, he will then be competing with a giant shadow hanging over him. That won’t be entirely fair—his success in MMA has been otherworldly, and he built a legitimate legacy after ripping off nearly two dozen consecutive wins in his division. But the Pereira issue looms large, figuratively and literally, and a second consecutive loss to him will forever haunt Adesanya.
Considering this might be his last shot at Pereira, it is imperative that Adesanya wins. He could even afford to lose the ensuing trilogy bout, which is bound to occur if he wins—but he cannot lose this bout to Pereira.
UFC and WWE bound to have crossover
Following the news of this week’s acquisition, UFC and WWE now both share Endeavor as their parent company.
Naturally, this leads to speculation regarding talent on both sides. Could Brock Lesnar be lured back into the Octagon? He fought at UFC 100 and UFC 200, and having him at UFC 300 would be a big addition. And how soon will Michael Chandler appear on WWE programming to champion his work on The Ultimate Fighter?
Conor McGregor, of course, is also a leading candidate to appear in WWE. But both sides should be strategic with his appearance. Similar to Mike Tyson’s involvement at WrestleMania 14, McGregor should only allow himself to be involved with the right story line. It cannot simply be a promotional tie-in; it would need to be a full-fledged story line.
MMA stars do not automatically transition to pro wrestling. The best example is Ken Shamrock, whose work in pro wrestling deserves him a place in the WWE Hall of Fame. Shamrock understood the business better than most; even if he could have decimated everyone on the roster, he took punishment and effectively sold everyone else’s offense. Shamrock will be a blueprint to follow for those seeking either longevity and/or success in pro wrestling.
Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.
