ABU DHABI – Mike Brown wants to see Jorge Masvidal in a big fight next.
Masvidal (35-16 MMA, 12-9 UFC) is on a three-fight losing skid, but remains one of the top draws in the sport. “Gamebred” has been linked to a bout with Gilbert Burns, but also called out UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards to settle their beef.
Whether it’s Burns, Edwards, or the returning superstar Conor McGregor, Brown is confident any of those matchups would sell big.
“I want it to be something exciting, something big, something people get excited about,” Brown told MMA Junkie. “There are a lot of guys that would make sense, but I don’t know. Gilbert, Conor, Edwards, whatever. There’s a lot of big ones out there, I think he’s one of the biggest stars in the sport. Put him with any of these guys and you got one of the biggest pay-per-views of all time.”
Masvidal lost back-to-back title fights to Kamaru Usman, followed by a lopsided decision to former teammate Colby Covington in March. Masvidal allegedly assaulted Covington outside a Miami Beach restaurant just weeks later and was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and criminal mischief. He currently awaits his pre-trial hearing.
In the meantime, Brown says Masvidal has been working hard at the gym, and continues to grow as a fighter – even after close to two decades as a professional.
“He’s in the lab developing techniques, developing skill all the time, that’s what he’s doing,” Brown said. “He’s hard at work right now. I say it all the time, this guy’s got more weapons than anybody, and he’s always developing new tools, new tricks, and that’s exactly what he’s doing now.
“He’s in the gym drilling more than anybody in there, putting in the work, putting in the time. I mean it’s crazy to think, but he’s developing a lot of new tricks and weapons. Something you wouldn’t expect from a guy 50 fights in, but that’s what makes him so great and that’s what he’s doing right now.”
