UFC 261: Jorge Masvidal's blueprint to finally dethrone Kamaru Usman
An easier weight cut, tools to stop the takedown and octagon time with Kamaru Usman has left Jorge Masvidal confident he holds the blueprint to finally dethrone the Nigerian… and the fan-favourite has promised ‘violence’ ahead of their rematch at UFC 261
- Jorge Masvidal believes he now has the blueprint to dethrone Kamaru Usman
- Gamebred, 36, was controlled from start to finish when the pair met at UFC 251
- Nine months on, and Masvidal has promised ‘violence’ ahead of their rematch
- The fan-favourite says that a less rigorous weight cut will give him more energy
- He also insists he has the tools to stifle Usman’s wrestling and grappling
It is not commonplace for fighters to be afforded a second bite of the cherry, and for Jorge Masvidal, UFC 261 is quite possibly the fan-favourite’s last shot at finally clinching the welterweight title.
Although as far as Gamebred is concerned, Saturday’s main event in Jacksonville, Florida is not a case of now-or-never to win UFC gold.
‘I feel like every fight, I have to win,’ he told ESPN. ‘But no, I don’t feel like [this is his last title opportunity] at all. I just feel like I’m going to win this fight, and I’m going to continue to do bigger and better things before I close the chapter on this MMA thing.’
Jorge Masvidal has a second bite at the cherry and doesn’t want it to go to waste at UFC 261
The fan-favourite (R) fell short when he took on Kamaru Usman (L) on Fight Island last July
Masvidal, 36, has had nine months to stew on his Fight Island defeat to Kamaru Usman, in which he stepped in on six days’ notice to take on the welterweight champion at UFC 251.
Despite blitzing Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz in a sensational 2019, Masvidal was unable to dethrone Usman, who coasted to a comfortable unanimous points’ decision victory to hold onto his belt.
Since then, the 36-year-old has been out of action, campaigning for Donald Trump as well as hanging out with YouTube boxer Jake Paul while patiently waiting his turn for another tilt at Usman’s championship.
Masvidal, 36, believes he is well-equipped to turn the tide and secure a surprise victory
In truth, there have been grumblings as to Masvidal’s worthiness of another shot at Usman’s belt, considering his inactivity and that other welterweight contenders such as Colby Covington and Leon Edwards are in good form.
But Usman has given Masvidal the shot, and now Street Jesus will be bidding to ensure that their Jacksonville clash is not a repeat of their one-sided contest on Fight Island.
On Thursday, the pair came face-to-face at the UFC 261 press conference, with Masvidal insisting that he has the blueprint to do what 13 UFC fighters have failed to and defeat the champion.
‘I do my math on everybody,’ he told reporters. ‘Being in there for 25 minutes it makes me know that my math is a lot more sharper.
The 36-year-old has enjoyed the benefit of a full training camp and a less rigorous weight cut
Masvidal also says he has the formula to stifle Usman’s world class grappling and wrestling
‘One thing is thinking in your head and one thing is feeling the strength level, the endurance, his rhythm, how he moves, how he is thinking, how he reacts to certain situations.
‘So I take that blueprint and bring it into my next fight, execute my maths.’
It is one thing knowing, and another thing executing. Masvidal was unable to stifle Usman’s world class grappling and wrestling first time around, with the 33-year-old keeping a lid on Masvidal’s dangerous striking from start to finish.
Now, with the benefit of a full camp and a less rigorous weight cut – in which Gamebred was required to lose 20 pounds in six days – Masvidal is confident that he will have the energy to stifle Usman’s strengths and capture the title.
‘Not having to cut 20 pounds in six days means a lot to me,’ Masvidal said. ‘I will bring that title right back to Miami. All the energy I wasted on cutting weight is going to be spent putting a finish on him.’
Gamebred has vowed to bring ‘violence’ to the octagon in front of 15,000 returning fans
The welterweight title contender also teased that he has mastered strategies to overcome Usman’s ‘foot rubbing’ – a reference to the champion’s immaculate wrestling and grappling – and that The Nigerian Nightmare will be in for a long night at the VyStar Memorial Arena.
‘When you figure it out we stopped on that rubbing foot technique, you’re gonna be in for a long one man. I’m gonna bust your face up, break more bones than last time. Remember this face. Word my brother.’
Although Masvidal will have a full training camp behind him going into this one, so too will Usman, who had focused on Gilbert Burns throughout his preparations for UFC 251 until the Brazilian pulled out days before fight night.
The consensus is that if Usman can get Masvidal to the fence or canvas then the belt will remain around the champion’s waist, and if the challenger can keep the fight standing he will have a chance of earning the knockout that will clinch UFC gold.
But overlook Usman’s striking at your peril. The 33-year-old is a true martial artist and insists he ‘controls the narrative’ as to whether the fight is spent on the feet or against the cage.
Masvidal has disregarded Usman’s striking but ought to be wary of the champion’s KO power
Usman says he ‘controls the narrative’ and has KOs over Colby Covington and Gilbert Burns
Knockout victories over Covington and Burns are testament to Usman’s striking threat, although Masvidal is still unconvinced as to the champion’s punching power.
‘I got in for 25 minutes with him, I never wobbled, I never got hit by him and thought “oh snap”. He doesn’t hit man, he doesn’t crack,’ Gamebred told ESPN.
‘The last guy he beat up was a BJJ guy [Burns], the guy before that he broke his jaw was a fragile wrestling guy [Covington].
‘These dudes aren’t made out of stone. People pay to see me because I am going to give them what they want. Entertainment and nothing but violence.’
Nothing but violence. Hardly a substantial insight on what Masvidal will bring to the table on Saturday and it is understandable that he is keeping his cards close to his chest, with the stakes so high ahead of UFC 261.
Masvidal enters UFC 261 as the underdog, but knows that one shot could take him to glory
Yet Till, Askren and Diaz have been on the receiving end of Masvidal’s ‘violence’, with the Liverpudlian knocked out in front of a sold out O2 Arena, Askren sent to sleep with an incredible flying knee in the UFC’s fastest KO, while Diaz was taken into deep water over three rounds at Madison Square Garden.
‘I am just excited. I am ready to go. I am ready to shut this show down. It’s going to be violence from start to finish,’ Masvidal added.
‘I am going to expose the coward that he is. I say that with all honesty because he is nothing but a coward. Let’s get in there and find out who is a real man and who is not.’
For all the training, conditioning and strategising required for a five-round ding dong with Usman, Masvidal knows he is just vicious one shot away from the goal he set out to achieve upon joining the UFC eight years ago.
‘Violence’ has been promised to the returning UFC fans. Do not write Masvidal off from delivering at UFC 261.
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