Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Jorge Masvidal has become one of the most outspoken fighters in MMA today. The long-time veteran has utilized his “resurrection” to not only score the biggest paydays of his career, but also to share his beliefs on things such as UFC pay and politics.
While most fight fans know Masvidal from his record-setting knockouts and “BMF” mentality, “Gamebred” is also an avid supporting of President Donald Trump. The Cuban fighter has already received backlash for his political stance, but Masvidal has stayed true to his beliefs and remains adamant that Trump has done some good for the country.
“What the hell? What is this country itself coming to? I’m racist? I’m racist?” Masvidal asked Dan Le Batard during a recent episode of “South Beach Sessions” podcast (via MMA Junkie). “People are gonna dare say I’m racist? You know how many times I’ve been shoved in the ground by cops and had my face on the concrete for doing absolutely nothing? Because I’ve been on this journey since I was 13 years old. And for some reason, because I have a tattoo on my neck and I’m a Latin dude, I’ve been discriminated a lot more than you would possibly think possible.
“I wasn’t always Jorge ‘Gamebred’ Masvidal, all of a sudden everybody knows me,” continued Masvidal. “No, no, no, for many years nobody knew me. When people would say I’m racist because I would pick a certain person, that let’s you know where this is going as a society. They’re using now that to wipe away all the good (Trump) has actually done for my community. The lowest unemployment for Latin and Black people, that gives us dignity. That gives my community dignity. People are working and making more money. The pay gaps that have happened in the middle class are nice, are good. It’s numbers, it’s facts. He’s actually helping out my people. And I’m supposed to not give credit for that?”
While Trump has made some controversial remarks about immigration since he took office back in 2016 — including a plan to build a wall across Mexico’s border — Masvidal still believes the President has helped support minority communities along the way.
“Do I agree with all his policies? Hell no,” admitted Masvidal. “There’s a million things that need to change, as well. But I see him doing more right in the sense of freedom and for my Latin people than a lot of other motherf**kers. And for the Black community, also the lowest Black unemployment rates. That’s huge, man. That’s huge. People are forgetting about that.
“Now, I don’t know everything about politics, and I don’t know everything about Trump,” Masvidal added. “But when I talk to my mom, who came from a Latin American country, Peru, and she migrated over here, she tells me lots of things. And she’s not against Trump. She feels a lot of things he says are good. Some of things, she’s like, ‘I don’t like this, I don’t like that.’ But it’s not like because she likes Trump or I like Trump or something, it’s not like me and my mom stopped talking or nothing. It’s just crazy that society now is telling you if you’re a Biden fan, well then you’re Antifa or you’re something crazy, and if you’re Trump, you hate transgenders, you hate everything. Basically if you’re a Trump fan, you hate everything. And it’s crazy what society is coming out to.”
While Masvidal has a hard stance on his beliefs he isn’t opposed to gaining more knowledge about politics and the ongoing situation in the country. The UFC welterweight contender has always listened to the more experienced faces in the room, especially when it comes to natural freedoms for all.
“I’ve always listened,” Masvidal said. “I’d much rather listen to the oldest person in the room than some punk who just got out of college and hasn’t experienced life. That’s the person that I’ve always been. If there’s the current world champion in the room, but there’s an ex-world champion in the room that’s in his 50s, 60s, I want to hear his stories, his thoughts, because he just has more experience in life. You understand what I’m saying?
“So I always listen to my elders. I get as much info from them. And what I hear from people that actually lived it – because it’s one thing to hear about it, read about it, see it on YouTube – my father actually lived it. My uncles and aunts actually lived it. This is something I’ve been hearing since about the age of 7 years old: in one way or another, being politically charged to stand up against communism at all costs. And I say that a hundred percent in my heart: Give me death, or give me freedom. And if you don’t believe it like me, then you’re the problem with society. That’s the honest truth. If you don’t want freedom, and you want to take other people’s freedom away, you’re what’s wrong with society.”
Masvidal, 35, is coming off a loss to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 earlier this month. “Gamebred” was filling in on six days notice for Gilbert Burns, who tested positive for COVID-19 the weekend before, but he wasn’t able to get the job done. The defeat snapped a three-fight win streak for Masvidal,