Jorge Masvidal wants a fight, and he doesn’t mean a mixed martial arts bout in its strictest sense.
He already knows he’s getting that. He and opponent “Raging” Al Iaquinta signed on to fight in the co-main event at UFC Fight Night 63 in Fairfax, Virginia, so he’s not worried about getting into the cage come Saturday evening.
What he wants is somebody willing to go toe-to-toe with him, to push him and to engage in a true fight.
“As long as the individual has some conviction and comes to fight and doesn’t get punched in the face and start running, we’re going to have a fight,” Masvidal told Bleacher Report. “A lot of times, I see guys fighting, and they fight a particular way—they’re eating leather the whole time, and they keep coming forward—but then when they get in there with me, they switch it up.
“They’ll shoot takedowns. They don’t punch or nothing—they’re just running. They’re running and jabbing. So I’m hoping this dude will just stand in there and fight like a man.”
To Iaquinta‘s credit, coming forward is in the game plan every fight night.
The 27-year-old Team Serra-Longo product earned his shot against the No. 14-ranked Masvidal thanks to a three-fight winning streak—all via knockout—and he’s earned a reputation as one of the most aggressive and powerful strikers in the 155-pound division.
But Masvidal isn’t quick to hand out compliments to his next foe. When asked if he thinks Iaquinta is the guy to move forward and bang, he answers bluntly.
“I sure hope so,” Masvidal said.
(Warning: Video below may contain NSFW language.)
Masvidal, a 12-year veteran of professional mixed martial arts, is, after all, a lifelong fighter in its purest sense.
By his own admission, he had a “rough” upbringing, and he was always interested in combat, whether it be through wrestling, boxing, kickboxing or street fighting.
When he found MMA, though, he felt a slight change. He felt like he found his place. He found a home.
“To know it [MMA] could be a career, that this is what I could do, that this is what God made me for, I felt that since like the first pro fight I had,” Masvidal said. “As I was walking toward that ring, I didn’t see anything but to be in there.
“I was just having fun being in the ring. It was like a fish in water for me, so I knew I had to make a living off it one way or another.”
Over this decade-plus-long stretch, that’s exactly what Masvidal‘s done.
A well-rounded fighter boasting savvy submissions, heavy strikes and a general craftsmanship born through some combination of practice and natural talent, Masvidal has solidified himself as a legitimate threat inside what is arguably the UFC’s deepest division.
Before coming to the sport’s biggest promotion, he torched the regional Florida scene and won a local title before challenging for the Strikeforce championship against Gilbert Melendez in December 2011.
Since that defeat against Melendez, he’s 6-1—two three-fight winning streaks separated by a decision loss to Rustam Khabilov—and he’s not convinced he’s getting the respect he deserves.
Particularly, he’s not sure why he’s fighting Iaquinta and not a more distinguished and notable lightweight on April 4.
“I’m not big on the matchup, but I’m happy to get in there and compete,” Masvidal said. “I thank God that I’m able to get in there and compete for the UFC and make a living off doing what I love to do. It might not be the opponent I wanted, but I’m still getting to get in the cage and do what I love to do.”
One reason he’s not in the spotlight, Masvidal believes, is his lack of interest in social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Sqor.
“One main thing I can definitely tell you is that I’m not selling myself on social media like a lot of these dudes,” Masvidal said. “I’m not taking naked selfies or posting everything out there…A lot of these dudes are just selling themselves on social media—anything for a like or for a couple fans, you know?
“That ain’t me…That ain’t my style, man.”
After disposing of Iaquinta Saturday night, Masvidal is uncertain of his immediate future in the division. He’s not looking past the former The Ultimate Fighter runner-up, but he’s also not sure if his foe will provide the stepping stone he needs to launch into the upper echelon of UFC lightweights.
When asked if he sees a top-10 opponent on deck, Masvideal pleads the fifth before dropping what is either a serious hint or a confirmation of his disgust with the UFC’s matchmaking.
“I got no comment on that,” Masvidal said. “I just know that my next opponent will probably be an Ultimate Fighter. That’s all I can tell you. That’s my prediction.”
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