Photo by Mike Stobe/Zuffa LLC
Multiple sources have confirmed what rumors and social media has been hinting at all day: the UFC wants Usman vs. Masvidal at UFC 251
The fight may not be official, but at least this is official: the UFC is indeed working on making a late replacement Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal fight for UFC 251 on July 11th.
Not even 24 hours ago, Usman was set to face Gilbert Burns, but a positive COVID-19 test for the Brazilian welterweight scrapped that title fight. Masvidal and his management sent out signals to the UFC that they were “absolutely willing” to fill in on a week’s notice, and then Jorge’s management shared videos of “Street Jesus” taking a Coronavirus test.
Now ESPN’s Ariel Helwani confirms what we all suspected watching this unfold: that the UFC is working to put Masvidal in against Usman.
According to multiple sources, there are active negotiations to book Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal as the new main event of UFC 251 on July 11.
Sources say the talks aren’t close to being finalized yet but they are ongoing and both sides believe there is a path to making this fight happen. Whether or not it ultimately happens remains to be seen.
But what about the financial divide between Masvidal and the UFC? Masvidal has spent the past several weeks railing against UFC brass and pointing out the obscene 82/18 revenue split between the company and fighters. But there’s evidence that there isn’t as large of a money demand gap between Jorge and the UFC as one might think.
Back in mid-June, the UFC let it leak that they’d offered Masvidal a deal that would see him make similar money to fight Usman that he did to fight Nate Diaz for the BMF belt. Masvidal turned it down, stating UFC president Dana White “called me the night before he wants to announce and tell me take or it leave it. That’s not negotiating that’s strong arming.”
So it wasn’t so much a money issue but one of respect and negotiating tactics. If that offer is still on the table, plus a respectable splash extra for stepping in last minute, why couldn’t this fight happen? Masvidal has been in the gym training and helping teammates prepare for their own fights, and there could be a competitive advantage to fighting Usman without Usman getting a full camp to prepare for Masvidal’s style.
Usman sounds willing to fight as well, but again … the UFC will have to crack open its wallet and make it worthwhile for both men. With the Fight Island gimmick at risk of coming off pretty weak without some serious firepower at the top of the card, we imagine Dana White is finally in a position to pay some extra money out. Let’s just hope all sides stay reasonable and a deal can get done.