Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
“He beats to the sound of his own drum and when he wants to do something, he does it. It’s not very surprising at all.”
Dana White is currently in the midst of a public contract dispute with UFC ‘BMF’ champ Jorge Masvidal, with White comparing ‘Gamebred’ to the notoriously difficult to work with Diaz brothers.
Masvidal was expected to challenge Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title earlier this year, but the American Top Team (ATT) product wasn’t happy with his purported salary for the matchup, comparing the UFC’s business model to a totalitarian ‘communist regime’.
The negotiation is take it or leave it. If I lose you can cut me and not pay out the rest of the contract. If I win I’m not in a position to renegotiate the contract? My dad left a communist regime and has prepared me my whole life
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) June 7, 2020
White wasn’t particularly surprised by Masvidal’s comments and wants the UFC veteran to know that he holds no animosity towards him — even if he does negotiate like a Diaz brother.
“Masvidal is very much like the Diaz brothers,” White told the media following the official UFC on ESPN 10 weigh-ins on Friday (h/t MMA Fighting). “He beats to the sound of his own drum and when he wants to do something, he does it. It’s not very surprising at all.”
“I’m putting on fights every weekend for the next 10 years,” he added. “If you want to fight, call us. We’ll offer you fights and if you don’t want to take them, you don’t have to.
“It’s always been that way, and people are acting like this is some new f*ckin drama that just popped up and that this has never happened before in the history of the sport. This happens all the time, non stop.”
Surging welterweight Gilbert Burns will get the title shot instead and White has commended the Brazilian for his work ethic.
“It’s not a surprise,” he said. “This is what we do. We’ve been doing this for 20 years: people who want to fight get fights. People who don’t, don’t.
“He’s the no. 1 ranked guy in the world. No. 1 vs. the champion. This kid wants to stay busy. These kids that come out and go on these runs like Burns is on, want to keep fighting and stay active, they’re healthy, it’s the smartest thing you can do.”
UFC 251: Usman vs. Burns is expected to take place next month, July 11 on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.