Jorge Masvidal has given his side to the discussions regarding a potential fight with Gilbert Burns.
Burns contacted social media just two days after UFC 281. He stated that Masvidal had turned down three dates in order to meet him in a matchup at welterweight. A few days later “Gamebred” responded on social media, saying that he would gladly fight Burns. Ahead of his MMA promotion’s iKON FC 6 event Friday in Orlando — which airs on UFC Fight Pass — Masvidal clarified the situation a bit more from his end.
” This fight was never offered to me, Masvidal said to MMA Fighting. We never discussed fighting anyone in December or November, so they offered me a fight. I replied that if I was ready I could go to January and February, depending on the circumstances. They were not ready for me, so I informed them in November.
“I don’t know when they decided to tell Gilbert, ‘Hey, he’s not taking the January fight,’ and this guy loses his s*** like I ever promised him a dance.”
Currently, Masvidal is dealing with the aftermath of an alleged assault against UFC 272 opponent Colby Covington in Miami Beach, Fla., which became news shortly after their matchup with the trial now scheduled for February following a joint continuance earlier this month.
As far as his fighting career goes, Masvidal looks to bounce back from three straight losses — two to then-champion Kamaru Usman, and Covington, both ranked in the top 4 of the MMA Fighting Global Rankings.
Burns is now set to face Neil Magny at UFC 283 in Brazil on Jan. 21 to kick off the UFC’s 2023 pay-per-view slate — one of the cards Masvidal said he wouldn’t be able to fight on.
According to Masvidal Burns would likely have achieved his dream if he had waited for a few months.
” The only time I promised to him was March or April when Leon is fighting,” Masvidal stated. “I told these guys, ‘I’ll be ready to go then. Let’s get .’
. I am certain I can go in March, April.
“I put the word out there, [they] send the contract to Gilbert and he says, ‘No I don’t want to fight, I want to fight in Brazil.’ So go fight in Brazil, man. Just keep my name out of your mouth, bro. Every time he mentions my name he gets a couple thousand followers so I guess that’s the gimmick he’s doing.”
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/12/3/23484185/jorge-masvidal-to-gilbert-burns-go-fight-in-brazil-just-keep-my-name-out-of-your-mouth?rand=96749
