Needless to say, UFC 287 in Miami is special for Jorge Masvidal.
“Gamebred” is a Miami native who has been waiting a long time to get his chance to fight at home. Decades, to be exact.
Speaking during Wednesday’s UFC 287 media day, Masvidal (35-16) noted that the card felt special “in so many ways and angles. I feel redundant saying this, but I was here at that huge UFC event, live, my first live event ever. Twenty years ago. I was 17, about to turn 18, so that means I could become a professional. I didn’t know all the details of it, but I knew what this lifestyle would entail.”
That event back in 2003 was UFC 42, headlined by Matt Hughes defending his welterweight title against Sean Sherk.
At the time, Masvidal recalls looking to a friend, saying “Not only can I do this, but I’ll bring the show, eventually, one day here. That eventually took twenty years, so it took me a little bit, but we’re here.”
He’s done just that. Masvidal turned pro a month after his UFC 42 experience. “50-something fights later and twenty years, I’m still here.”
“I can’t totally describe what it feels like, but at the same time, I can’t let that get to my head, because it’s just another fight. When I went to Korea and I got on the plane and I went to the hotel and I fought, it’s the same thing that I’m going to do now,” Masvidal continued. “If I let myself get ahead of myself and start thinking all this other stuff, things might not go as well.”
“I’ve just got to stay cold, calculated, and violent.”
Masvidal has made it clear ahead of his fight with Gilbert Burns that if things don’t go well, he may retire. If they do turn out in his favor, it’s another push towards a title shot.
“I never underestimate anybody that has two hands and two feet. But I don’t stop thinking about, also, that after this fight, I’m going to England, I’m going to use that belt to beat it over Leon [Edwards]’ head, then come back to this great country and defend that belt.”
Watch the full UFC 287 media day appearance by Jorge Masvidal above.
