Tag: Jorge Masvidal

Jorge Masvidal on how he’s handling newfound fame: ‘I’m just indoors most of the time now’

https://youtu.be/OJPOvFxrhA4

[autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] is not one for large crowds.

It’s been an incredible 2019 for Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 12-6 UFC), who picked up three stoppage wins during the calendar year with a victory over Darren Till in enemy territory, a record-breaking knockout over Ben Askren at UFC 239 and defeating Nate Diaz at UFC 244, capping off his year by capturing the “BMF” title.

With those accolades came a whole new level fame for Masvidal, who’s been competing in the sport for a long time but never reached superstar status. Of course, the added notoriety also means added media obligations, fan attention and picture requests, which Masvidal admits he’s not all that comfortable with.

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“I’m just indoors most of the time now,” Masvidal said in an interview with Brendan Schaub on “Food Truck Diaries.” “I’m not great at small chat, so when I have to do it all the time, like when I go to the supermarket and you take like 15 pictures – the talking. If it’s just like a picture and a thing, it’s cool, but when it’s like a lot of questions and stuff – and I treat everybody the same. I shook five guys’ hands, I’m not going to be an (expletive) to you like, ‘Oh, you’re the sixth guy, get out of my face,’ so that to me, to have to stay sharp like that the whole day?”

“And plus, my anxiety starts to kick in, so I stay indoors for most of the part,” Masvidal added. “Large crowds give me anxiety, like being in those mosh pits and stuff, you know.”

Despite not being too keen on conversational talk, the American Top Team standout is appreciative of the fans’ support and said he remains happy to meet and greet everyone.

Just don’t stop by the gym while he’s training.

“I’m training at my house, too, most of the time because now when I go to the gym, photoshoot, you know, it’s crazy,” Masvidal said. “And that’s the only time I get mad, actually – when I’m at work. I don’t show up to anybody’s job and start (expletive) with them. ‘What are you doing on this computer,’ you know? One thing is cool if you just get the picture, but then they start talking to you while you’re in the middle of training. It’s like, ‘My brother, my mind’s in another place.'”

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Canelo Alvarez: Jorge Masvidal matchup ‘attractive, but not a challenge’

Canelo Alvarez said a fight with MMA’s Jorge Masvidal makes sense from a business standpoint but wouldn’t be competitive.

Canelo Alvarez doesn’t seem all that interested in a potential crossover fight with the UFC star Jorge Masvidal.

The multiple-weight boxing champion recently responded to Masvidal’s comments showing interest in a boxing bout between the two. Alvarez believes Masvidal (35–13 MMA, 12-6 UFC), a top contender in the UFC’s welterweight division, has no business competing in the sport of boxing.

“I say this with all respect: If I go into his sport, I have nothing to do there. And I think the same about boxing: If (MMA fighters) come into boxing, they have nothing to do here,” Alvarez told Little Giant Boxing. “But looking at it from a business standpoint, it is attractive, but it’s not a challenge for me, so it’s not my priority.”

The biggest crossover bout between boxing and MMA fighters, and one of the biggest fights in combat sports history was in 2017, when the undefeated Floyd Mayweather beat former UFC featherweight and lightweight champ Conor McGregor in a boxing match.

Since then, the number of call outs involving MMA and boxing fighters has grown. Alvarez believes there is a simple answer to that: money.

“Because of money – because of the business and nothing else,” Alvarez said. “That’s the reality, because what else? They would’ve started boxing from the beginning if they really liked boxing. And I say this will all due respect, each to their own: I respect what they do and their sport, and they’re great fighters in what they do. But in boxing, well, it’s just something else.”

‘Canelo’ Alvarez: Jorge Masvidal matchup good business, but not challenging

Boxing superstar “Canelo” Alvarez says a matchup with UFC standout Jorge Masvidal doesn’t really interest him.

“Canelo” Alvarez doesn’t seem all that interested in a potential crossover fight with the UFC star [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag].

The multiple-weight boxing champion recently responded to Masvidal’s comments showing interest in a boxing bout between the two. “Canelo” believes Masvidal (35–13 MMA, 12-6 UFC), a top contender in the UFC’s welterweight division, has no business competing in the sport of boxing.

“I say this with all respect: If I go into his sport, I have nothing to do there. And I think the same about boxin: If (MMA fighters) come into boxing, they have nothing to do here,” Alvarez told Little Giant Boxing. “But looking at it from a business standpoint, it is attractive, but it’s not a challenge for me, so it’s not my priority.”

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The biggest crossover bout between boxing and MMA fighters, and one of the biggest fights in combat sports history, was in 2017 when the undefeated Floyd Mayweather beat former UFC featherweight and lightweight champ Conor McGregor in a boxing match.

Since then, the number of callouts involving MMA and boxing fighters has grown. Alvarez believes there is a simple answer to that: money.

“Because of money – because of the business and nothing else,” Alvarez said. “That’s the reality, because what else? They would’ve started boxing from the beginning if they really liked boxing. And I say this will all due respect, each to their own: I respect what they do and their sport, and they’re great fighters in what they do. But in boxing, well, it’s just something else.”

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Spinning Back Clique: Thoughts on Ben Askren retirement, potential Nick Diaz return, and more

MMA Junkie’s John Morgan, Gorgeous George and Goze unpack the latest MMA news and notes in Episode 3 of “Spinning Back Clique.”

Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. In this week’s episode, John Morgan, Gorgeous George and Goze touch on the biggest storylines around the world of MMA and take a quick look back at a lackluster UFC on ESPN+ 22 show.

Show rundown:

  • [autotag]Ben Askren[/autotag] announced his retirement from MMA on Monday after an eventful UFC stint in which he went 1-2 with the promotion. What does this mean for the former undefeated Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion’s legacy? Is there more to judge than just his win-loss record inside the octagon?
  • [autotag]Nick Diaz [/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag]: Buying or selling? And should Diaz even return to the cage after such a long absence?
  • MMA vs. Boxing: We’ve got Masvidal not backing off his callout of Canelo Alvarez. We’ve got Tyson Fury training MMA with Darren Till and apparently wanting to fight UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. And there’s continued talk of Olympic boxing champion Claressa Shields fighting UFC champ-champ Amanda Nunes. What the heck is this all about?
  • UFC Sao Paulo was, well … it was not the most memorable evening in MMA history. [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] won. [autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] and [autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag] fought to a split draw. It’s no surprise there wasn’t a “Fight of the Night” bonus handed out. But, hey, at least there was [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] scoring another finish. What was the biggest takeaway from the card?
  • Bellator star [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] returns this week to headline Bellator Europe 6 in London, and he’s facing … a newcomer. What is Bellator doing here? Will it let “Venom” face real competition or not?

For answers to all of those questions, watch Episode 3 of “Spinning Back Clique” in the video above.

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WATCH: Jorge Masvidal’s nearly 2-hour ‘Diary Of A Street Fighter’ documentary

“The Diary of a Street Fighter” appears to be everything you need on Jorge Masvidal’s journey to UFC 244 and beyond.

“The Diary of a Street Fighter” saga is complete – at least for now.

On Friday, [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] released a full-length, nearly two-hour documentary on his official YouTube channel.

The compilation stretches 115 minutes and gives an inside look at the day-to-day life of Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 14-7 UFC) during the lead-up to UFC 244 all the way through its aftermath.

Follow Masvidal as he reflects on his backyard fights, trains at American Top Team, goes through media obligations, plays dominoes on a private plane, meets with fans on the street, explores the bright lights of New York, geeks out having Roberto Duran by his side, partakes in the biggest fight of his life against Nate Diaz at Madison Square Garden, and celebrates his “BMF” title victory with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Check out the entire film in the video above.

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Per the YouTube description, the movie was produced by “Genghis Con Films;” filmed by Isaac Kesington, Daniela Roger, and Niviana Campos; and edited by Isaac Kesington.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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MMA Junkie Radio #3001: Nick Diaz, Jorge Masvidal, Carlos Condit, UFC Sao Paulo, more

Hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” break down the latest MMA news, including Nick Diaz’s possible return, Jorge Masvidal’s rise and more.

Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here!

On episode 3,001 of the podcast, the guys break down the latest MMA news and notes, as well as look ahead to UFC on ESPN+ 22 this weekend in Sao Paulo.

The rundown

  • Could [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] actually happen, or should Diaz be fighting at all?
  • Just how big of a star is “Gamebred” right now?
  • [autotag]Demetrious Johnson[/autotag] wanted to collect belts from around the world, but even he didn’t anticipate this.
  • Women’s MMA pioneer [autotag]Tara LaRosa[/autotag] is back in the news, but it’s in a very odd way.
  • [autotag]Gilbert Melendez[/autotag] no longer in the UFC
  • [autotag]Carlos Condit[/autotag] out at UFC on ESPN 7; who should Mickey Gall face?
  • UFC Sao Paulo breakdown.

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at AudioBoom, or check it out above. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

MMA stars know where to find money … against boxing counterparts

In recent days, the UFC’s Jorge Masvidal and Stipe Miocic have expressed interest in facing Canelo Alvarez and Tyson Fury, respectively.

MMA stars may get the earlier start times, but it’s the top boxers who take home the more gratifying paychecks.

Canelo Alvarez, boxing’s biggest attraction, was reduced to playing second fiddle in the combat sports world when DAZN decided to delay his title fight against Sergey Kovalev on Nov. 2 to accommodate the UFC main event between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz that took place that same evening.

Critics ripped the streaming service for making it appear as though boxing was taking a backseat to the UFC. However, in at least one respect, it’s the other way around.

In the days after his technical decision over Diaz, Masvidal has been busy beating the drums for … an Alvarez fight. And Stipe Miocic, the UFC heavyweight champion, has floated the idea of reneging on a third fight with Daniel Cormier to face heavyweight contender Tyson Fury in a boxing match.

Notice a pattern yet?

It’s always the mixed martial artist clamoring to fight the boxer and seldom vice versa. For good reason. As has been well documented, the top boxers earn far more than their UFC counterparts. And there’s something about the crossover appeal that gets people to take out their wallets, as the 2017 pay-per-view bonanza – all 4.3 million buys – between UFC’s Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather demonstrated.

If you’re Masvidal, why not push for an Alvarez fight? Crazier things have happened. A Canelo fight would represent by far the most lucrative opportunity in his career. Masvidal discussed a potential Canelo fight on the Dan Le Batard show on Tuesday.

“If he was to come to the MMA, it wouldn’t be a challenge,” Masvidal said. “I would throw 10,000 left high kicks and he hasn’t thrown one. It’s kind of the same thing in boxing, where if I’ve thrown a million jabs, he’s thrown 10 million because that’s all his focus is on, boxing.

“That being said, there’s still an element where I could put his ass to sleep. I’m actually bigger even though I may not hit harder, but definitely bigger, and I consider myself 10 times the athlete he is, just because of MMA in general, all the strength, speed that we have to generate. … I feel I could hurt this dude.”

Of course, Masvidal is dreaming … of the money.

 

Jorge Masvidal confused by Nick Diaz interview: ‘Is he asking to fight, or are we going for a walk?’

Jorge Masvidal was left nonplussed by Nick Diaz’s recent comments to ESPN, which hinted at a possible UFC bout between the pair.

It’s fair to say that life has changed somewhat for [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] following his victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 244.

Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 12-6 UFC) may have kept the same energy throughout a career that has taken him from street fighter to Strikeforce fighter to UFC fighter to the official “BMF” of the game. But, while “Gamebred” has stayed true to himself throughout his career, he’s started to notice the world around him change since he became the UFC’s latest superstar.

Now, the man who struggled to get people to accept fights with him earlier in his career is the flavor of the month – and the subject of a host of big-name callouts.

Conor McGregor suggested he wanted to face the winner of Masvidal’s “BMF” title fight with Diaz at UFC 244 while, more recently, Masvidal’s name dropped from the lips of Nate’s older brother, [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag], who hinted at a possible return to the UFC to face the Florida native sometime in the future.

“You want to talk about baptizing my younger brother? That’s on you,” Diaz told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. “I never had nothing disrespectful to say. But you don’t talk about baptizing my younger brother. So you’re already in a (expletive) position if you fight with me. You don’t talk about (expletive) baptizing someone’s brother. That’s my baby brother. You don’t talk like that to nobody.

“So who is riding on whose side? You want to say that, you want to do that, you want to walk, that’s on you. I can relate to you, that’s why I ain’t mad at you. But if you want to walk, that’s on you.”

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Masvidal heard the interview but was left slightly confused as to whether the former Strikeforce and WEC welterweight champion was calling him out or not.

“Is he asking to fight?” he asked on ESPN’s “The Dan Le Batard Show” on Tuesday. “I was confused. Or are we going for a walk someplace?

“He’s asking for a fight? He’s asking for a fight or to go for a walk? Does he know who he’s asking for a fight, because I love to fight, especially when I get a little something on top of that.”

After more than a decade-and-a-half in the game, Masvidal is finally getting top dollar for his performances, and the 35-year-old says the tables have finally turned in his favor after years of being on the outside of the upper echelon, looking in.

With a possible rematch with Nate, a fresh matchup against his brother Nick, a potential superfight with Conor McGregor or a shot at the UFC welterweight title all seemingly realistic options for Masvidal in 2020, “Gamebred” appears to have a host of big-money options as he ponders his next move. And the Miami man said his final decision will come down to whichever matchup proves to be the most lucrative for his career.

“We don’t know who’s next, but everybody’s looking like cash symbols, cash money, to us right now,” he said. “The next person is going to be the one that puts the most zeros in the bank account.

“Everybody wants to call me out now. So it’s funny to me because these same guys, they didn’t want to fight me two or three years ago.”

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Jorge Masvidal: Conor McGregor ‘hasn’t said a peep’ to me since I beat Nate Diaz

Jorge Masvidal says it’s been crickets from Conor McGregor since UFC 244.

[autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] isn’t going to beg anyone to fight him – he’s made that abundantly clear.

However, during a Tuesday appearance on the “Dan Le Batard Show,” Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 14-7 UFC) once again was asked about the possibility of fighting former UFC double champion [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag].

In Masvidal’s opinion, McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) might not want the fight. Masvidal pointed out that before his UFC 244 victory against Nate Diaz, the Irishman was hyping up Diaz as if the Stockton, Calif., native was a sure thing to win the “BMF” title.

But Masvidal won the Nov. 2 showdown at Madison Square Garden. And since he defeated Diaz that night, Masvidal said he hasn’t heard a word from McGregor.

“To be quite frank, he was flirting with fighting the winner when the possibility of the winner was Nate,” Masvidal said. “And he kept throwing it out there. He even made his prediction he thought Nate would win. Since I’ve won, he hasn’t said a peep to address me or nothing.”

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If McGregor never mentions Masvidal’s name again, “Gamebred” indicated he’d be OK with that. If McGregor does actually want the fight, though, Masvidal will oblige his request. Either way, Masvidal said the ball is fully in McGregor’s court.

“I’m not a bully, either,” Masvidal said. “I’m not going to be one of these cyber bullies. If you don’t want to fight, I don’t want to fight. If you want to fight, I’m licking my chops. Man, we’re going shopping. We’re going to do it big. You know what I’m saying? That dude don’t want it.”

Whether it’s McGregor or someone else, Masvidal voiced his desire for the biggest money fights available. Since his UFC 244 victory, he’s been called out by various prospective foes. Masvidal said he has plenty of options.

“We don’t know who’s next, but everyone is looking at cash symbols (and) cash money to us,” Masvidal said. “… But the next person is going to be the one who puts the most viewers in the bank account, whoever that is. A lot of people are saying my name now. They didn’t want to fight before, though.

“They didn’t want to fight me a year or two ago. … Everybody wants to call me out now, you know? It’s funny to me. These same guys didn’t want to fight me two or three years ago. I just want the one with the most money.”

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Jorge Masvidal’s team channels ‘Scarface’ in official response to Nick Diaz

Jorge Masvidal’s team issued a prompt response to Nick Diaz’s apparent callout for a fight.

[autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag]’s team issued a prompt response to [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag]’s apparent fight callout.

Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) surfaced for a rare interview Monday which seemingly served as the building block for his return to the octagon after an abcense of four years. He had some words for Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 12-6 UFC) throughout the conversation, indicating that he would like to fight the man who won the “BMF” title with a third-round TKO of his brother Nate Diaz at UFC 244.

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Not long after the interview aired, Masvidal’s manager Malki Kawa issued a direct response on social media (via Instagram):

@gamebredfighter official response to nick diaz. #supernecessary #baptized #bmf

This isn’t the first time a matchup between Diaz and Masvidal has been broached.

The UFC announced a fight between the two for UFC 235 in March, but it was never made official. Diaz insisted from the beginning that he never committed or signed a contract to end his hiatus from the sport.

In the aftermath of Masvidal’s UFC 244 victory over his brother, though, it appears Diaz may have rediscovered his motivation to fight.

Masvidal has never shied away from a fight, and while he seems to have a bevy of options that could include a welterweight title shot or Conor McGregor, it appears “Gamebred” is willing to beat his second Diaz brother, too.

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