NEW YORK – Some fighters like to actually hits pads at their open workouts. Others like to sign autographs or answer fan questions. At Wednesday’s UFC 244 open workouts at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden however, Jorge Masvidal decided to switch things up in true “BMF” fashion.
Three days before his main event against Nate Diaz (34-13 MMA, 11-6 UFC), Masvidal saw an opportunity to put on his promoter’s hat and seized it. Shortly after he walked out on stage, “Gamebred” was organizing fights between members of the audience.
An alumnus of the late Kimbo Slice’s legendary backyard fight crew, Masvidal threw it back to his early days. The American Top Team product provided gloves to fans selected hand-picked by American Top Team head coach Mike Brown. The two combatants were instructed not to hit each other in the head, but body blows were allowed.
“You like that, huh?,” Masvidal laughed when he spoke to the media afterwards. “I know New Yorkers love to fight, man. I remember coming here earlier in my career. New Yorkers love to fight, man. So I just gave them a chance to shine and (expletive) – get their shine on.”
Despite being in the midst of the biggest fight week of his life, Masvidal seemed cool, calm, and collected. The 34-year-old welterweight indicated he didn’t know, nor care what Diaz will do on Saturday night. All Masvidal knows is he’s going to try to finish their fight.
“I’m there to hurt every second of every minute and every minute of every round,” Masvidal said. “If he survives what I got to give him, my hat’s off to him. But there’s a dog in me. And when this dog gets tired, it keeps biting.
“I’m not going to take a step back from nobody. There’s not a fight you could pull up where me getting hit or me getting tired I’m backing away or shying away from a fight. I’m a dog and once that cage is locked, I only know one thing and one speed.”
On paper, a viewer likely thinks Diaz has the advantage in the submission game. After all, the Stockton, Calif. native has more submissions off of his back than any fighter in the promotion’s history. While he’s “cautious always” Masvidal isn’t concerned with Diaz’s jiu-jitsu tool-bag.
“I’ve got to be cautious, always,” Masvidal said. “That’s one of his strong points – being off of his back landing submissions. But then again, I come from the world’s best gym and I firmly believe that. I’ve been saying that for years. We’ve got animals over there on the regular. Guys that nobody’s ever heard of (who) are just insane off their backs.
“So, I’m not too worried about me getting on top if I’m in trouble. Especially if there are strikes allowed. Are their strikes and elbows allowed in this one? Okay, I’ll be alright.”
UFC 244 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN2/ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
