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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Simon Head

MMA Junkie’s 2019 in pictures: Jorge Masvidal’s ‘super necessary’ road to the BMF title

In his 17th year as a professional MMA fighter, Miami-based welterweight Jorge Masvidal enjoyed the biggest and best 12-month stint of his career, as he elevated himself from a respected, dangerous veteran to one of the UFC’s biggest stars.

On March 16, Masvidal knocked out Darren Till at UFC on ESPN+ 5 in London, then hit another British welterweight contender, Leon Edwards, with his now-infamous “three-piece and a soda” after prematurely halting his backstage interview with UFC broadcaster Laura Sanko.

Masvidal then went on to starch previously-undefeated former ONE and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren with a flying knee at UFC 239, as he lit up International Fight Week with the fastest knockout in UFC history, officially timed at just five seconds.

And Masvidal’s stellar year closed out with championship glory, as he defeated Nate Diaz via doctor stoppage at UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden, where he was presented with the one-off “BMF” title by global superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Check out the story of Masvidal’s incredible year in 2019 via the gallery below.

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