It’s been since Super Bowl week that we’ve come to expect Jorge Masvidal to challenge champion Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title after UFC president Dana White said it would take place in July during International Fight Week. Lord knows both Usman and Masvidal have been verbally sparring for months. But just last week White indicated that Usman isn’t the only option for Masvidal. Something “interesting” is being discussed.
And so, if not Usman, then who could be next for Masvidal? MMA Junkie’s Nolan King, Simon Samano and Danny Segura sound off in this latest edition of Triple Take.
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Nolan King: Conor McGregor, of course
When you clicked on this post, I can almost guarantee Conor McGregor was on your mind. This one seems like a layup, right? Because it really is.
Sure, you could try to throw McGregor against Nate Diaz – but that could be an ugly negotiation given the players. If you ask me, McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov makes zero sense. Don’t do that. The only money fight that makes sense is McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal. That’s the most viable money fight out there.
Both from a divisional and promotional standpoint, Masvidal vs. McGregor is a smart move. Just when McGregor’s popularity was seemingly on the decline, he goes out and pulls off an incredible, electrifying TKO of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 in January.
And Masvidal? Masvidal’s stock never been higher. He’s on a roll – a violent, successful stretch that has seen him finish Darren Till, Ben Askren and Diaz in succession.
Magnifying the promotability of a fight between McGregor and Masvidal are their colorful personalities. Imagine those two sitting at a press conference, trading verbal shots back and forth? There’s serious potential for some sound bytes to make MMA’s all-time list.
From all angles, McGregor vs. Masvidal seems like the simplest matchup to make – and sometimes it’s best not to overthink things. Book it.
Next page – Simon Samano: Nate Diaz rematch
Simon Samano: Nate Diaz rematch
Think back to how you felt the moment Nate Diaz called out Jorge Masvidal after his win over Anthony Pettis at UFC 241. Now think back to the feeling when you found out the two realest OGs of the fight game were booked against each other. Now think back to the feeling when you saw them on stage together in New York for the one and only UFC 244 pre-fight news conference.
It was perfect, wasn’t it? All leading up to their “BMF” title fight, which Diaz single-handedly made a real thing.
Now think back to how disappointed you felt when the cageside doctor stopped the fight after the third round. I’m still upset about it.
Diaz made it very clear afterward that he wanted an immediate rematch with Masvidal, and who could blame him? Diaz had just been robbed – OK not in the truest sense since he was losing through three rounds, but robbed nonetheless. We all were. Nobody wanted a fight between the two baddest motherf***ers to end because of a cut over Diaz’s eye.
Was the tide about to turn? Diaz, who’s known for slow starts, certainly believed it was. It at least appeared to be possible given how the third round progressed.
So imagine maybe – just maybe – Diaz recently reached out to UFC president Dana White and let him know he wants to fight and he wants it to be the rematch. Maybe? If that happened, wouldn’t White have to at least consider it and bring that to Masvidal’s attention. Masvidal vs. Kamaru Usman isn’t more intriguing than Masvidal vs. Diaz 2, I don’t care what you say. And from the standpoint of star power, it’s the biggest fight the UFC could make outside of anything having to do with Conor McGregor.
So, if the Usman title fight falls through, then please satisfy us with the rematch we deserve.
Next page – Danny Segura: Kamaru Usman still
Danny Segura: Kamaru Usman still
Yes, Nolan and Simon’s ideas of an alternative opponent for Jorge Masvidal sound feasible, so you can’t discount them. But the truth is, the title fight with champion Kamaru Usman is the fight to make.
Masvidal’s star power is at an all-time high, and the carrot at the end of the stick is still the UFC championship belt.
If you look at the biggest stars in the company’s history, they’re all linked to the belt one way or another – whether they’re champions, former champions or just simply title challengers. Having a belt around your waist paired with whatever your “it” factor seems to be the winning recipe for the UFC.
As big as Masvidal’s star power is, the man has yet to have fought for the belt. It’s in the UFC’s best interest to have Masvidal challenge Usman. Yes, a fight with Conor McGregor or Nate Diaz would be big, but those fights will always be there. You can always justify those fights with Masvidal coming off a hypothetical loss, but that doesn’t translate too well for championship fights.
Not saying there aren’t options for Masvidal on the table right now outside of Usman, but know that negotiations go down in plain sight, not just back rooms and offices.
I think this could very well be a negotiation tactic from the the UFC president to expedite and get over any hurdles that could be slowing down the potential championship fight between Usman and Masvidal.
It’s time for “Gamebred” to get a crack at gold.
