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