Jorge Masvidal has plenty of options as 2020 is upon us, and he knows it. Now he just needs to see how the chips fall.
Masvidal’s breakout year in 2019 made him one of the biggest stars in MMA. He’s the obvious top contender to champion Kamaru Usman in the welterweight division, and his name value puts him in position for a potential fight with fellow star Conor McGregor, who returns to the octagon next week at UFC 246.
Although both options are significant, Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 12-6 UFC) said the pecking order is easy. He thinks there’s only so much juice left to be squeezed out of McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) as an elite name, so if “The Notorious” beats Donald Cerrone on Jan. 18 in Las Vegas, Masvidal said the choice is easy.
“(I would pick) the Conor fight because the Conor fight is not going to be there,” Masvidal said Monday on “Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.” “The ‘Who?’ (Usman) is always going to be there. The owl, whatever they’re calling him. That fight is always going to be there. Somebody is always going to have that belt. So it’s not a big deal.”
Masvidal said there’s a good chance he will be cageside for the UFC 246 fight between McGregor and Cerrone. He will have the chance to scout his potential next foe first hand, but he said he’s not going to be aggressive in chasing McGregor should the Irishman win.
The options to make that happen will fall on McGregor, Masvidal said. “Gamebred” is not interested in facing anyone who doesn’t want to fight him.
“I would want that fight because it’s a big money fight,” Masvidal said. “It’s a two-time division champion, and he has an impressive record, and he comes to fight. So in that aspect, yes. We’re going to both sell out wherever we’re (expletive) fighting at, and it’s going to be violent. But if the dude doesn’t want to fight, I’m not a bully. Go do your thing. If he doesn’t want this, (expletive) him. You either want it, or you don’t. It’s fine if you don’t.”
Should the McGregor fight not materialize, Masvidal said he would be all too happy to get his first undisputed UFC championship opportunity. Usman (16-1 MMA, 11-0 UFC) has been untouchable since joining the UFC, putting together 11 consecutive wins to start his octagon tenure.
Usman has been taunting Masvidal since his title defense against Colby Covington last month, claiming he doesn’t know who he is. Although that’s clearly not true, Masvidal is more than willing to issue a reminder.
“If it’s up to my doing, everybody is getting it. Especially that owl dude,” Masvidal said. “I’m going owl hunting. I want some owl soup. This dude, man, he’s a little disrespectful with that ‘who.’ (Expletive), bro. You (expletive) know who. And if you don’t, we’ll get in that ring, and you’ll find out who I am, my brother. I will gladly introduce myself to you in the ring.”
Jorge Masvidal will pursue Conor McGregor before fighting 'that owl dude' Kamaru Usman
