HOUSTON – The bout has not be officially announced yet, but the welterweight title showdown for International Fight Week between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal looks close to being confirmed, and the UFC welterweight champion had plenty to say about his opposite number during a guest fighter appearance at UFC 247.
Chatting backstage to reporters, including MMA Junkie, at Toyota Center on Saturday night, Usman took aim at Masvidal’s new-found stardom and accused the Miami native of selling out his persona to build his hype and earn his shot at the title.
“It’s kind of funny to me to watch what he’s become,” he said. “It’s the same guy, the same journeyman. But now he’s become everything that he said he wouldn’t be. Everything he fought against, being the cliché, being this and that, he’s exactly that guy right now. But it is what it is, more power to him. At the end of the day, when I sign on the dotted line I’m going to go in there and take care of business.”
Usman says Masvidal’s perceived change in persona contrasts markedly with his own approach, which he says has been consistent from the moment he set foot in the UFC.
“I’ve been the same guy since I came into the UFC,” he said. “I’ve always been this fly, I’ve always dressed the way I did. It’s just that now I have a bigger platform where everybody gets to see some of those things. I’ve always said the same things that I wanted to say. I’ve always been confident, because that’s the way that I train and I believe in myself and my abilities. I’ve never changed one bit. I tell you what I’m doing to do, I go in there and I get it done.
“He’s the guy, remember, that never wanted to do media – ah, he’s too good for that, too good for this – but this clown is showing up at fights now with a robe on! This guy’s wearing a suit pretending to be Tony Montana now! He’s turned into everything that he said he wasn’t, that he wouldn’t be. I actually read something the other day that said that him and Colby plotted this while they were sharing a room, sharing a bed together, and sharing women. But it is what it is, that’s what they plotted and it’s coming to fruition. But I’m happy to be the guy to send them both packing.”
The matchup, which is expected to take place at the UFC’s annual early-July pay-per-view, would pit Usman and Masvidal head to head in a clash of fighting styles. But while many view their potential bout as a wrestler vs. striker matchup, Usman said “Gamebred’s” striking credentials are getting more press than they deserve.
“Let’s weigh it out right now,” he said. “Me standing with Masvidal or me standing with Tyron Woodley? Tyron Woodley could touch you and put you out. I should be worried about Masvidal? This guy’s fought Demian Maia. What happened? He took an L. He fought “Wonderboy.” What happened? Took an L. It’s crazy to me that he has all this hype and everyone’s saying, ‘He’s this striker, he’s this killer,’ all this and that. It doesn’t matter. I’m gonna do me. I’m gonna put him on his ass, I’m gonna put it on him until he wants to quit and then, if he stands up, I will knock him out if I need to.
“But everyone’s talking about striking. First of all, you’ve got to stand upright to strike. Don’t think I’m not going to take you down. I’m going to take you down, period. There’s no secret to what’s going to happen. I’m going to take you down and I’m going to beat on you until you quit.”
Kamaru Usman slams Jorge Masvidal's persona: 'He's become everything he said he wouldn't be'