Jorge Masvidal is planning on fighting in 2020, but only if the price is right.
Masvidal (35-13 MMA, 12-6 UFC) has been vocal about how he thinks the UFC unfairly treats fighters in terms of revenue and contract negotiations, and wasn’t going to accept getting lowballed.
“Gamebred” was initially next line for a shot at UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, but revealed that his offer from the UFC was for less than he made against Nate Diaz in their BMF title fight at UFC 244.
The UFC made a final attempt to get a deal done with Masvidal, but ESPN reported that the offer was for the same money Masvidal made for the bout with Diaz. However, it was too late as at that point Masvidal’s discontent reached a point where he wasn’t satisfied. Talks eventually fell apart, resulting in the promotion moving on to hand the shot to Gilbert Burns instead.
Speaking in a fan Q&A on his YouTube channel, Masvidal confirmed that he will fight this year, but won’t just accept any offer.
“Yeah I’m gonna fight this year,” Masvidal said. “God willing, I’m gonna fight this year. What’s not gonna happen is I’m not gonna be played or underpaid, that’s for sure. I have a value, a formula we’ve come up with for what I’m worth, and that comes off 16 years of doing this, of seeing the field in and out. I’m not some rookie, I’m not some guy challenging for the title for the first time in my life.
“I’ve been in this position before in different organizations and stuff and we know how to calculate what I bring in and I want a fair share of what I bring in. … It’s about how much I want to receive from the pay-per-view, how much share I want from the PPV, that’s one of the many things I’m fighting about. I don’t feel that that cut is fair and I don’t agree with it.”
Masvidal had a breakout year in 2019, scoring three straight stoppage wins over Darren Till, Ben Askren and Diaz. But he has not yet stepped into the cage in 2020.
Jorge Masvidal says he will fight in 2020 but 'I'm not gonna be played or underpaid'
