‘Happy’ Masvidal Signs Multi-Fight Contract

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What a difference a weekend makes.

Just last week, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal was not on the best of terms with the world’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, after matchmakers tried to give him a “shit deal” to face Kamaru Usman at UFC 251.

A welterweight title fight that eventually went to Gilbert Burns.

But then “Durinho” tested positive for coronavirus and was bounced from the card, forcing UFC to revisit the Masvidal negotiations in order to save this weekend’s five-round headliner on Yas Island — also known as “Fight Island” — in Abu Dhabi.

“I can understand you don’t want to give me that much on the guaranteed, but on the pay-per-view, what I bring in, what people purchase, I want more money on that, and they weren’t budging,” Masvidal told ESPN. “And that was that. So, all this craziness had to happen for them to come to their senses.”

Masvidal, 35, is one of several fighters — including reigning light heavyweight champion Jon Jones — to go public with their dissatisfaction with UFC pay. Unfortunately for “Bones” and Co., their movement just took a major hit with “Gamebred” scoring a new multi-fight contract.

“Moving forward after this fight, they’re gonna treat me accordingly,” Masvidal said. “Or I’ll just step in last minute, six days to go and get paid then, I guess. That’s the new scheme I have to do, whatever. But I’m gonna get paid every time out.”

See the finalized UFC 251 fight card and line up here.