Report: Masvidal Vs. Usman Rematch Set For September

According to Jorge Masvidal, he’ll be fighting for the welterweight title next later this year.

Sometimes big news comes from strange places. This time it’s from UK boxing sportsbook Betfred running into Jorge Masvidal in the bowels of the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami moments after Saul “Canelo” Alvarez wrecked Avni Yildirim in 3 rounds (watch the highlights here).

During that interview, Jorge dropped a big nugget of news: he claims his next fight will be a rematch against welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, and the bout will go down in September of 2021.

“Right now I’m focused on me, I’m fighting for the belt which is going to be in August, September — actually September,” Masvidal said. “We actually just got word on this so you’re like the second person to know this right now and that’s just how luck works. Lot of MMA media gonna be mad I dropped it on yours first, boxing of all people. They’re going to call me a traitor.”

Don’t worry Jorge, we won’t tell ESPN’s Ariel Helwani if you don’t.

Kamaru Usman reignited talks about a rematch with Jorge Masvidal following his extremely tough back and forth title defense against Gilbert Burns earlier in February. The champ came very close to getting knocked out in the first round on a pay-per-view that we doubt made him a whole lot of money, and if he wants the biggest bang for buck at welterweight right now it’s still Jorge Masvidal.

Never mind that Jorge hasn’t fought since the last time he faced Usman, which saw “The Nigerian Nightmare” footstomp his way to a lopsided but boring 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46 decision. “Gamebred” has been saying he’d have won if he had a full camp since the post-fight press conference. And now Kamaru Usman says he wants the rematch so he can finish the lippy Masvidal and prove his detractors wrong.

Will Masvidal and Usman end up as coaches on the new season of The Ultimate Fighter? Masvidal gave no indication that was the case, but the timing certainly works out to film a season and air it before a September fight. We’ll keep you in the loop as that story and this fight develops.