Jorge Masvidal has no business calling UFC champ Kamaru Usman a coward, manager says

Manager Ali Abdelaziz thinks it’s absurd for Jorge Masvidal to be calling UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman a coward.

Usman (18-1 MMA, 13-0 UFC) is set to rematch Masvidal in the main event of UFC 261 on April 24 at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.

The pair fought last July at UFC 251 where Masvidal stepped in on just six days’ to challenge Usman in Abu Dhabi. Usman retained the title in a one-sided unanimous decision, but Masvidal vowed that things would be different in the rematch now that he’s had plenty of time to properly prepare.

Masvidal (35-14 MMA, 12-7 UFC) hasn’t competed since losing to Usman, whereas Usman retained his title in February with a second-round finish of Gilbert Burns at UFC 258. Usman already holds wins over the top-four ranked UFC welterweights, which means that a rematch for his next title defense was inevitable.

Despite his recent lopsided win over Masvidal, Usman was intent on running things back with him, which set up the unexpected but highly anticipated rematch. Abdelaziz, who’s known to vouch for his fighters, was particularly upset at Masvidal calling his client a coward, especially after Usman granted him an immediate rematch.

“I listened to some interviews, and Masvidal called him a coward,” Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. “I don’t think any of these guys are cowards. I don’t think Masvidal is a coward, I don’t think Usman is a coward, none of these guys are cowards. How are you gonna call a guy a coward who gave you an opportunity on six days’ notice and now giving you a second opportunity? If he’s a coward, he should run away from you, right? But realistically, people say things to promote fights. It is what it is, but Kamaru is the furthest thing from being a coward. He’s a real man.”

Abdelaziz explained that part of the reason Usman opted to rematch Masvidal was the magnitude of the fight. Their first outing at UFC 251 drew a reported 1.3 million pay-per-view buys, one of the highest in the company’s history.

“Colby (Covington), he talked all that sh*t. You see what happened to him,” Abdelaziz said. “Even Masvidal, he got dominated 50-44. It’s the reason why we put you in there. Dan Lambert knows. I talked to Dan Lambert, and he knows Kamaru chose (Masvidal). You know why? He’s a guy who brings in eyeballs. He did a great job creating a good hype.

“But listen, he’s 3-3 in his last six. Kamaru is 17-0 in his last 17 fights, 13-0 in the UFC. You cannot call this man a coward. You have to thank him because he’s gonna get paid fighting Kamaru. Losing to Kamaru is great. He’s the champ; he’s supposed to beat you. But losing to Colby or Leon Edwards, you lose street credit.”