Ahead of UFC 251, Jorge Masvidal has inked a brand new, multifight contract with UFC, according to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.
Masvidal is slated to enter the octagon to face Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, and says that while the UFC didn’t give him every single thing he asked, the deal came “very, very close” to that and he’s “happy” with it.
“I’m happy more than anything because I get to break this guy’s face and get paid for it,” Masvidal said.
“I can understand you don’t want to give me that much on the guaranteed,” Masvidal said. “But on the pay-per-view, what I bring in, what people purchase, I want more money on that, and they weren’t budging. And that was that. So, all this craziness had to happen for them to come to their senses.”
One of the UFC’s most outspoken fighters, especially when it comes to how fighters are financially compensated, Masvidal said that he will continue to speak up on the issue of pay.
“We’re not there yet, but we’re headed in that direction,” Masvidal said. “Moving forward after this fight, they’re gonna treat me accordingly. 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.”
Masvidal has been training, and believes that he is in the kind of shape he needs to be to be successful on Saturday.
“I never stopped training,” Masvidal said. “I’m always training. But I’m not always in the gym doing the specifics.”
“If you’re asking me, are you in shape?” Masvidal said. “Maybe not to fight Ben Askren. I’m not in Ben Askren shape, because he’s a hell of a wrestler. Or even to fight a guy like Darren Till. But am I in shape for this bum I’m about to decapitate and baptize? Hell yeah.”
Masvidal predicted a convincing victory at UFC 251.
“Cold-blooded as can be,” Masvidal said. “His body is grasping for air as I’ve got my hand raised over him. I’m gonna baptize him, man, for the world to see. It’s gonna be violent.”
