MIAMI – Jorge Masvidal only sees one bigger fight at welterweight than him vs. champion Leon Edwards.
Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) has been keen on getting his revenge from Masvidal, who attacked him backstage at UFC London in March 2019. The pair were scheduled to fight at UFC 269 in December 2021, but the bout was scrapped when Masvidal withdrew due to injury.
Outside of a fight with the sports’ No. 1 star Conor McGregor, Masvidal sees a showdown with Edwards doing the biggest numbers. But first, Masvidal (35-16 MMA, 12-9 UFC) has to get past fellow former title challenger Gilbert Burns (21-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 287 co-main event at Kaseya Center. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
“Oh definitely,” Masvidal told reporters, including MMA Junkie on Edwards being the biggest fight during Wednesday’s UFC 287 media day. “I mean, unless Conor’s b*tchass came to 170, but that midget ain’t coming up to fight me. It goes without saying, me and Leon sell pay-per-views. Leon and (Kamaru) Usman, what did that do? Those numbers ain’t even out because they’re so sh*tty I heard.
“It’s just, they’re both great fighters, great tacticians and stuff but they don’t risk it for the biscuit all the time. And fans, you know, like, ‘Eh, OK. You’re kind of playing it safe, you’re doing the distance thing or you’re just doing the hugging thing and sniffing nuts.’ Fans don’t want to pay (for) that sh*t.”
Masvidal was taking a jibe at former foe Colby Covington, who was dubbed as No. 1 contender by Dana White. But after Edwards retained his title against Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 last month in London, he dismissed Covington as his next title challenger, and instead is angling for Masvidal if he he can get past Burns.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.
