Masvidal sick of UFC’s ‘strong arm’ offers: ‘It’s take it or leave it’
The UFC recently announced a big batch of fights for the upcoming Fight Island cards in Abu Dhabi, and while UFC 251 is looking hella fire from our point of view it’s impossible not to feel a bit sad about the lack of Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal was supposed to face welterweight champion Kamaru Usman before a dispute over pay tanked the potential fight. Following his big money performance against Nate Diaz at UFC 244, “Street Jesus” was unwilling to take less pay to fight Usman.
Fair enough, but the UFC waits for no one man. The welterweight title shot went to the eager AF Gilbert Burns, and Jorge Masvidal is stuck on the sidelines tweeting angrily about UFC pay. After it was ‘revealed’ that Masvidal turned down a last ditch offer to fight Usman for the same money he made off UFC 244, “Street Jesus” clapped back.
I already explained why I signed a new deal. It’s either take it or leave it and not get paid. I would’ve signed another deal if it was done in good faith. He called me night before he wants to announce and tell me take or it leave it. That’s not negotiating that’s strong arming
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) June 14, 2020
And for the #whiteknights that have commentating jobs with the ufc that say “just fight” you guys should be embarrassed to call yourselves current/former fighters. Not one of you been doing it as long as me and like me. There’s a reason you are “commentating”
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) June 14, 2020
I’m still trying to get paid not played. Why we here now
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) June 14, 2020
White continues to position the recent flood of fighters retiring as ‘guys not wanting to fight.’
“Masvidal is very much like the Diaz brothers,” he said leading up to UFC on ESPN 10. “He beats to the sound of his own drum, when he wants to do something he does it.”
Definitely not a promising comparison, considering the Diaz brothers priced themselves out of regular UFC competition. Could we see a similar situation where Masvidal gets ‘vanished’ from the rotation for years? White certainly didn’t sound proactive about working things out.
“Listen, I’m putting on fights every weekend for the next … ten years,” he said. “And if you want a fight, call us. We’ll offer you fights and if you don’t want to take ‘em, you don’t have to.”
Sounds an awful lot like ‘Take it or leave it.’
