Jorge Masvidal on Kamaru Usman rematch: Don’t blink because it’s going to be violent

Masvidal headlines the Jacksonville, Florida event against past-foe, Usman, hoping to achieve welterweight title spoils at the second time of trying, having dropped a relatively one-sided unanimous decision loss to the Auchi native on short-notice last July on ‘Fight Island’.

The BMF champion had been continuously linked to a potential title-eliminator against former teammate and former interim welterweight titleholder, Colby Covington following his loss to Usman, with the Clovis native claiming Masvidal rejected a “seven-figure payday” to feature as an opposing coach against him in The Ultimate Fighter reboot.

The subject of a somewhat surprising callout from Usman at UFC 258 in February off the back of his successful title defence against former Sanford MMA stablemate, Gilbert Burns, Usman claimed he wanted to leave Masvidal with no excuses this time around following their short-notice summer showdown.

Having turned in three notable knockout wins prior to his title challenge defeat to Usman, Masvidal maintained that he was still coming for opponent’s “heads” — warning spectators to keep a close eye on proceedings this weekend.

“I want you to know everybody watching, ain’t nothing changed,” Masvidal said during an episode of UFC Embedded. “I’m still that thug motherf*cker out to get heads. God bless everyone, don’t miss the fight, don’t blink because it’s going to be violent.“

Enjoying a career rebirth back in 2019, the Floridian veteran headlined a UFC Fight Night London event against former welterweight title challenger, Darren Till in March — stopping the Liverpudlian with a massive second-round knockout.

Featuring against the then-undefeated, Ben Askren at UFC 239 in July of that year, the American Top Team staple turned in the Knockout of the Year — stopping the former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight best with a record-setting, five-second flying knee.

Headlining UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden in November, Masvidal faced off against Nate Diaz for the symbolic BMF championship, and claimed the crown via a third-round doctor’s stoppage, after sizeable lacerations were opened above and below Diaz’s right eye.