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Morning Report: Jorge Masvidal on fight with Conor McGregor: ‘I’m too much man for him in every way that could possibly be said’

January 29, 2020
Jorge Masvidal and Joe Rogan Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

This weekend Super Bowl 54 takes place in Miami. It’s one of the biggest sporting events of the year, and it happens to be taking place in the hometown of the recently crowned BMF champion, so Rich Eisen took the opportunity to speak with Masvidal at a live taping of his show and it didn’t take long for the conversation to turn towards Conor McGregor and why it seems like Masvidal won’t be facing “Notorious” next.

Masvidal has been angling for a fight with McGregor since last year, but his focus on Conor really ramped up after he defeated Nate Diaz to claim the BMF title. In fact, given his druthers, it seems that Masvidal would prefer a fight with McGregor over a welterweight title shot. Unfortunately, following his win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, McGregor seems less interested in a battle with Masvidal and “Gamebred” has his own thoughts on why.

“You can’t ask me that,” Masvidal said. “You gotta ask Conor that... When they asked [Dana White] why the fights not happening, he said it in the nicest way possible and he said I was too much man for him. Meaning, I’m too much man for him. I asked this guy to fight me, you know? It is what it is.”

When asked to elaborate on exactly what that means, Masvidal essentially said he’s just all around better than McGregor and thinks the fight would only end one way.

“My will, my size, my determination, mix in with I’m not a quitter, I’ve never tapped in my life,” Masvidal said. “It’s a different type of dog over here. I’m too much man for him in every way that could possibly be said...

“When I see Conor, I see a lot of holes from a technical point. If I’m a coach, and I’m advising my athlete the best way to beat this guy, I see many math scenarios there. I see X’s and O’s, I see the square root of his face times my knuckles, I see all these things constantly... Not that his game is not good because his game is great but when I do the math, and I see the numbers in my head and I do the math, I lean towards me very heavy.”

And according to Masvidal, this is not just public posturing. UFC President Dana White has state clearly that he wants McGregor to rematch UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov but even beyond that, Masvidal says his management and McGregor’s have been in contact and it’s clear to him that McGregor’s team wants that too.

“Our management have been talking back and forth and it’s not in their future,” Masvidal said. “It’s not something they want... And that’s good for him. Go do your thing. Go back down to your division. Do whatever you’re gonna do. Whether you’re gonna win or lose, that’s none of my business. Go do your stuff but at 170, there’s only one sheriff in town.”

Well, technically there are two. Masvidal is the holder of the inaugural BMF title and competes as a welterweight but Kamaru Usman is the true 170 pound champion. The two champions seem set on a collision course for this year and Masvidal says that if McGregor wants to make a business decision before facing him, he’s happy to pick up another belt for the trophy case in the meantime.

“I’m not saying [Conor]’s scared because anybody that makes that walk, that gets into the cage, that fights champions how he’s fought, it’s not that he’s scared,” Masvidal said. “But he knows it’s not a good outcome. Why gamble it up? He just got a win, go get another win. Have fun. He said it in the interview himself, he doesn’t feel up to speed, he’s not up to par yet. So let him go get ready. While he’s doing that, there’s this guy that’s going around saying that he has a championship, I’m gonna go take it. I’m gonna go take that guy’s belt.”

Usman won the welterweight title last year with a dominant performance over Tyron Woodley at UFC 235. He then defended his title against former interim champion Colby Covington at UFC 245. But like McGregor, after the win, Usman seemed more interested in a fight with Leon Edwards, a man he has already faced, rather than a fight with Masvidal, even going so far as to suggest that he doesn’t know “who” Masvidal is. Well on Tuesday, Masvidal returned the favor and then issued a warning to The Owl.

“I forgot his name but what’s-his-face, Usman, he’s gonna get bodied,” Masvidal said. “I’m gonna say it now, I’m gonna embarrass that individual. He’s the welterweight champ but he’s soon to be uncrowned. Let him enjoy his moment now that he has the belt. He’s at the pinnacle of his life because from here it’s a violent way down.”

MUST-READ STORIES

Farewell. Ex-Strikeforce champ, Bellator commentator Josh Thomson announces retirement.

Goals. Manager: Conor McGregor is ‘serious’ about pursuing boxing world title.

Irony. Former MMA fighter, vigilante ‘Phoenix Jones’ facing drug charges.

Tournament. PFL introduces one-night tournament series to bulk up 2020 roster.

Beef. Arnold Allen responds to Nik Lentz eye gouge complaint: ‘He was fighting so dirty’.

VIDEO STEW

Every heel hook (sort of) in UFC history. A lot of Paul Harris in here.

Jorge Masvidal discussing his most feared opponent.

Paulie keeping that beef alive.

Dominick Reyes.

Fallen champions.

LISTEN UP

Eurobash. Interviews with Arnold Allen and Dricus Du Plessis.

UFC Unfiltered. Interviews with Andre Fili, Belal Muhammad, and Angela Hill.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Farewell.

Comeback.

Poster.

Moving up in the world.

New chapter.

Wants to fight.

Julian Marquez can fight again.

Elaborating on her previous Tweet about living in a small trailer.

USADA.

Friendship.

Mike Perry.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nordine Taleb (15-7) vs. Maarten Wouters (11-7); ARES, April 3.

John Moraga (19-7) vs. Hector Sandoval (15-4); ARES, April 3.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

EXIT POLL

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram, add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting, and like us on Facebook.

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