ATT owner reveals trying to talk Masvidal out of UFC 251

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

American Top Team owner Dan Lambert admits not wanting Jorge Masvidal to step in on six days’ notice against Kamaru Usman at UFC 251.

“BMF” champion Jorge Masvidal drew some praise for agreeing to fight Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 on six days’ notice. But apparently, American Top Team owner Dan Lambert didn’t like the idea in the beginning.

“I found out Gilbert dropped out because Jorge called me at like 1 o’clock in the morning,” Lambert told BJPenn.com. “He said hey, I’ll take that fight, let’s make some calls. I didn’t want him to [take it]. I tried to talk him out of it.

“That is like less than a week from today in Abu Dhabi, halfway around the world like are you out of your mind?

“He said, no, I’m taking the fight, it’s going to happen,” he continued. “Like alright, I’ll make a call and let them know you want it to happen and tell them to call your guys and start working it on it. I wasn’t a big fan of it happening on that kind of notice.

“There is a big difference between a guy who is around the gym and a guy in a training camp. But, Jorge Masvidal did pretty damn well.”

One of the many matchups lined up for “Gamebred” is a fight against Conor McGregor. UFC president Dana White may have shut it down already, but Lambert wants it to be next for Masvidal.

“Jorge probably has a much better seat at the table now that he has proven himself as a draw,” he said. “If I had my say, I want him to make as much money as possible. Conor McGregor is the biggest fight in the world for anybody. So, if I had my say, that would be his next.

“If Jorge has his say, he probably wants the rematch. Right now, the belt is more important than money.”

Another option for Masvidal is a matchup against former training partner and roommate Colby Covington. The two have been jawing at each other for a while now, but neither man wants to make a fight happen.