More than five years have passed since Jorge Masvidal headlined a historic UFC Pay-Per-View event. UFC 251 took place on July 11, 2020, marking the first UFC event held outside the US during the COVID-19 pandemic and introducing “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi. The card featured three title fights and drew 1.3 million PPV buys, tying it with Brock Lesnar’s UFC 100 as one of the most successful pay-per-views without the sport’s biggest star, Conor McGregor.
Originally, the main event was set to be the welterweight title fight between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns, accompanied by a featherweight title rematch between Alexander Volkanovsky and Max Holloway and a bantamweight championship bout featuring Petr Yan and Jose Aldo. However, Burns tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the UFC to pivot quickly, leading Jorge Masvidal to step in on short notice.
Masvidal, already a rising star after his knockout of Ben Askren and winning the BMF title by defeating Nate Diaz, had to shed 20 pounds in just six days to make the welterweight limit. He described this grueling weight cut in a YouTube video titled “Almost Crossed.” Masvidal admitted the process was brutal, especially as he got older, with the final pounds being the toughest.
Despite his effort, Masvidal was unable to capitalize on the opportunity and lost every round to Usman, who won by unanimous decision. Later, Masvidal received a full training camp to prepare for a rematch, where he promised to finish Usman before the judges could decide. Instead, Usman delivered a stunning knockout at UFC 261 in April 2021, marking his fourth successful title defense.
Following those fights, Masvidal went on to lose decisions to both Colby Covington and Gilbert Burns before eventually parting ways with the UFC.
Fan Take: This moment underscores the unpredictable nature of MMA where last-minute changes can lead to historic outcomes, showing the resilience and dedication fighters must possess. It also highlights how pivotal those fights are in shaping the legacy and trajectory of athletes in the sport.
