Nine years ago today, Jorge Masvidal stepped into the cage full of confidence following a victory over a UFC Hall of Famer. Known as a former two-time UFC welterweight title challenger and BMF champion, Masvidal has an impressive list of notable wins throughout his UFC career. However, few performances stand out quite like the one he delivered on January 28, 2017. “Gamebred” fought in the co-main event at UFC Fight Night in Denver, a card topped by Valentina Shevchenko’s armbar win over Julianna Peña. His outstanding display earned him a Performance of the Night bonus, yet Masvidal was willing to risk over $50,000 of that bonus with a bold challenge to Dana White immediately after his win.
At UFC Denver, Masvidal was riding high on a three-fight winning streak, having knocked out Jake Ellenberger and decisively beaten Ross Pearson in his prior bouts. But his most impressive showing came against then-future UFC Hall of Famer Donald Cerrone. Masvidal dominated Cerrone in front of the veterans’ hometown crowd, so much so that UFC President Dana White predicted title opportunities for him. Although the fight was nearly done by the end of the first round, Masvidal sealed it in the second with a barrage of punches that forced referee Herb Dean to stop the fight.
Fueled by his third consecutive victory, Masvidal confidently proposed a $200,000 bet to White, challenging him to find a welterweight who could defeat him. “The coaches know that if it’s a big game, I’ll be in the gym,” Masvidal stated post-fight. “If someone gives me a fritter or another actor, I don’t know, I might not accept it. So I said to Dana, if you want him to fight, take this bet, $200,000. Nobody is going to beat me at welterweight. No one is.” Luckily for Masvidal, White declined the wager—a wise decision given that Masvidal lost a split decision to veteran Demian Maia in his very next fight. Following more mixed results, including a defeat to Stephen Thompson, Masvidal’s strong performances in 2019 skyrocketed him into UFC superstardom.
After a remarkable run and entering the higher echelons of MMA, Masvidal retired following four consecutive losses, the latest being a defeat to Gilbert Burns in April 2023. However, he has since made a notable resurgence with three straight wins, including a knockout of Ben Askren that propelled him to a pay-per-view headline bout against Nate Diaz at Madison Square Garden. Now 41, Masvidal is preparing for a comeback roughly three years after his retirement, teasing his return could happen at the UFC’s White House event next June. With this in mind, Fighting fans eagerly anticipate what new chapter “Gamebred” will write upon his return.
Fan Take: Jorge Masvidal’s journey reflects the highs and lows that make MMA so gripping—from confident bets to tough defeats and thrilling comebacks. His return promises to reignite excitement in the welterweight division and could inspire a resurgence of veteran fighters seeking to reclaim their spot at the top, underlining MMA’s intense competitive spirit.
