During Super Bowl week earlier this year, UFC president Dana White announced that he was targeting International Fight Week for Kamaru Usman to defend the welterweight title against Jorge Masvidal on Saturday, July 11, in Las Vegas.
The UFC has yet to make the fight official due to the coronavirus pandemic. Masvidal last competed in November at UFC 244 when he dominated Nate Diaz from the outset to win the BMF title. One month later, Usman successfully defended the championship against Colby Covington at UFC 245 by stopping Covington with less than a minute remaining in the fight.
While impressed with Usman's performance, Masvidal isn't complimentary of the style Usman brings into every fight.
"He's a boring ass dude," Masvidal said to BT Sport. "If I'm speaking from a straight tactical point, he doesn't want to strike, and he doesn't fully commit to wrestling either. All he fully commits to is stalling, just being a f—ing stall machine. For the first time, he didn't stall with [Covington], and it was a s— kickboxing match, and the world gave him all types of praise for it because he wasn't his usual boring self and he actually threw some fists.
"We all know he's not gonna throw fists when it comes to me. He's gonna to try to act like he's gonna to throw fists and then he's gonna go for the takedown, and he's gonna quickly find out I don't ever get held down by that guy. I won't get out-grappled by that guy. I'll put my life on that. I'll put my money on it."
The reason White made the announcement was because of an altercation Masivdal and Usman got into on Radio Row earlier that week. Masvidal didn't think too much of the incident — he wanted to let Usman know that if he had things to say, then let him know directly instead of going through a third party. To the 17-year fight veteran, he learned a lot about Usman after the encounter.
"I'm not gonna tell so-and-so, I'm gonna tell you to your face, that's how much a man I am," Masvidal said. "I'm gonna f— you up when we get this fight signed. It's gonna happen, and I'm gonna f— you up. And that's it. From there, I just told him that I'm getting ready to walk away; I just want to say my peace, and he went all crazy and s—, like 'do somethin', do somethin'.
"There's like 20 guys in between us, you know I can't do nothing, especially with you being loud. If you would have said something in the indoor talking voice, we coulda done something. But you made such a scene for everybody to see and get in-between that real man s— couldn't happen. But he exposed himself again, he showed his cards again on that day, and I thank him."
A Masvidal-Usman clash would be the first time the former challenges for a UFC title. For most, it's a career-defining moment competing for UFC gold. Masvidal isn't too sure of the sentiment because of what Usman brings to the table.
"Parts of it yes, parts of it no," Masvidal said. "A fight is just more than the guy you have in front of you. It's also a moment. It'll be fighting for the UFC title, so that's huge. But of the skill set? No. This animal hunter has tamed much more ferocious animals and wild beasts than this mere insect in front him. So as far as that goes, skill level goes, no. This individual will be tamed on that night. This matador will tame the wild animal, and with ease, as well."