Earlier this year it seemed that UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal were headed toward a massive showdown. The combination of Masvidal's meteoric rise, Usman's run as welterweight champion and the heated rivalry was a perfect storm for the MMA promotion. Although they will meet at UFC 251 on July 11 on "Fight Island," the fight almost didn't happen when Masvidal went public with his financial dispute and opted to hold out until he got what he was asking for. The UFC then decided to go in a different direction with Gilbert Burns being booked to face Usman.
However, a positive COVID-19 test from Burns opened the door for last-minute negotiations with Masvidal to step in on six days' notice to accept the fight. The inaugural "BMF" champion and the UFC ended up agreeing to terms, and the fight fans have longed to see is coming to fruition.
Masvidal has stated that he ended up getting close to what he initially asked and refuses to be undercut moving forward. He also said that he hopes to "set an example" for how fighters should stand firm on demanding what they are worth and plans to continue to lead the charge following UFC 251.
"They offered me a deal, I didn't like it and I didn't take it," Masvidal said at the UFC 251 virtual media day. "They came back with a much better deal. Believe me, even if I wasn't competing for the belt I'd still be campaigning. Not just for more money for me, but for all of my brothers and sisters in the sport."
But Usman isn't buying that Masvidal is interested in changing anything for others outside of himself.
“He was the one complaining, advocating for, all fighters need to get paid, fighters need this, fighters need that," Usman told DAZN News. "But the moment he got a little bit of extra money, guess what, he said bye, I’m out. I’m signing, and I’m going to fight. So where’s all that unity now? Where is all of that?
"You talked all of this big game about you’re not going to fight, fighters don’t get paid, but now, here you are. So it goes to show that he’s out for himself. But it is what it is. I’m glad he’s getting some money for this, because I wouldn’t want to not get paid for getting my ass beat by somebody named the ‘Nigerian Nightmare.’”
Usman made it clear that he's satisfied with his current financial situation and that all of his negotiating takes place behind closed doors. Should he beat Masvidal, there might be some more negotiations given that his star power will get a significant boost. Just don't expect it to play out on social media for the world to see.