Jorge Masvidal says he's leaning toward fighting Kamaru Usman over Conor McGregor, and his logic for that route is simple.
He believes McGregor has plans for other fights — so Masvidal is focusing on Usman instead.
"You're f—ing dead," Masvidal said staring into the camera on "Ariel Helwani's MMA Show," directing the comment toward Usman on Monday.
"I'd make a considerable larger paycheck with Conor, but if it's on the personal side — if it's all potatoes and tomatoes mean the same — I would take a lot more pleasure in dismantling Usman's face than I would Conor's," Masvidal continued. "I would have a sincere joy inside of me like a kid on Christmas opening numerous gifts if Usman was the dude that I got to baptize."
When asked why he feels that way, Masvidal was equally blunt.
"There's something about his face that I don't like it, it doesn't sit well with me," Masvidal said. "I don't like his attitude as well, either."
Masvidal, the UFC Fighter of the Year for 2019, jabbed Usman for hinting in December that Leon Edwards is more deserving of a title shot, despite having already defeated Edwards and Masvidal being ranked above Edwards in the welterweight rankings. Since then, Edwards has been penciled in to fight former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in London on March 21.
"The dude ain't got no personality, though," Masvidal said, continuing to bash Usman. "He has 17 different f—ing personalities up there (on press conference podiums), but not one of them is made for TV. I'm going to f— his ass up.
"I'm going to make this abundantly clear in every f—ing interview I get asked about this coward," he added. "He wants to fight the guy that's ranked below me. He wants to fight the guy that's ranked below me that he already beat. He says that's the tougher fight."
Usman sees things differently, and took to his Twitter account Monday to comment that Masvidal is avoiding him and not the other way around.
While Masvidal expects to face Usman next, he's still hoping there's a chance to get the McGregor fight to secure the biggest payday of his career. "Gamebred" even has the perfect time of year in mind to have the bout.
"July, International Fight Week, would be a great time to f—ing have the biggest event in the history of the sport," Masvidal offered. "So, Conor, if you want to do it, let's do it, bro. If not, let me know. I got s— to do."