J. Masvidal (photo) rejects fight against L. Edwards. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @gamebredfighter
The welterweight (up to 77kg.) Jorge masvidal has been on a ‘honeymoon’ with Ultimate since he gave Ben Askren the fastest knockout in the organization’s history (5s), for UFC 239, on the 6th. With his name on the rise, the athlete was challenged by Leon edwards, who defeated the Brazilian Rafael dos Anjos at UFC San Antoio. Jorge, however, rejected the challenge, saying that the company had promised a chance for the belt, currently held by the Nigerian Kamaru Usman. The statement was made on the North American's official Twitter account.
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“I'll be very clear: I was promised a chance to fight for the belt after I defeated Askren, and the plan is to pursue that. Don’t call me again until I get that belt,” Masvidal posted.
In challenging Jorge, Leon minimized his rival's recent victories, stating that the losers were not high-level athletes, assuming that he would be a better challenger than his previous opponents. The American, however, was quick to respond to Edwards' statements.
“There is a big difference between putting the opponent to sleep and putting the public to sleep,” declared Masvidal, referring to the tepid fight provided with Rafael dos Anjos last Saturday (20th).
Edwards' impetus to face a highly ranked athlete in the category is due to the fact that, when beating Dos Anjos, the fighter must take the position that was previously taken by the Brazilian (fourth). As a result, besides the champion, there are only three athletes who are currently the biggest names in the welterweight division: Masvidal, Colby covington e Tyron woodley.
Jorge masvidal comes from two consecutive victories within the organization. The 34-year-old athlete went through an unstable moment in the company in 2017, when, in three fights, he was defeated on two occasions, one of them to the Brazilian Demian Maia. However, his subsequent triumphs over Darren till and Askren put the athlete in the spotlight in Ultimate.
The North American even challenged Corno McGregor, former featherweight (up to 65,7kg) and lightweight (up to 70,3kg) champion, to a fight, if he wasn't given the chance to compete for the title against Kamaru. The Irishman, however, did not respond to the challenge, however, UFC president, Dana White, quickly made a point of stating that the fight would never take place due to the difference in size between the fighters.
When hitting Rafael dos Anjos, Leon edwards, 27, reached his eighth consecutive victory within the organization and continues to be a considerable name as a possible challenger for the division belt in the future.
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