UFC superstar Jorge Masvidal responded to Kamaru Usman’s latest threat. After Usman defeated Gilbert Burns at UFC 258 on Saturday at UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Usman told the media at the post-fight press conference that he would finish Masdvial in the proposed rematch and “put him in a coffin”.
“I’m going to put him in a coffin this time,” Usman said per MMA Junkie. “He don’t want that fight. He don’t want that fight. I guarantee he don’t want that fight. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t want it. Have I lied up here yet? Have I lied to you guys yet about anything? Nothing. I said what I wanted to do, and that’s what I’m going to do. We’ll see if it materializes.”
But Masvidal didn’t see things the same way. In fact, the popular welterweight contender laughed off Usman’s “coffin” threat altogether. Masvidal pointed out the last fight between the two 170-pound aces devolved into clinches and foot stomps, and he provided a video clip from UFC 251 to prove it.
Does Late-Notice Fight Deserve Redo?
Last year, Usman defeated Masvidal via unanimous decision at UFC 251.
But Masvidal took that fight on just six days’ notice, so most pundits expect the two UFC stars to end up in a rematch together sometime soon.
Even the champ seems to believe another fight is in order. Usman used his post-fight interview time with Joe Rogan after beating Burns at UFC 258 over the weekend to lobby for the rematch vs. Masvidal.
You can watch that moment below.
“Step in here and see me!”
🇳🇬 @Usman84kg wants the one they call ‘Street Jesus’ #UFC258
Here’s what Usman said:
“We got this little street thug calling himself Jesus…we tried to make that fight several times. We tried to make that fight but he kept backing out. The only reason this man took the fight was because it was on six days’ notice and he had a built-in excuse. He’s still running his mouth. He’s talking about how he broke my nose…Guess what! It’s not done. I’ll give you a whole training camp. I guarantee you, he won’t sign on that dotted line because this time I’m gonna finish your a**.”
Who WIll Usman Face Next?
Usman stopped Burns in the third round at UFC 258 to defend his UFC welterweight championship for the third time.
Usman (17-1) has been UFC welterweight champion since March 2019. “The Nigerian Nightmare” has never lost in the UFC and his 13 straight wins at welterweight are now tied with UFC legend Georges St-Pierre for consecutive wins inside the division.
Usman is considered one of the most dominant champions in the sport. Burns was the clear top contender before UFC 258, and now that Usman has stopped the 34-year-old Brazilian, the champ will need another one to emerge.
Other fighters Usman could potentially find himself locking horns with next include current welterweight contenders Colby Covington and Leon Edwards or even retired UFC champion St-Pierre.
But Masvidal remains Usman’s most likely next opponent.
Like Covington and Edward, Usman already beat Masvidal, but the short-notice “Gamebred” had before his title challenge leaves at least some question around that particular result.
St-Pierre, 39, hasn’t competed since 2017, so it would probably take a lot for “Rush” to come out of retirement.
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