Getty Jorge Masvidal
Gilbert Burns believes that Jorge Masvidal is putting a lot of “pressure” on himself going into their UFC 287 co-main event on April 8. The Brazilian submission artist spoke to ESPN MMA, saying that Masvidal’s back is “against the wall,” and that “it’s not a good day to be Jorge Masvidal” come April 8.
Masvidal, 38, had alluded to potential retirement, saying, “If I lose, I’m pretty much calling it quits,” during the April 2 episode of “UFC 287 Countdown.” Burns, however, said “it’s not a good look” for Masvidal, acknowledging that his opponent could be motivating himself to put on a good performance.
Burns said that whether or not Masvidal showed up on April 8, he was keen to “make him remember” what he said about retirement when they fight.
“You’re fighting at home; your back’s against the wall, and you’re fighting Gilbert Burns,” Burns said, referring to himself in the third person. “It’s not a good day to be Jorge Masvidal. So, I think he’s just put a lot of pressure on himself so he can [start the fight] crazy. That’s what I think.
“I’m going to make him remember that he [said he’d retire],” Burns said. “Whenever you start saying ‘retirement,’ something is going wrong in your head.”
Not ‘A Good Look’: Gilbert Burns Reflects on Jorge Masvidal’s Retirement Remarks
During an appearance on “Morning Kombat” on April 5, Burns reaffirmed his opinions on Masvidal’s retirement comments, saying, “Personally, I would never say [going into a fight], ‘[If I lose] I’m retiring’. I just don’t think that’s a good look.”
“I’ve heard a couple of guys say, ‘Oh, if I win I’ll retire.’ And these guys always lose,” Burns said without specifying who he was referring to. “Me personally, I don’t like that look. So he is already thinking about it, and I’m going to remind him [during the fight].”
Burns, 36, is fifth in the UFC’s welterweight rankings with a 22-5 record.
Jorge Masvidal Elaborates on His Post-Fighting Plans
Masvidal went further in-depth on his retirement plans when he appeared on the March 22 episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience.” When Rogan prompted Masvidal about how much longer he’d compete as a fighter, Masvidal replied, “I’m at American Top Team, the best gym in the f****** world. We have numerous established killers right now, we have another world of guys coming up.
“Young, hungry, talented. Nobody [knows about them], they’re just f****** killers, and I’ve just always felt like … when I come into the gym and I can’t hang with the pack. I can’t, you know, do a round with [one guy, and other guys after that], and I’m getting the worse end of it consistently,” Masvidal said. “I’ll call it quits because I don’t want to be a stepping stone for [anybody].”
It’s a high-stakes matchup for both men, with Burns pining for a second shot at the welterweight title, and the looming threat of retirement of an aging Masvidal. The UFC 287 co-main is sure to be a fan-pleaser, as both men enter the octagon with something to prove.
Masvidal, 38, is 35-17 in his 20-year career.