Getty MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: Gilbert Burns (R) of Brazil punches Jorge Masvidal in their welterweight bout during UFC 287 at Kaseya Center on April 08, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
MMA superstar Jorge Masvidal called it a career after suffering his fourth consecutive defeat inside the Octagon at UFC 287 on Saturday night.
Masvidal and top-ranked welterweight Gilbert Burns were locked in the cage for the night’s co-main event in the former’s hometown of Miami, Florida. Unfortunately for “Gamebred,” he couldn’t put on the performance he wanted to at 38 years old and Burns came out on top of the scorecards unanimously (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after landing several big shots on the feet and controlling large portions of the match on the ground.
The loss led to Masvidal taking off his gloves and announcing his retirement while speaking with color commentator Joe Rogan post-fight.
All in all, Gamebred walks away as one of the sport’s biggest names, along with a 35-17 professional record that spanned 20 years. For “Durinho,” he cemented himself as a top contender in the division while improving his MMA record to 22-5.
Masvidal’s Former Opponents Ben Askren & Darren Till Reacted to His Loss
Here are some reactions to the news:
UFC lightweight standout Michael Chandler tweeted: “If that was the last time we saw @GamebredFighter… what a dream he created with his two bare hands. What a pleasure to watch all these years.”
If that was the last time we saw @GamebredFighter …what a dream he created with his two bare hands. What a pleasure to watch all these years. #ufc287
“Shoutout to Jorge Masvidal for having an incredible career that he’ll always be proud of,” the MMA History Today Twitter account wrote. “This man fought for the love of the game and became a Superstar for it.”
Current UFC bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling tweeted: “Mannnn! Another one gone from the fight game!! another one of my all time favorite fighters! Father Time catches up to all of us. Shout out to Jorge Masvidal! A real OG of the fight game! You will be missed!!”
Ex-ONE Championship and Bellator MMA welterweight champion Ben Askren, who was famously knocked out by Masvidal with a flying knee in 2019, tweeted: “Easy 30-27 for Gilbert Burns, looks like Jorge didn’t train very hard for this one.”
“Well at least I won’t have to see that stupid a** highlight again now (laughing emoji),” Askren tweeted.
Well at least I won’t have to see that stupid ass highlight again now 😂😂
“Who got knocked out the worst by Masvidal.” former UFC contender Darren Till tweeted to Askren. Me or you?” It prompted a response from Askren, who replied: “Man I was sad when you got out to sleep in London, was looking forward to the build up in a fight Vs you.”
Masvidal also knocked out Till in 2019.
BJJ black belt and Conor McGregor’s training partner Dillon Danis wrote: “Jake Paul vs Jorge Masvidal next (laughing emoji).”
Masvidal Retired as a ‘Multi-Millionaire” & Is ‘Good for Life’
Competing at the Kaseya Center in front of his home crowd in Miami, Florida, was a great capstone to Masvidal’s battle-tested career that had made him into a “multi-millionaire.”
“I love everybody here,” Masvidal said to Joe Rogan after taking his gloves off inside the Octagon. “Thank you everybody for watching. But, this is where I started my career and now, it’s been a long 20 years, 50-something fights. Sometimes your favorite basketball player ain’t got that three-pointer no more, your favorite quarterback loses that rifle. I don’t feel the same when I get in here no more. It’s been 20, long years.
“UFC came here 20 years ago and it inspired me to chase this dream for 20 years, 50-something fights later. Hopefully I inspired somebody in here to go fight for theirs — no matter what it is. If it’s in the sports world, if it’s in the f****** entertainment world, if it’s in whatever world, the nine to five. I love everybody. I love this sport. I’m a multi-millionaire. I didn’t start from s***. I didn’t have s*** when I started, now I can say I’m good for life now.”
After praising former President Donald Trump, who has in attendance, as well as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Gamebred started a “Let’s Go, Brandon,” chant and followed with: “I’m out, ya’ll. 305 for life.”