Jorge Masvidal reveals he has to shift 20 POUNDS in six days for UFC 251 fight with Kamaru Usman

‘It won’t be the first time I have to cut a crazy amount of weight at short notice’: Jorge Masvidal reveals he has to shift 20 POUNDS in six days as fan favourite steps in to fight Kamaru Usman as a late replacement at Fight Island for UFC 251

  • Jorge Masvidal has revealed he needs to shift 20 pounds in six days for UFC 251 
  • ‘Gamebred’ has stepped in as a late replacement to take on Kamaru Usman  
  • The 35-year-old needs to make the 170 lbs weight limit for the title fight
  • Masvidal is confident he can cut the weight in time for Friday’s weigh in 

Jorge Masvidal has revealed he needs to shift 20 pounds of weight to hit 170 pounds for his grudge match with Kamaru Usman at UFC 251, after the fan favourite stepped in to save the show over the weekend. 

Usman, 33, was slated to headline the UFC’s historic event at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi – better known as ‘Fight Island’ – against Gilbert Burns, who had come off the back of an impressive win over former champion Tyron Woodley.

However, on Friday the Brazilian tested positive for coronavirus and was pulled from the card, leaving the headline act hanging in the balance. Burns had been training in Florida, where cases have spiked of late. 

Jorge Masvidal has revealed he needs to shift 20 pounds to make the weight limit for UFC 251

The fan favourite has stepped in to fight Kamaru Usman with just six days notice for the title

The fan favourite has stepped in to fight Kamaru Usman with just six days notice for the title

Despite a very recent public spat over how the UFC treats its fighters with regard to pay, a deal was successfully negotiated between Masvidal and the UFC, and the 35-year-old set off for Abu Dhabi overnight. 

The late replacement now has roughly six days to prepare for Usman, a formidable opponent who has lost just once in his 17-fight mixed martial arts career. 

But before Masvidal has to worry about what will unfold in the Octagon, there are several hurdles he needs to clear before hearing Bruce Buffer call his name on fight night. 

However, 'Gamebred' has to come down from 191 lbs to 170 lbs in order to fight Usman

However, ‘Gamebred’ has to come down from 191 lbs to 170 lbs in order to fight Usman

Both he and Usman will undergo further rounds of coronavirus testing before having to make the agreed weight for the championship fight, which is 170 pounds. 

And ‘Gamebred’ has revealed how much weight he needs to cut to hit the scales at the welterweight limit. 

‘Yeah, I got 20 pounds to go. I’m taking the fight on 6 days notice,’ he told ESPN First Take. ‘When they made the fight official I weighed 191 pounds but I can lose that weight.

Usman (right) is a huge rival of Masvidal, and goes into the contest as the bookies' favourite

Usman (right) is a huge rival of Masvidal, and goes into the contest as the bookies’ favourite

‘I’ve been doing this a long time, it won’t be the first time I have to cut a crazy amount of weight at short notice, and like I’ve always said God has my back so I’ve got no worries.’  

Some fans and pundits have expressed concern that Masvidal hasn’t enough time to prepare for Usman, a world class wrestler, but Gamebred feels relaxed at the prospect of facing the Nigerian Nightmare on short notice. 

‘The reason I’m taking this short notice fight is because it’s the same s*** that got me here. Throughout my whole career I’ve always done stuff like this and I’m pretty comfortable with the uncomfortable. That’s one way to put it.’ 

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