Jorge Masvidal may be making his long-awaited return to the Octagon against Darren Till at UFC London on Saturday, but he hasn’t shied away from getting in verbal spats with many of his fellow fighters in the meantime.
From Michael Bisping to Nick Diaz, Masvidal has been looking for a fight during his almost year-and-a-half on the sidelines since his UFC 217 unanimous decision loss to Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.
In fact, it would appear Masvidal actually likes his upcoming opponent a lot more than many of his peers.
Now, it’s the very vocal Ben Askren who is in the American Top Team product’s cross-hairs.
Askren earned a controversial submission win over Robbie Lawler at UFC 235 earlier this month and has flown to London to act as one of the UFC’s guest fighter for the event. The Roufusport wrestler has made it clear he would like to fight the winner of the Till – Masvidal fight, rather than entertain the thought of granting Lawler a rematch.
“He’s a little groupie, man,” Masvidal said in the pre-fight presser, per MMAjunkie. “He’s calling my name. Who are you? Herb Dean gifted you a win, and you’re calling people out? Give Robbie Lawler the respect you owe.
“As a man, as a fighter, having pride in what I do, I choke somebody out, or I think choke them out, but when I see the replay and see the guy put the thumbs up, in my head, I would say, ‘Man, I didn’t choke this guy out,’”
And as a man, having pride, I would say, ‘Let’s do it again,’ especially after he [expletive] decapitated me on the slam, busted up my face. ‘Let’s do it again,’ because I definitely didn’t choke you out. Because I’ve never seen nobody go to sleep like this. That’s the first.
“But that’s how much of a weasel and coward he is,” Masvidal added. “No, no, I’m gone already. I wouldn’t dare repeat that route again. That just shows you his character. He’s a [expletive].”
While Askren may want either Masvidal or Till next, UFC President Dana White has already said he will look to book the rematch between Askren and Lawler.
