Jorge Masvidal will know his UFC 287 showdown with Gilbert Burns is boom or bust
Jorge Masvidal’s glorious mid-career streak was as unexpected as it was impressive, but ‘Gamebred’ hasn’t had a win in three years now.
Desperate for a title shot against Leon Edwards, he could potentially gain an edge over hated rival Colby Covington – but only if he defeats Gilbert Burns in style at UFC 287.
The co-main event is a fantastic contest between two of the division’s perennial contenders, but at 38 years old, Masvidal knows it could boom or bust his title aspirations.
The statistics are against him. Fighters over the age of 35 between 135 and 170 pounds in UFC title fights have an abysmal record of 2-28.
Time is running out for Masvidal, but he will feel like he would have an incredible chance to finish his career with a belt around his waist if he could force a title fight against Edwards.
Colby Covington (left) has been told he’s next in line to face Leon Edwards, but Jorge Masvidal (right) wants to jump the line by beating Gilbert Burns at UFC 287
Masvidal knows he has to win on Saturday night to have another chance at a title fight
Unsurprisingly, Covington doesn’t think Masvidal will crash the party in terms of the welterweight title picture.
He told Michael Bisping’s podcast: ‘Jorge is a broken man. He’s not the same fighter after I destroyed him, beat him 50-44 with a soda. It is clear that he has been emotionally abandoned. His life is unraveling.
‘Look what he came and did. He has done many things that have affected his brain and his body. You could tell he’s just not the same person. I just see that ‘Dilbert’ (Burns) wins easily.
“He’s not Colby Covington, so he won’t get a title by beating ‘Street Judas’ (Masvidal).
“But the thing is, he’ll be one or two fights away after he beats ‘Street Judas,’ and he’ll be close.”
Masvidal, meanwhile, said, “I’m just going to keep doing me. I go out and break Gilbert’s face, then Leon calls my name and I’m going to fight Leon for this belt and that’s it.
“Colby can just sit in his timeout box until they call him to fight me again.”
“I love Dana, but Dana says a lot of things, man. History says one thing: whoever makes the most noise when they fight, who sells the most pay-per-views and who fans want to see at the end of the day, that’s who gets the title.”
Edwards defeated Kamaru Usman in their trilogy and all eyes are on his next opponent
Masvidal has lost his last three and is under immense pressure to win in Miami
Covington is making a lot of noise, but the UFC would love the story behind a title fight between Edwards and Masvidal.
Masvidal infamously punched Edwards backstage after UFC London in 2019, but the grudge was never made.
The American will know full well that a fourth straight loss would make it nearly impossible to climb back to the top of the 170-pound division.
And the bookmakers have him as a huge underdog at almost 5/1. His devastating knockouts of Darren Till and Ben Askren are clear career highlights, but if he beats Burns it would certainly be the most impressive win of his career.
Burns is incredibly well-rounded, durable, powerful and great on the ground. He pushed Khamzat Chimaev all the way and many think he should have raised his hand against the formidable undefeated candidate last year.
The 36-year-old is also aware of how important this fight could be for Masvidal, suggesting his opponent could retire even at a loss.
He told Submission Radio“He’s had three defeats, he doesn’t want that fourth defeat, he might be ready if he gets another one. I think that’s a fire under him to come in and put me to work.
Gilbert Burns is going to be an incredibly tough opponent and the heavy favorite to win
“He’s very tough, definitely one of the best guys in the division with a lot of experience, all those backyard fights, that guy knows how to fight.
“Because Leon won, Masvidal is even more dangerous because then if Jorge beats me, I think the UFC is going to do this fight so he can come out a little more excited.
“The losing streak puts pressure on him, but I think it’s good pressure. He would have to train really hard, put in a lot of work and he’s lost before, so he knows how to deal with it.”
Masvidal is currently ranked #11 in the division. Defeat could see him slide further down and into the awkward position of facing hungry new contenders.
Australians Jack Della Maddalena and Shavkat Rakhmanov are the sort of rising stars who would love to take a chance on a big name seemingly on their way down the ranks.
Similarly, Masvidal has made a lot of money in the UFC and his business achievements, so maybe it feels time to call it quits.
Masvidal lost to Covington in their grudge match at UFC 272 in Las Vegas last year
He’s also desperate for another shot at Covington given their toxic history and that could be a huge pay-per-view.
The case can only be made if he beats Burns and all roads lead to Saturday night.
Both men live in Florida, but it is Masvidal who will enjoy the most support at the Miami-Dade Arena. And maybe he needs all of it.
The veteran fights against the odds and a formidable rival – but he also fights to keep up his wild ride longer.