Jorge Masvidal would rather face Kamaru Usman in rematch than take money fight with Conor McGregor

If he’s to make a choice, hard-hitting UFC welterweight fan favorite Jorge Masvidal would rather choose legacy over money.

Masvidal challenged UFC welterweight world champion Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC 251 last weekend where the latter won via lopsided unanimous decision.

It was a fight that Masvidal took on six days’ notice after the number one contender Gilbert Burns tested positive for COVID-19.

While prize money has always been a huge factor for Masvidal throughout his career, he is ready to give it a pass if given the chance to fight for a world title again.

“Usman obviously, it’s a no-brainer Usman,” Masvidal told ESPN when asked who he wants to fight next.

“Could they offer me bigger names and pay me more money? Yes for a fact. But if it’s up to me, Usman. For me stepping up on six days’ notice when nobody else would. Because a lot of people are saying they would, but who else did it? Who else really actually asked Dana?” he added.

“If it’s up to me, of course, Usman right away. I don’t care if they could offer me a bigger fight or not. I would like to fight Usman.”

It is no secret that the biggest money fight that one can have in mixed martial arts is a showdown with former UFC featherweight and lightweight world champion Conor McGregor.

A fight between Masvidal and McGregor has been talked about in the past, but even that he is willing to let go in hopes to become a world champion.

“You could tell me that McGregor right now would make X, Y, Z dollars, the biggest pay-per-view event in history right, and I’m going to get paid forever,” said Masvidal.

“I feel like I got compensated well enough now, that I keep making the right decisions that I’ve been doing, then this money is forever money,” he added.

“So it’s not about money. It’s about I want that damn belt and I’m stubborn. I know I’m better than Usman and I want to prove it. I want to fight again. I’m not going to take nothing from him. He won the first one. Let’s do it again. That’s it.”

According to a report by The Athletic, UFC 251 has generated around 1,300,000 pay-per-view buys, the largest selling event that the UFC has had since McGregor faced UFC lightweight world champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC 229 last October 2018.

And should Masvidal get a chance to fight Usman again and win the title, he iterated that he is not closing doors to a possible showdown with the Irish superstar.

“We can start with whatever comes next after that, but Usman’s the thing that I want the most. The immediate rematch is Usman for me now.” — JM Siasat/RC, GMA News