“All the Nostalgia and the Emotion”: Jorge Masvidal Shares 20-Year-Old Promise Before Facing Gilbert Burns at UFC 287

UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal‘s confidence appears to be soaring high ahead of UFC 287. The 38-year-old, in a little over a month’s time, will head into the octagon to face Brazilian Gilbert Burns in his hometown Miami as the co-main event of the card. Despite currently riding a losing skid, ‘Gamebred’ seems to find confidence in the fact the fight will go down in his hometown, exactly 20 years after UFC first held an event there.

While attending a match at the Miami-Dade Arena, Masvidal expressed his belief ahead of the fight by recalling a certain promise he made during UFC 42 to a friend of his. And it appears that the culmination of this promise made, and the UFC returning to Miami 20 years after the BMF of the promotion made his MMA debut, might just be the perfect recipe for him to make yet another return as a top contender in the division.

Jorge Masvidal recalls his promise made to a friend as UFC heads to Miami

The UFC held its first event in Miami back in 2003 with the 42nd edition of its pay-per-view model. Welterweight champion Matt Hughes headlined the event, dubbed ‘Sudden Impact’, as he defended his title against Sean Sherk. While this was the first time Miami had the experience of hosting a UFC event studded with the likes of Hughes, Robbie Lawler, and Rich Franklin, a local 17-year-old too, unbeknownst to all, would end up forming his own dreams of reaching the pinnacle of the sport during the show.

Almost 20 years later, Jorge Masvidal, now with all the experience of the world, gets ready to finally live that dream he once had. While recalling his experience of UFC 42, the veteran talked about how he made a promise as an amateur fighter that he’d be the one to bring the sport back to the city again.

“I was here when the UFC came 20 years ago. And after all the nostalgia and the emotion left my body; I told a good friend at the time I was just 17, an amateur. And I told him one day I’ll bring this show here to Miami and well get it cracking.” Recalled the BMF star.

After having gone through numerous ups and downs, ‘Gamebred’ can now proudly claim that he’s finally made it. He exclaimed, “20 years later, but we back.” 

Masvidal is set to go up against Gilbert Burns at UFC 287

Despite coming off a three-fight losing streak, this fight against ‘Durinho’ provides the 38-year-old with the perfect opportunity to make a turnaround in his fortunes. What makes things more interesting is that a win here could set him up as a contender against long-time rival and current welterweight champ Leon Edwards. Although Edwards himself has to successfully defend his title against Kamaru Usman at UFC 286, for that to happen.

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Despite what happens in the future, the stars certainly look aligned for the veteran from Miami to make another title run. And what better way to start than in your own hometown?

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