Home/UFC

via Imago

via Imago

Jorge Masvidal has dedicated himself to being a promoter after retiring from the cage earlier this year. Although the Cuban-American kept the door open for a comeback if it was “the right fight”, and offered to rematch Ben Askren recently, he is, for all practical purposes, retired. He owns Gamebred Boxing Promotion, iKON FC, and Gamebred Fighting Championship.

Although the former BMF belt-holder never won a championship, he is one of the most recognizable people in MMA because of his charisma, heart, and the excitement he brought to the cage. All of this could just as easily be used to describe heavyweight Derrick Lewis. The American knocked out Marcos Rogerio de Lima with a flying-knee at UFC 291 in his last contracted fight with the promotion. And ‘Gamebred’ would like to sign ‘The Black Beast’ to his own promotion, he told TMZ Sports in an interview.

Jorge Masvidal would like to sign Derrick Lewis for his promotion

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The Miami resident started off by making clear that he would not want to poach any UFC fighters under contract from the promotion. But, when the interviewer pointed out that Lewis is no longer under the UFC contract, the 38-year-old immediately said that he would love to sign him to his promotions. He pointed to the heavyweight’s charisma, likability and mic-skills as the part of the reason that he would draw eyeballs to the promotion. In addition, he praised the effectiveness and brutality with which he fought and expressed confidence that it would be beneficial to his promotion.

“Are you kidding me, of course [I would like to sign him]! Derrick, what’s your email brother? No, yeah, definitely. If Derrick’s a free agent, I mean you’re talking about I think one of the most charismatic dudes besides the fighting. But he’s so likable, man. He’s one of the only better than the fight was the post fight, always. Man, he just always steals the show, man. I think this guy’s so so beyond marketable, you know? And then he fights like that, you know, when he shows up and it’s his day, it’s always something brutal. I love to have Derek on there,” Masvidal told TMZ Sports.

Jorge Masvidal wants to invite Donald Trump to Gamebred Bareknuckle event if he signs Derrick Lewis

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Jorge Masvidal even had a potential matchup for Lewis if he was to join his promotion. He offered Lewis a chance to fight the winner of Fabricio Werdum vs. Junior Dos Santos bareknuckle boxing match in Gamebred Bareknuckle promotion. He also expressed a sincere desire to have Donald Trump in the audience if he could sign Lewis and make the matchup happen. Masvidal is a strong supporter of Trump and even campaigned for him in Florida.

Read More – “It Wasn’t Planned”: Derrick Lewis Comes Clean on What Prompted the Triple H ‘Suck It’ Move Following His Historical Win at UFC 291

“Derek versus the winner of Fabricio Verdun- Junior dos Santos bare knuckle. What are we talking about? Who’s not gonna watch? Who’s not gonna [be like] take my money. And, we’re gonna invite Trump to that. If I pull off this fight, please Brian brother, you gotta. Please Mr President Trump, it would be an honor,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Derrick Lewis is one of the most entertaining fighters in the UFC. From his “my balls was hot” interview and his over-the-top celebration after his last victory to his kill-or-be-killed approach to fighting, ‘Lewis’ is, in one word, iconic. It would be a shame if the UFC was to let him go, but that could pave the way for a PFL contract and a rematch with Francis Ngannou. Where would you like to see Derrick Lewis go next? Let us know in the comments section below.

Watch This StoryWatch: Tony Ferguson claims to go on bear tracking only with his “blades”