“I Knew What I Had Signed up For”- Jorge Masvidal Reveals Details of Brutal Weight Cut Before UFC 251

Jorge Masvidal will be remembered as the man who saved the UFC 251 main event. The BMF Champion accepted the Welterweight title fight at just 6 days’ notice. He did so with the knowledge that he would have to fly from Las Vegas to Abu Dhabi and cut more than 20 pounds of weight to officially have a shot at claiming the belt from Kamaru Usman.

‘Gamebred’ successfully made the championship weight at the Friday morning weigh-ins. He had to use a towel to hit the exact limit. However, the effort must have taken its toll on the fighter who went down via the judges’ scorecards after 25 grueling minutes. 

Jorge Masvidal knew it was going to be a tough weight cut

The 49-fight veteran opened up on the weight cut in conversation with Ariel Helwani on ESPN MMA. Here he revealed that he hadn’t undergone such a monstrous weight cut ever since his days at Lightweight. The fighter made his UFC debut in 2013 in the 155 lbs division. He moved up a weight class in 2015 after 7 fights with a 5-2 record.

Masvidal said, “I hadn’t cut that much weight since I was at 155 pounds. So I was definitely like ‘Oh it’s gonna suck,’ but I knew I had to do it cause I’ve done it and the older you get the tougher, the harder weight cut you go through. So it was definitely going to be tough.”

Masvidal’s days of cutting weight for Lightweight competition instilled the belief in him that he could make it to 170 from north of 190 in under a week. 

“I Gotta Lose That Weight”- Jorge Masvidal Reveals Huge Weight Drop Ahead of Fight

He said, “But I knew what I signed up for. I had been there done that at a 155 pounds which is part of the program. I used to cut a large amount of water at that weight. At 173, 174 pounds I’m 5% body fat…I’ve had tough cuts, so I was well prepared to make a tough cut, I was well prepared and I got the job done.”

Making weight is an obligation- ‘Gamebred’

As per the current 4th ranked Welterweight contender making weight is part of fighter ethics once they come on board for a fight. He considers it an obligation and says he was proud to make weight. That can be gleaned from the broad smile on his face at the official weigh-in on Fight Island when the number 170 was read aloud. 

“I’m proud, its something I like when I sign on the contract I like to make weight. It feels like cheating. I felt like ‘man I had 3 pounds to go am I gonna break here? Compete for the world title or be a punk?” 

He continued, “I signed on the dotted line, whether it be 6 days, 6 hours, 6 months. When you sign the dotted line your first obligation to yourself and to your opponent is to make weight.”

At this point, Helwani questioned the fighter if he was apprehensive over making weight. He replied, “I was hurting man, but I was never worried, I’m a dog man. Once I sign that dotted line, I’m gonna make the weight, I got a reputation to keep.”

What do you make of Jorge Masvidal’s comments about a fighter’s obligation in making weight no matter when they sign a contract?