mma / News
Jorge Masvidal to UFC: ‘If I’m Not Worth It Let Me Go’
UFC welterweight fighter Jorge Masvidal appeared to be expressing dissension with UFC and promoter Dana White earlier this week in a series of posts on his Twitter account. It appears Masvidal and UFC cannot get on the same page regarding his payout for his next fight.
Previously, UFC President Dana White had hopes of booking Masvidal vs. champion Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title in July. Then, the global pandemic hit, and live sports and the UFC were put on hiatus for a while. Now, it appears financial talks between Masvidal and UFC have hit a snag for “Gamebred’s” next matchup.
Based on Masvidal’s social media comments, he’s unhappy with his status as an independent contractor fighting for the UFC and challenged the UFC to let him go elsewhere to test his market value. Masvidal tweeted, “I’m not an independent contractor if I can’t go anywhere else to make a living. Let me go and let me see if I’m worth it.”
Additionally, Jorge Masvidal wrote, “At the time and let’s be real didn’t have to fight him. Fastest Ko in the history of ufc. Msg I am asked to fight 3 different guys and I said yes to all three. I fought in backyards and those dudes never disrespected me the way I’m being now @espn.”
He also took aim at UFC’s pay structure, commenting on how the UFC pays out a smaller piece of the revenue to the athletes. He stated: “Please don’t compare us to these other leagues. I wish we can negotiate for less pay like the other leagues where the players get half the revenue they generate. We are negotiating from like what 12% to maybe 18% of revenue we generate? We are negotiating down from way under.”
Masvidal last fought at UFC 244 in November 2019. He defeated Nate Diaz by a third round doctor stoppage in a fight for the unofficial “BMF” title. You can view Masvidal’s recent tweets below:
If I’m not worth it let me go @espn
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) June 5, 2020
Why make me fight for half of what I made on my last fight cause the other dude can’t draw?
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) June 5, 2020
Don’t tell me about a pandemic when reports today show highest stock market has ever been. Everybody getting back to work and you buying an island. Stop playing us and the fans #theawakening
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) June 5, 2020
History lesson for all the new fans that might have just started following my beautiful sport: 16 yr been at this. Never once turned down a fight. Asked to go fight #3 at the time in his hometown across the pond after a year off. Ko of the year nominee. Asked to fight #5
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) June 5, 2020
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) June 5, 2020
50% of the revenue. I don’t get paid on the hot dog you sell in the arena or the logo on the cage. I’ve never made a dollar on a ticket you sell. I get punched in the face for a living and even I know the pandemic or what’s left of it has nothing to do with it
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) June 5, 2020
I’m not an independent contractor if I can’t go anywhere else to make a living. Let me go and let me see if I’m worth it @espn #supernecessary
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) June 5, 2020