Jorge Masvidal (28-8) möter Al Iaquinta (11-3-1-0) på UFC Fight Night 63 som går av stapeln 4 april. Masvidal har uttryckt ett missnöje över att inte få möta en högre rankad motståndare.
Masvidal hade gärna mött en motståndare som är rankad som nummer 5 och inte nummer 15.
“I said that and I don’t want to go back on myself,” berättade Masvidal för MMAjunkie. “Nothing’s changed. I wanted No. 5 (in the rankings), not No. 15, but it’s whatever. It’s the business. People get hurt and things happen. I’m not stoked about it.”
Masvidal förklarar att han inte är ute efter att få en titelchans redan nu, utan att han helt enkelt vill möta motståndare som många anser skulle vinna ganska lätt över Masvidal, för han vill bevisa dom fel.
“Just give me the toughest guys out there,” sa Masvidal. “I’m not asking for a title shot, I’m not asking to be ranked in the top-three or anything like that. What I’m asking for is: whoever you think can kick my ass, put them in front of me. If you think this guy is going to run right through me and embarrass me, put that dude in front of me. Watch what I do to him.”
Masvidal vill helt enkelt möta dom bösta i organisationen och få det tuffaste motståndet som går att få.
“I’ve been fighting for a long time and everywhere I’ve been at, I’ve kicked ass. Every major promotion I’ve had a winning record. It hasn’t changed in the UFC. I still have a winning record. If you put me with bigger, badder names, then I’m going to keep winning and get the biggest names possible. That’s all that’s in my head and what I think about every day. Just fighting the best out there.”
Masvidal pratade om sin motståndare Iaquinta och menar att hans motståndare är duktig, men att Iaquinta inte mött någon som är på Masvidals nivå.
“He is talented enough to be in the UFC, but there’s nothing that he’s doing that I haven’t seen,” sa Masvidal. “I think nobody’s on my level, but I don’t think he’s fought anybody like me in his whole career. They’re hyping him up off this Joe Lauzon fight, but I beat Joe Lauzon eight years ago. Welcome to club, buddy. It’s not a big deal. Joe is the same fighter. It wasn’t nothing to me to see him beat Joe. He’s never seen anyone like me in his life.”
“Me and him ain’t the same,” sa Masvidal. “He’s a new generation, and some time from now I’m sure he’ll be on the top, but me and him are different generations. I’m looking at him like he’s a boy and I’m a full-grown man. Come April 4th, I’m going to show the world just what the f-ck I mean.”
Masvidal vill få tuffare motstånd och att ta sig förbi Iaquinta på ett imponerande sätt skulle vara en bra början.
“Theys light at the end of the tunnel,” sa Masvidal. “As long as I get to compete and do what I love to do, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. I just want to get the biggest names possible. That’s why I get a little upset.”
