Jorge Masvidal may retire if he loses to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287

Jorge Masvidal may retire if he loses to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287

Jorge Masvidal’s MMA career could be concluding. The 38-year-old stated he may retire if he losses to Gilbert Burns at UFC 279. 

“This could be the last one,” Masvidal said during the UFC 287 “Countdown” episode. “If I lose, I’m pretty much calling it quits. But a win against Gilbert means that things are headed in the right direction. So if I roll the dice and do everything right, I’m going for it all.”

Quote via MMA Junkie

Retirement may be the best option for Masvidal if he cannot get the job done against Burns. A loss would be Masvidal’s fourth consecutive defeat, which may force him into a gatekeeper role. That is surely not an optimal outcome considering he is still one of the biggest stars in the sport. I would not blame him if he opted to retire instead.

Despite discussing retirement, Masvidal is still optimistic that he can get a win against Burns and keep his title aspirations alive. 

“I think I’m at my best right now – my mental (game), my physical – and now I’ve got to go out there and prove it,” Masvidal said. “I’ve got my back up against the wall. I get to start my resurrection here in Miami-Dade County, the city that birthed me, that made me, that molded me, so I’m more than excited. April 8, I give it all I’ve got. I win, we keep rolling that dice until we get that f*cking belt.”

Quote via MMA Junkie

In the past, Masvidal has said he wants a title shot if he beats Burns at UFC 287 — which is plausible too. UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has voiced he does not want to defend the belt against the UFC-appointed title challenger Colby Covington and would rather fight Masvidal.  

Let’s be honest though, it is unlikely that Masvidal is able to beat Burns. Masvidal has shown a ton of regression and has not looked good in recent contests. It certainly does not help that Burns is one of the best fighters in the world. The betting odds reflect that opinion as FanDuel currently has Masvidal lined as a +350 underdog.

If this is the last time we see Masvidal in the octagon, he will have a history that is worth remembering. Sure, his 35-16 record does not jump off the page, but he has one of the best highlight reels in MMA history and has grown into a pay-per-view star.

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