Jorge Masvidal has become one of the UFC’s biggest names thanks to his 2019 run, and many believe a more aggressive approach and mindset, are key reasons for “Gamebred’s” success. But, recently Kamar Usman was asked to weigh-in on Masvidal’s title shot run, and the welterweight champ doesn’t see a different fighter.

Masvidal’s massive 2019 year

When 2019 began, Masvidal was coming off a decision loss to Stephen Thompson in November, 2017, and that followed a split decision loss to Demian Maia that same year. While any knowledgeable fan understood Masvidal remained one of the toughest outs on the UFC roster, no one was really talking about him making a title shot run in 2019.

But, in March, Masvidal buzzed the MMA world by knocking out Darren Till. Then in July, “Gamebred’s” stock blew through the roof when he KO’d Ben Askren in just five seconds…with a flying knee. Most recently, Masvidal further entrenched his status as a star, by earning a TKO win over Nate Diaz at UFC 244.

Usman’s take on Masvidal’s run

Well, due to Masvidal’s three-fight winning streak, the expectation is that he’ll challenge the winner of the December 14th bout between Usman and Colby Covington next. Recently Usman spoke with MMA Fighting, and when asked to comment on Masvidal’s recent successes, the champ said this:

“I wouldn’t say [I’ve been] impressed,” Usman said. “Because it’s Masvidal, nothing’s changed. He’s the same guy. He’s fought the same way forever. It’s just the luck of the draw. He’s getting that luck of the draw.

“Let’s be honest, Darren Till dropped him in the first round of their fight, and let’s say if he didn’t land that punch [in the second round], how does that fight play out? Had he not landed that knee [against Ben Askren]—and I’m not going to say it’s lucky because he drilled that—how does that fight play out? There’s a lot of questions to be answered.”

“I’ve yet to see him fight a full-on welterweight from start to finish and completely dominate them,” Usman said.  “Then at that point I can say this is a different guy. But I think right now he’s riding the wave, and he’s got the luck of the draw on his side.”

Usman brings up some interesting points. If Masvidal hadn’t blasted Askren with that knee, would he have had answers for Askren’s wrestling and top-game? And as noted above, Masvidal did come up short in his bouts with Thompson and Maia.

That said, in Masvidal, we are talking about someone who hasn’t been finished since 2009. If Masvidal had fought more aggressively and or confidently in recent years, would those close fights have gone a lot differently?

Usman will battle Covington at UFC 245, which will be hosted by the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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