Jorge Masvidal Reflects On Loss To Kamaru Usman: He Hugged Me Like We Were At Prom

Mandatory Credit: Mike Roach - Zuffa LLC

Ahead of his UFC 261 welterweight title rematch with defending champion, Kamaru Usman this weekend in Jacksonville, Florida -- BMF champion, Jorge Masvidal has reflected on his UFC 251 unanimous judging loss to the kingpin last July on 'Fight Island'.

Replacing eventual title chaser, Gilbert Burns on short notice for the Abu Dhabi, UAE headlining tilt, Masvidal seen his three-fight winning spree snapped against Usman -- dropping a relatively one-sided unanimous decision loss. 

In the time since, Masvidal has criticized Usman's clinch-heavy approach to the later rounds, which seen him utilize numerous foot stomps, as well as completely mitigating Masvidal's striking ability within the pocket. 

Speaking ahead of this weekend's Vystar Veteran's Memorial Arena rematch, Masvidal claimed that he should have practiced his "tap dancing" prior to the July showdown - claiming that Usman "hugged me (him) as hard as he could".

"(The) first time I fought Kamaru (Usman), he hugged me as hard as he could like we were at prom and tried to rub his feet with mine which was awkward and weird," Masvidal said during UFC Countdown. "The fight didn't go as expected because I didn't work on my tap dancing enough."

It's a rather tongue-in-cheek claim from Masvidal, who was the subject of a call out by Usman following the defending champion's successful title knockback against the above-mentioned, Burns at UFC 248 in February. 

Whilst Usman still has to overcome Masvidal this weekend in the 'Sunshine State' -- UFC president, Dana White has revealed that the outspoken, former interim champion, Colby Covington will be next to challenge for welterweight spoils off the back of his rib injury TKO win over former champion, Tyron Woodley in last September's UFC Vegas 11 headliner.  

Usman headlined UFC 245 as part of a title tripleheader back in December of 2019, successfully scoring the first defence of his welterweight championship via an eventual fifth-round knockout win over the Clovis native, in a clash White has claimed is one of the greatest of all time.