Dan Lambert Discusses UFC 251 And What’s Next For Jorge Masvidal

Kamaru Usman was originally scheduled to defend his UFC welterweight title against Gilbert Burns at UFC 251. However, the Brazilian was forced out of the fight after a positive COVID-19 test result. As a result, Jorge Masvidal was able to come to terms with the UFC brass to save the day, on just six days notice.

Despite losing to Usman in the main event, Masvidal’s stock grew even bigger. Speaking to BJPenn.com however, American Top Team owner Dan Lambert said that if he had his way, the fight would never have happened at all.

“I found out Gilbert dropped out because Jorge called me at like one o’clock in the morning,” Lambert said. “He said ‘Hey, I’ll take that fight, let’s make some calls’. I didn’t want him to [take it]. I tried to talk him out of it. That is like less than a week from today in Abu Dhabi, halfway around the world, like are you out of your mind?

“He said, ‘No, I’m taking the fight, it’s going to happen’. Like alright, I’ll make a call and let them know you want it to happen and tell them to call your guys and start working it on it. I wasn’t a big fan of it happening on that kind of notice. There is a big difference between a guy who is around the gym and a guy in a training camp. But, Jorge Masvidal did pretty damn well.”

But while Lambert is proud of Masvidal’s effort against Usman, the ATT owner believes a rematch would go very differently.

“I think that is a different fight. I don’t think Usman bullies Masvidal around, I don’t think he takes him down or holds him down very often.”

Since ‘Gamebred’ came up short on Fight Island, many are now wondering what’s next for the former Miami street fighter. Masvidal’s drawing power gives him a slew of options for his next fight, including a rematch with Nate Diaz, former friend turned rival Colby Covington, and Conor McGregor.

“Jorge probably has a much better seat at the table now that he has proven himself as a draw,” Lambert said. “If I had my say, I want him to make as much money as possible. Conor McGregor is the biggest fight in the world for anybody. So, if I had my say, that would be his next. If Jorge has his say, he probably wants the rematch. Right now, the belt is more important than money.”

Recently, UFC president Dana White stated that Masvidal vs McGregor is the biggest fight the UFC could make right now. But should that fight ever happen and Jorge holds the welterweight title, the fight would be off the scale.

“It would be up there, if not the biggest, it would be second to Khabib [Nurmagomedov]-Conor. If Jorge was defending the welterweight title against Conor and puts both belts up, that would by far be the biggest fight in UFC history. Jorge is a draw and legit,” Lambert concluded.

Who would you like to see Jorge Masvidal face for his next fight?

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