Jorge Masvidal

Background

Masvidal was born and raised in Miami, Florida, to a Cuban father and Peruvian mother. He was often involved in street fighting from a young age. There are recorded videos of his fights in YouTube defeating Kimbo Slice's protégé "Ray." Masvidal later competed in wrestling at St. Brendan High School, but failed to stay eligible because of his grades, and then began training in mixed martial arts.

Early career

Jorge won his kickboxing debut by unanimous decision on April 11, 2003, at a Fast and Fearless event. Masvidal's most high profile victory came in the main event of the Absolute Fighting Championships XXII event held on April 30, 2005. The fight was against current UFC competitor and The Ultimate Fighter 5 contestant Joe Lauzon, who came in undefeated at eight wins and no losses with all eight wins by way of submission. Jorge won via Technical Knock Out in the second round with a flurry of punches.

Jorge garnered a 3-0 record in the now defunct BodogFIGHT promotion, including decision victories over Keith Wisniewski, Steve Berger and a head kick knockout of PRIDE Fighting Championships and UFC veteran Yves Edwards.

Bellator

Masvidal was signed by Bellator and entered their Lightweight Tournament in April 2009. Masvidal won his first fight via TKO in the first round. However, he was defeated in the semi-finals to Toby Imada at Bellator 5 by inverted triangle choke submission in the third round. This upset loss to Imada was acknowledged by Sherdog and MMA Junkie as Submission of the Year.

Masvidal faced and defeated Eric Reynolds at Bellator 12 in a 160 lb Catchweight bout via rear-naked choke submission. He was rumored to be fighting again in the Season Two Lightweight Tournament but after losing a bout before that, he was released by the organization.

Post-Bellator

Masvidal moved up to the welterweight division to fight Paul Daley at Shark Fights 13 in Amarillo, Texas in September 2010. The bout was later made a catchweight of 171.75 lbs. after Daley failed to make weight. Daley defeated Masvidal via unanimous decision. After this performance, Masvidal signed with Strikeforce.

Strikeforce

Masvidal returned to Strikeforce in early 2011, facing Billy Evangelista at Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Masvidal then fought former Elite XC Lightweight Champion K.J. Noons in a number one contender's bout. Masvidal won the fight using superior grappling and dropping Noons at the end of the first round with a high kick.

Masvidal faced Gilbert Melendez for the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal on December 17, 2011 at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, CA. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Following the championship bout, Masvidal fought Justin Wilcox at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy on July 14, 2012. He won the fight via split decision.

Masvidal was then expected to face Bobby Green on November 3, 2012 at Strikeforce: Cormier vs. Mir, but the bout was cancelled due to the cancellation of the event itself. Masvidal was later expected to face Pat Healy at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine but had to pull out due to a back injury.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Following the dissolution of Strikeforce in January 2013, Masvidal was brought over to the UFC. He made his debut against Tim Means on April 20, 2013 at UFC on Fox 7. Masvidal was successful in his debut, winning the fight via unanimous decision.

For his second bout with the promotion, Masvidal made a quick return to the Octagon as he replaced Reza Madadi in a bout against Michael Chiesa on July 27, 2013 at UFC on Fox 8. Despite being dropped in the first round by punches, Masvidal took control in the second round and won via submission.

For his third UFC bout, Masvidal faced Rustam Khabilov on November 6, 2013 at UFC: Fight for the Troops 3. He lost the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision. Despite the loss, the bout did earn Masvidal his first Fight of the Night bonus honors.

Masvidal fought longtime veteran Pat Healy at UFC on Fox 11. He out-struck the veteran to a unanimous decision win.

Masvidal faced Daron Cruickshank on July 26, 2014 at UFC on Fox 12. After being dropped by a punch in the first round, Masvidal recovered to win a unanimous decision victory.

A bout with Bobby Green, first scheduled under the Strikeforce banner in 2012 before being scrapped, was expected to take place on September 27, 2014 at UFC 178. However, on August 14, the UFC announced that Masvidal would instead face James Krause. Masvidal won the fight via unanimous decision.

Masvidal was expected to face Norman Parke on January 18, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 59. However, Masvidal pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by Gleison Tibau.

Masvidal was briefly linked to a bout with Bobby Green on April 4, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 63. However, shortly after the fight was announced by the UFC, Green pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by Benson Henderson. In turn, Henderson was removed from the bout to serve as event headliner at UFC Fight Night 60. Masvidal eventually faced Al Iaquinta at the event. He lost the bout in a closely contested split decision. 13 of 15 media outlets scored the bout in favor of Masvidal.

Masvidal faced Cezar Ferreira in a welterweight bout on July 12, 2015 at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale. He won the fight via knockout in the first round, also earning a Performance of the Night bonus.

Masvidal was expected to face Dong Hyun Kim on November 28, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 79. However, on November 14, it was announced that Masvidal would instead face Benson Henderson at the event after his scheduled opponent Thiago Alves pulled out of their fight. Masvidal lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.

Masvidal faced Lorenz Larkin on May 29, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 88. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.

Masvidal was expected to face Siyar Bahadurzada on July 30, 2016 at UFC 201. However, Bahadurzada pulled out of the bout on July 12 citing an illness and was replaced by Ross Pearson. He won the fight via decision.

Masvidal was briefly linked to a bout with Kelvin Gastelum on November 5, 2016 at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale. However on September 14, Gastelum was removed in favor of a fight against former lightweight title challenger Donald Cerrone at UFC 205, one week later. Subsequently, Masvidal was removed from the card entirely and instead faced Jake Ellenberger the following month at The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale. He went on to defeat Ellenberger in the first round via TKO. It was ruled a TKO after Ellenberger's toe was caught in the fence and the referee called a stop to the action resulting in the end of the fight.

Masvidal faced Donald Cerrone on January 28, 2017 at UFC on Fox 23. He dropped Cerrone and nearly finished the fight in the last seconds of the first round, and eventually won the fight via TKO in the second round after scoring another knockdown. The win also earned Masvidal his second Performance of the Night bonus.

Masvidal faced off against Demian Maia at UFC 211 on May 13, 2017. Masvidal lost via a split decision.

Masvidal is expected to face Stephen Thompson on November 4, 2017 at UFC 217.

Boxing

Masvidal's professional boxing debut took place on June 8, 2005. After training under Eric "El Tigre" Cantanos, he defeated Joseph Benjamin (1-11-2) at the Radisson Mart Plaza Hotel in Miami, Florida. The victory came via majority decision after four rounds. Masvidal has not competed in professional boxing since.

Personal life

Masvidal has two daughters and a son with his girlfriend, who he has been with for well over ten years. His son is two years old, and his daughters are 8 and 14.

Masvidal walks around at 185lbs.

Mixed martial arts

Submission Grappling