“No pay-checks were coming” – BMF champion Jorge Masvidal highlights his tough times during MMA career

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Jorge Masvidal is one of the biggest names in the UFC but didn’t have it all his way in the past

American MMA star Jorge Masvidal is one of the biggest names in the UFC presently.

The 35-year-old is a veteran of the sport and has been on an up in the UFC in recent years. Gamebred, as he is called, is on a three-match winning streak and also holds the record for the fastest knockout in the history of the sport.

Jorge Masvidal fastest UFC knockout Conor McGregor
Jorge Masvidal holds the record for the fastest UFC knockout (Image credit: Getty)

Masvidal knocked out Ben Askren to pick up the fastest ever knockout, but it hasn’t always been this great for the 35-year-old.

The American was speaking to ESPN at a recent outing and was asked about the time it took him to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

The 35-year-old spoke about his difficult days and also that he fought in the Playboy Mansion, and won, a fight during his days in Strikeforce.

“It took me 16 years to get here. Fighting at the Playboy Mansion, I knocked out a dude and after that, it was like no pay-checks were coming in, nothing in, you know.

“My career was always up and down, money, promotions, all kind of things, not being able to get a fight for a while.”

However, Masvidal wasn’t going anywhere now he is near the top. The American fired a warning that he won’t take things lightly and is looking to win everything he can:

“Now that I am here, people think ‘he is going to get soft’, no. I’m taking over. I am getting everything possible, every single belt, everything there is to snatch up, I am taking it with me.

“That’s because they made me work too hard, I should have been here a while ago”.

Masvidal’s MMA journey

The 35-year-old has a record of 35 wins and 13 losses but that doesn’t tell the entire story. Masvidal has fought in several promotions all across the world.

Gamebred has fought in Japan, the US, Russia, Costa Rica, England and South Korea. Things haven’t been always easy for the star but he is currently the holder of the BMF belt and wants more.

Masvidal moved to the UFC after Strikeforce dissolved, and he seems ready for a fight with Kamaru Usman.

The American defeated the dangerous Nate Diaz in his last fight and it will be interesting to see when the fight against Usman, the Welterweight Champion, takes place.

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For now, Masvidal is enjoying his time and won several titles thanks to his record knockout of Ben Askren in 2019.

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