Jorge Masvidal is undoubtedly one of the most popular and well-known fighters to have ever graced the UFC octagon. This article looks closer at when Masvidal retired, his last fight, the opponent, and his legacy.
After almost two decades of actively competing in MMA, Jorge Masvidal announced his decision to hang his gloves up for good after his last fight at UFC 287 on April 8, 2023. The Miami native retired with an incredible record of 35 wins and 17 losses.
Jorge Masvidal’s Last Fight
In the last fight of his MMA career, Jorge Masvidal was booked to face Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 in April 2023. On fight day, Masvidal started the fight strong and used some early jitters from Burns to target the Brazilian’s legs. However, as the fight progressed, ‘Durinho’ started letting his punches fly and routinely connected with Masvidal’s chin with his right hand.
Gilbert Burns also scored the first takedown of the fight at the end of the opening round and exchanged punches with Masvidal on the ground till the bell rang. Burns continued to control the fight with his grappling skills and hurt Jorge Masvidal badly in the final round by throwing some impressive combos. ‘Gamebred’ proved his durability by toughing it out for 15 minutes and occasionally returned fire to hurt Burns on the counter.
Gilbert Burns ultimately emerged victorious via a unanimous decision. Jorge Masvidal used the post-fight octagon interview to announce his retirement from the sport and gave an emotional speech to bid farewell to the UFC and his fans. ‘Gamebred’ later revealed that his decision to retire was influenced by Burns handing him his fourth straight loss and the fact that he felt like he lost a bit of a step in training.
Legacy
Jorge Masvidal is undeniably one of the most inspiring fighters that have competed in MMA and will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the UFC’s biggest stars. He consistently faced the welterweight division’s top-ranked fighters and never allowed defeat to define him. During his time in the UFC, the Miami native won the ‘BMF’ title against Nate Diaz and set the record for the fastest knockout in promotional history against Ben Askren.
Conclusion
From his humble beginnings in the streets of Miami to the bright lights of the UFC, ‘Gamebred’ has faced adversity head-on, refusing to be defined by his circumstances. Masvidal will always be known for his exciting fighting style, technical striking, and ability to entertain fans inside and outside the cage.