When did Jorge Masvidal make his UFC debut?

Jorge Masvidal is undoubtedly among the UFC’s biggest superstars, and his charisma, exciting fighting style, and authentic personality enthralled MMA fans for over a decade. This article delves into the moment when Masvidal stepped into the octagon for the first time, highlighting the event, opponent, and his impact on MMA. 

Jorge Masvidal’s UFC Arrival

Jorge Masvidal made his UFC debut almost ten years after his professional debut at HOOKnSHOOT: Absolute Fighting Championships XII in May 2003. Following his professional debut, Miami native fought across various promotions like Bellator and Strikeforce. 

Following the dismantling of Strikeforce in January 2013, Masvidal was among the fighters absorbed into the UFC. Jorge Masvidal made his UFC debut against Tim Means in a lightweight contest at UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez on April 20, 2013. 

The Historic Fight

Going into his maiden UFC fight, Jorge Masvidal already had 30 fights under his belt and had fought for a major title, having previously challenged Gilbert Melendez for Strikeforce lightweight belt. 

While fellow MMA veteran Tim Means was no easy challenge, Masvidal showcased his incredible technical skills and experience in the fight. ‘Gamebred’ dominated his opponent with his striking and grappling skills, controlling the fight throughout all three rounds. Relying on his exceptionally technical stand-up skills, Jorge Masvidal outpointed Tim Means to win via unanimous decision. 

The victory marked the beginning of Masvidal’s incredible journey in the promotion and his subsequent rise to stardom in the welterweight division. 

Aftermath and Legacy

Jorge Masvidal’s UFC debut was a significant moment in his storied career as a mixed martial artist. He quickly rose through the ranks of the welterweight division after spending two years as a lightweight and even challenged Kamaru Usman twice for the UFC welterweight title between 2020-2021. 

While he never became the UFC’s undisputed welterweight king, Jorge Masvidal fought numerous notable opponents such as Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Kamaru Usman, Demian Maia, and Colby Covington. Masvidal also set the record for the fastest knockout in UFC history when he extraordinarily knocked Ben Askren out in 5 seconds flat at UFC 239. 

With a record of 35-17, Jorge Masvidal announced his retirement in April 2023 after losing his fourth consecutive fight against Gilbert Burns at UFC 287. 

Conclusion

Jorge Masvidal is among the UFC’s greatest stars and made his promotional debut in April 2013. ‘Gamebred’ went on to become one of the most commercially successful MMA fighters ever, thanks to his charismatic and outspoken personality. The Miami native remains a massive fan-favorite combat sports personality.