Ten Questions with Strikeforce Lightweight Jorge Masvidal
Coming off his dominant performance against KJ Noons at last month’s Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum, Jorge Masvidal now waits for his shot at the lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. Possibly best known for being on the wrong side of Toby Imada’s submission of the year inverted triangle in 2009, Masvidal wants his title shot but would also love a rematch with Imada.
We caught up with Masvidal as he trains and waits to hear from Scott Coker / Strikeforce regarding his title shot with Melendez.
Let’s start off with your fight against KJ Noons. What do you think was the key or technique that allowed you to out strike the fellow boxer in Noons?
Let’s face it I’m just a better boxer. They built up KJ but he didn’t have anything on me.
Heading into the fight with Noons were you given any indications that the winner would move on to face Gilbert Melendez?
That was my hope, but no one confirmed anything.
You have fought at both welterweight and Lightweight; do you prefer one over the other?
I prefer to fight Lightweight but I’ll take a welterweight fight if it is the right opponent and opportunity.
Since the win over Noons have you been given any indications from Strikeforce that you’re next in line for the title shot against Melendez? Do you think you should be?
Yeah, they’ve indicated that Melendez would be next and all signs point to that.
How do you see potential fight with Melendez going?
I’m going in there to win so that is how I see the fight going.
Should nothing happen with fighting Melendez, any thoughts of moving back up to welterweight and trying to get a shot at the vacant belt?
Right now, Melendez is the only thing on my mind.
Where did the nickname “Gamebred” originate from?
From pit bulls. I really love dogs and they are born with the urge to fight just like me so people just starting calling me Gamebred.
Imada Submitted Masvidal at Bellator 5
If you could pick one person to fight who would it be and why?
Toby Imada.
With ZUFFA (UFC) now owning Strikeforce do you think the two promotions will stay separate or will they eventually merge?
If history repeats itself I think they will eventually merge. As long as I’m staying busy merge or not, I’m happy.
Any Sponsors or people you’d like to thank?
Thanks to my fans- please hit me up on Facebook at Jorge Masvidal and on Twitter @Gamebredfighter. Thanks to my management team, ML Management, Tina Vidal, ATT, SMSP, Xtreme Couture, Feltus, Training Mask, Lexani, and all my coaches and training team.
Category: Exclusive, Featured, Interview, MMA, Strikeforce
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