Masvidal: 'I'm gonna fight this year'

Despite his contract dispute with the UFC, welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal is confident he'll step into the Octagon sometime in 2020.

"Yeah, I'm gonna fight this year," Masvidal said in a video on his YouTube channel. "God willing, I'm gonna fight this year. What's not gonna happen is I'm not gonna be played or underpaid, that's for sure."

Masvidal hasn't competed since his win over Nate Diaz at UFC 244 in November. He had been in talks to face 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman this summer, but negotiations seemed to stall after the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the promotion's schedule.

Recently, Masvidal's team and the UFC failed to come to terms for a bout against Usman at UFC 251 on July 11. Instead, "The Nigerian Nightmare" will defend his belt against Gilbert Burns.

"I have a value, a formula, that we've come up with for what I'm worth, and that comes off 16 years of doing this," Masvidal said. "I've seen the field in and out. I'm not some rookie, I'm not some guy challenging for the title for the first time in my life. I've been in this position before in different organizations and stuff. We know how to calculate what I bring in, and I want a fair share of what I bring in."

"Gamebred" spoke out against the UFC earlier in June, telling the promotion to release him if he's "not worth it." Masvidal later said he wants the company to increase its revenue share with its fighters, which is reportedly about 18-20% - far less than other major sports leagues in North America.

Masvidal became one of the most popular UFC fighters in 2019, scoring three straight stoppage wins over Darren Till, Ben Askren, and Diaz, the latter of which earned him the BMF belt.