JORGE MASVIDAL has gone from fighting for $500 in Kimbo Slices’ BACKYARD, to promoting his own MMA fights and becoming a UFC star.
His meteoric rise over the past few years has made Masvidal one of the most well-known names in the sport.
Jorge Masvidal, UFC star, is now a promoter of fights
The American promoter is himself now with the launch of iKON as well as Gamebred Fighting Championships.
He was a hard worker, and was involved in unannounced fights throughout Miami-Dade County.
Masvidal rose to internet fame with the help of Slice, a street fighter icon - real name Kevin Ferguson.
Ferguson offered Ferguson the opportunity to participate in one of his famed backyard brawls. This has since been the stuff of legends.
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SunSport spoke with Masvidal: "It was crazy. One day, he was like, ‘Hey, would you like to fight on my show? In my backyard?’
"And I was like: 'Holy smokes! That's nuts, man.
"This is the same guy who's getting all these crazy view, he knocks people out of their dead and he's giving my chance?"
"It's almost like why I felt I needed to get into the promoting business, I'm giving these guys that opportunity to earn their keeps."
SIGN UP DEALS AND FREE BETS - THE BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERINGSMasvidal, now 37 years old, attributes much of his success to Slice, who unfortunately died in 2016 at the age 42.
What would Slice think of Slice now, if he had seen Slice's rise to stardom?
Masvidal responded: "I think that he would be proud, man.
"Especially because I stayed in sport, kept my mouthpiece in, my helmet on, and just chipping away,
Masvidal's street fights were a big hit online, but he only made a small amount of money.
He was so successful that he brought home his purse because of the gambles of his friends.
Masvidal said: "We were placing bets and wagers, you know.
"So my friend would put $500 and see if the other side wants to put up $500.
"Things such as that, it's not to brag, but it wasn’t s*** cash, man. It was not nothing. It was more about the journey.
"I knew I was going to be where I was at this point in my life. I knew I would be a professional fighter competing at the highest levels.
"So, that was like, I'm doing it and getting paid was bonus, so I'm making a little change from betting and other stuff.
"But this isn’t why I’m in it. I was in it because I wanted to fight and keep fighting."
Masvidal became a professional fighter in MMA in 2003, but up to signing for the UFC, he had to do odd jobs, coach, and even sleep in his car.
He once offered to fight for FOOD, but fast forward a decade, and he signed a lucrative contract to be one of the UFC's most highly-paid stars.
Masvidal stated: "It's kind of surreal.
"There were many times, not because I was trying to lose weight, that we didn’t have enough food at night.
"Now, I can eat where I want. I can go out with my friends, and I can also take my family out for dinner.
"So, things have certainly changed. But I'm a greedy m***** f*****, man.
"I'm not done. I have so much more in my book that I need to complete before this chapter of my life is finished."
Masvidal has been twice challenged for UFC Gold and has headlined pay-per view four times. Most recently, he lost to Colby Covington (34), in March.
He has made use of his fame and fortune to help others and launched his own promotion to offer prospects a platform.
is called.
Masvidal stated: "I try to make it better for fighters.
"I also try to bring as many sponsorships and eyeballs I can, regardless of platform I have, and I try my best to help these guys get it.
"And in return, it brings me a lot hungry fighters who just want to chase it. They know what's at stake."
His iKON Fighting Championship will return to Savannah, Georgia on August 5, with the show streaming on UFC Fight Pass.
Masvidal's second banner, Gamebred FC is the only one that uses MMA sanctioned rules without gloves.
He can mix his passions - bare-knuckle MMA - which has made him famous for their own reasons.
Masvidal stated: "This was how people got to know me, the connection.
"In bare-knuckle, it's different. My longest and most loyal fans are the guys who saw me doing the bare-knuckle stuff.
"They love it. It's so primal. It's something that speaks to them. These guys are literally going at this. "No gloves, no nothing."
Masvidal rose to prominence through his uncompromising fighting style and core followers.
He sees a lot in the fighters that he promotes.
Masvidal said: "There are a lot of men that come in with that puppy.
"And what I mean is that if they don't want to answer no, even if they get beat up for two rounds or three minutes, they will still be going for it."
"They want to win, even if they get hurt. That's one of the qualities I look for.
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"I love talented people and I love skilled people as well. But I am looking for people who have the dog in their hearts and won't accept no for an answer."
Masvidal's iKON Fighting Championship is back with featherweights Josh Blyden (35), and Steven New (32 headlining).
