29 April 2023 , 10:20
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Jorge Masvidal is already contemplating a return to action after quitting the UFC just three weeks ago following his fourth straight loss against Gilbert Burns.
The two-time welterweight title challenger earned his shots at the world championship with a stunning run of knockout wins in 2019 that saw him dispose of Darren Till, then-unbeaten Ben Askren and Nate Diaz. He earned fighter of the year, but was unable to recreate the magic at the top table, losing twice to Kamaru Usman before being dominated by Colby Covington and Burns.
His last bout with Burns saw him return to Miami for a massive homecoming card, which drew monster numbers at the box office for the promotion in the co-main event of Israel Adesanya's rematch with Alex Pereira. However, he understood that he was slowing down and opted in the cage to retire from the sport in an emotional moment that is still settling in.
“I love this sport so much, I love it so much," he told ESPN MMA. "I cried for many days after I retired. Not because I’m so hurt, just because I love this sport. Since eleven, twelve years old, this is all I did - It’s so much love and passion in my heart, so I’ll never say that I’ll never come back, you know, because I love this sport so much."
It has been speculated by many, including his latest opponent Burns, that Masvidal could return in order to make a super-fight with another older fighter such as Conor McGregor or a rematch with Nate Diaz. And he still insists that he is fast enough to be competitive, despite losing a step in recent years.
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“Here’s the honest truth," he added. "I’m still fast, I’m still explosive, I have a good endurance, I know so much more about the sport then when I started, but there’s just a couple things as you get older, they slow down. I’ve been feeling from like 34 to like 37 that in that department, and solely in that department, my reflexes and reaction time took a big dip.
"It’s not where it used to be even when I was 35. When you ask me about coming back to fighting, my heart, body, mind, soul, all of it wants to do it, but do I now want to be like a stepping stone because I don’t have that word. I see the punches and I react right away and I know exactly what you’re gonna do and where you’re gonna be next, so it’s slightly slowed up in the smallest of ways.”