Coach Mike Brown shocked by Jorge Masvidal's form in return to ATT: 'He's centered, and he's prepared'

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – One of many largest MMA stars in recent times, Jorge Masvidal, is gearing up for a return to the cage, and American Prime Crew coach Mike Brown was pleasantly shocked to see how good he appeared when he returned to the mats.

Masvidal (35-17 MMA, 12-10 UFC) lately expressed his want to make a comeback to MMA after retiring final April. He hasn’t been utterly faraway from fight sports activities, although. In July, he boxed in opposition to the person he fought within the inaugural BMF title struggle, Nate Diaz.

Regardless of spending a majority of the previous yr specializing in boxing, Brown says Masvidal is already in form to compete in MMA, and that features the grind of wrestling, which is often essentially the most grueling side of the game.

“I used to be truly shocked when Jorge got here again to the fitness center, how good of form he was in,” Brown instructed MMA Junkie. “He was truly in actually fine condition, and he had clearly been coaching, and I’m speaking wrestling form. He was leaping proper in and wrestling with the very best guys.

“He didn’t get out of form. He’s centered, and he’s prepared. He has that itch and needs to do it once more. He’s clearly an enormous star. There’s lots of matchups that I’m positive folks need to see. There’s lots of fights I want to see.”

Masvidal referred to as it a profession the primary time after shedding 4 consecutive fights. He didn’t high then-champion Kamaru Usman in back-to-back title fights, misplaced a Struggle of the Night time in opposition to Colby Covington, after which got here up brief in opposition to Gilbert Burns.

“Gamebred’s” path to a title shot could be lengthy, particularly contemplating how a lot the welterweight division has modified in such a brief interval. However that’s wonderful with Brown, who would fairly him take fights in opposition to different established stars than up-and-coming contenders.

“I’d wish to see him in a extra thrilling, like a BMF-type struggle,” Brown stated. “Nothing like (a title contender struggle), I don’t know, like a (Justin) Gaethje kind of man. I all the time just like the Diaz brothers, that may be nice. Nate for the third time, no matter, you realize?

“There’s 20 fights that may in all probability excite me with Jorge. He’s thrilling, man. He’s all the time enjoyable to observe. He’s the person.”

Masvidal, 39, noticed his reputation develop astronomically after his five-second flying knee knockout of Ben Askren in 2019. He adopted that up by turning into the winner of the first-ever BMF title struggle by stopping Nate Diaz. Though he hit a tough patch of outcomes, Brown is worked up to see him get again to motion.

“I say it on a regular basis: I believe he’s acquired extra weapons than anyone within the sport. He’s acquired a lot approach, a lot ability and might accomplish that many various issues. He’s enjoyable to observe, and he’s additionally good on the mic as effectively.”