Jorge
Masvidal remembers exactly how Kimbo
Slice influenced his career.
Speaking to Daniel
Cormier, the former
Ultimate Fighting Championship title challenger and BMF champ
detailed how a shared connection to Miami’s Freestyle Fighting
Academy eventually led to him competing on Slice’s backyard-fight
platform.
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Jorge Masvidal recalls how Kimbo Slice gave him a shot on his
backyard-fight platform
Masvidal revealed that he and Slice came from nearby areas, had
mutual friends and began training together at the same gym. By
then, Masvidal was already pursuing mixed martial arts
seriously.
“Well, particularly with Kimbo, it just so happened we didn’t grow
up far from each other,” Masvidal said. “We had some friends in
common and we ended up at the same gym, Freestyle Fighting Academy,
and we started training.”
Masvidal recalled already having amateur fights and grappling
experience when one of the gym owners asked Slice to watch him
spar. At the time, Slice’s videos were generating massive attention
online.
“One of the gym owners asked him, goes, ‘Man, I got a really
talented dude. I want you to watch him spar and see if you’ll put
him on,’” Masvidal said. “I always give him big props because he
put me on his platform. He didn’t have to.”
Masvidal said the fights were kept secret because organizers risked
fines and potential arrest, and recalled receiving just two hours‘
notice before one event. The first event took place in Liberty
City, Miami, behind a laundromat. Before Masvidal’s bout, Slice
warned him about his opponent’s right hand.
“I’m going to give you the location right now. You got two hours to
get there,” Masvidal recalled being told. “He comes back about 20
seconds later and he goes, ‘Keep your left hand up. He’s got a
really, really good right.’ So, we got in there, and we made magic,
man.”