Daniel Cormier doesn’t want to see newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Leon Edwards fight Jorge Masvidal — or even admit it.
Cormier has advised Edwards to give Masvidal a taste of his own medicine and not give “Gamebred” any shine now that he’s champion. The UFC Hall of Famer thinks it’s time for Edwards to go to the “big league” Masvidal now.
“Bro, don’t fight it,” Cormier said on his “DC & RC” ESPN show. “Because for two years, when he was a man, he couldn’t say your name. Now all of a sudden he says, ‘If you become champion,’ he wants to end this thing? He doesn’t have to fight Jorge Masvidal. He literally only needs a major leaguer and not even say his name. Because why would you do that when a guy groped you backstage but never made out with you afterwards? Now all of a sudden, you’re the man and he wants to fight you.
“I really like Jorge Masvidal. He’s a really nice guy, but it’s like, come on, Jorge. We have to do better than that.”
Edwards dethroned Kamaru Usman with a vicious head kick in the final minute at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City. And with the title win came many fighters calling his name, including Masvidal — and his managers, Malki and Abe Kawa of First Round Management.
Edwards and Masvial have never faced each other in the Octagon, but they have a lot of history. During Masvidal’s rise to stardom in 2019, the two had a backstage feud that went viral, with Masvidal unleashing the infamous “three pieces and a soda” on Edwards.
Masvidal then went on to become one of the biggest names in the UFC and often ignored his calls as he fought Ben Askren and Nate Diaz before losing back-to-back title fights to Usman. Masvidal was scheduled to fight Edwards last year at UFC 269, but ended up pulling out of the fight.
Masvidal apparently did not take kindly to Cormier’s remarks and took to Twitter.
“Guess you’re still hurt since I didn’t do the interview you asked for on your lame YouTube channel during my fight week.” Masvidal posted on Twitter. “I know you needed my name to create some kind of image since Ariel went solo, and you became a person.
“Just make sure when Dana calls and you tell you to promote the biggest fight the current champion in the division can make, which is me, put on your best suit from DXL and make sure you do as you’re told like a good guy. Perhaps you will receive a pleasure from your master #reasonpeoplewatchon keep quiet #fakelifetrainer #brokentips”
I guess you’re still hurt since I didn’t do the interview you asked for on your poor YouTube channel during my fight week. I know you needed my name to create some kind of image since Ariel went solo and you became a person. Just make sure when Dana calls and you tell her 1/2
– Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) August 24, 2022
To which Cormier responded shortly after, standing by his comments and also accusing Masvidal’s manager, Malki Kawa, of tweeting from Masvidal’s Twitter account.
“Jorge, you’ve always been the man, Malik [sic] stay away from his page,” Cormeir wrote. “I stand by what I said. You don’t get unlimited title fights Malki, beat Durinho and go 1-3 in your last 4 and maybe get a title shot. See Malki now that you made me disrespect my friend Jorge 😊”
Jorge you have always been the man, Malik stay off his page. I stand by what I said. You don’t get unlimited title fights Malki, beat Durinho and go 1-3 in your last 4 and maybe get a title shot. See Malki now you disrespected my friend Jorge 😊 https://t.co/DLJjIfIOUJ
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) August 24, 2022
