UFC legend Jorge Masvidal shared his candid predictions in an exclusive interview with Thunderpick, offering bold takes on some of combat sports’ most anticipated matchups. The veteran fighter weighed in on Ian Garry’s chances against Islam Makhachev, the controversial Jake Paul versus Anthony Joshua bout, and several other high-profile fights. Masvidal didn’t hold back, delivering unfiltered opinions on everything from title shot controversies to the legitimacy of celebrity boxing spectacles.
Does Arman Tsarukyan deserve the title shot?
Jorge Masvidal: Arman beating Dan Hooker in an impressive manner makes a pretty clear statement that he’s number one and I can’t really see anybody else getting a title shot over Arman at this point, especially as it was an impressive, dominating win. He deserves the title shot next if he’s unscathed.
Can Ian Garry defeat Islam Makhachev?
Jorge Masvidal: I think Ian can cause Islam problems because of his height, his style; he runs a lot, he gets on that bicycle, and he just runs and runs, and then he keeps running, so he could present problems, just because of his size alone. And he’s not bad at wrestling, he’s not bad at getting up to his feet. He has a good system. I don’t know if when he gets taken down, if it’ll work, but on the feet, I think he should be able to out-point him. Stick and move, stuff some takedowns. I could see Ian beating Islam.
Does this spectacle with Jake Paul damage Anthony Joshua’s legacy?
Jorge Masvidal: If AJ goes out there and executes him in under a minute, this won’t add anything or take anything away from AJ’s legacy. But it will add clout and numerous more bags that he’s gonna get, and the folklore tale, right? Because everybody wants to see Jake get whooped like that, especially for what he did to Mike Tyson. He’s gonna be a folklore hero. It’s definitely gonna add to the folklore of AJ, for generations to come. These 14-year-old kids that adore Jake Paul, when they’re 28 years old, they’ll still be talking about AJ.
Could Jake Paul do the unthinkable and beat Anthony Joshua?
Jorge Masvidal: There’s a disparity in skill set but it’s still a fight. Jake could always just land the shot. AJ could not be taking him seriously whatsoever, not training, not doing anything, partying harder than ever. And then go out there and maybe shit the bed. It could happen, it’s fighting. If there’s a sport where it could happen, it’s in combat, we see it all the time. So, it’s not out of the question that he could win, but it’s just crazy to put them in there against a destroyer like AJ. They’re gonna get a bag and notoriety from it. So why not? When else is Jake gonna get a chance like this. Maybe it wasn’t the best circumstances for him, but who knows if he’d ever get another shot at something this grand, so I commend him. I take my hat off to him. You’re gonna get in there with fucking AJ. God be with you.
If the unthinkable happens, where does that leave Anthony Joshua?
Jorge Masvidal: Imagine Jake Paul lands. Imagine he slips to the right, lands his own right at the same time, AJ goes face first into the canvas, folded like a lawn chair. If that happens, when AJ goes back to real boxing he will no longer be able to command those numbers, the pay check is the first thing that gets hit.
The eight rounds suggest the fight may have a controlled nature?
Jorge Masvidal: I don’t think it’s rigged, but if it is rigged, we’re going to find out come fight day. It’ll be written all over the screen. We’ll be able to see. We know the speed AJ moves. With Mike Tyson, with all that stuff they said about Tyson, we’re talking about someone that’s almost 60 years old. The reaction time, the frustration that he had – biting his glove – because he couldn’t hit Jake, there are a lot of these things that you could kind of say with Tyson, because he is almost 60 years old. But with AJ, there can’t be none of that. You can’t have none of this weird stuff happening, because we’ll know. The people will know.
Anthony Joshua’s a monster and Jake wouldn’t even serve as a sparring partner for him. But we’re about to find out what happens. I don’t know what’s going on. But if something weird happens, I will let the public know, because there’s only one way that fight’s supposed to go.
But I don’t want to take anything from Jake, I don’t think they could afford [to pay] a guy like AJ to throw a fight, so I don’t want to take that away from Jake. If Jake finds a way to win, it’s great. I’m not saying that it’s rigged or anything, because AJ’s made upwards of $70 million in one night, a guy like that shouldn’t be able to get bought. I wouldn’t think Jake Paul could buy something like that, so if he finds a way to win, it’ll just be the craziest thing. AJ made Francis Ngannou look like nothing, like he was a novice, so what should AJ do to Jake Paul? The math is pretty simple.
If you’re getting in there with AJ, would you want bigger gloves?
Jorge Masvidal: I’m very small compared to AJ, so I’d want him with big gloves and me with smaller gloves. Give me the 10 ounce and give him the 24 ounce. If Jake’s agreed to 10 ounce gloves, that takes a real one. As long as it’s nothing fishy going on and we get to see two guys going at it, you gotta put Jake on a different pedestal. He’s putting his nuts on the table, going, let’s fucking go.”
Tyrone Woodley is going to face Anderson Silva on the Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul card. Can I just get your immediate reaction to that?
Jorge Masvidal: Anderson Silva’s always been so talented with the hands. He’s long; he’s like the perfect build, I would think, for a boxer. Woodley’s explosive, great right hand. I know Woodley’s been, the last couple years, just been more dialed in on boxing. Great athlete. I hate going against my boy Woodley, Silva’s probably got the reach on him. I’m still gonna go for Woodley, but it’s gonna be a tough one because he’s got the range on him. But Woodley is a little better boxer; he’s more fluid; he’s got more weapons. I think Woodley’s gonna find a way to pull it off.
