UFC 287 is right upon us and fans couldn’t be more excited. This card embodies several highly anticipated bouts. Aside from the main event showdown between ‘The Last Stylebender’ and Alex Pereira, the fight prior is an equally exciting banger. Miami’s hometown boy Jorge ‘Gamebred‘ Masvidal will battle it out with Gilbert Burns in the co-main spot.
However, the fight week has gotten more intense as we reach closer to the day when the arena turns on its bright lights. UFC welterweights Jorge Masvidal and Kevin Holland got into a scuffle earlier inside a Miami hotel lobby. Even though they aren’t fighting each other on the card, the duo got into it just days ahead of their own scheduled bouts.
Eventually, security separated the two in the Wednesday incident. Based on the clips going viral, it appears there was no physical confrontation, but rather just a heated exchange of words. The now-viral video displays both athletes hurling words at one another, with the UFC officials trying their best to keep them apart.
Jorge Masvidal and Kevin Holland had to be separated by UFC security at the host hotel. 👀#UFC287 | 🎥 @bullyb170 pic.twitter.com/FFk5u9BNUn
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 6, 2023
The clip shows Kevin taunting Jorge about Gilbert Burns defeating him in their upcoming bout. However, this isn’t the only time the 30-year-old has dissed the Miami star. In a recent episode of UFC’s Embedded, Burns asked Kevin about his co-main prediction. Holland pointed to Masvidal on the poster and said, “This guy sucker-punches. He is a douchebag, there you go.”
It is unclear who started the incident. If body language is anything to go by here, a 38-year-old Masvidal appears calm and composed against a worked-up Holland. Witnesses claim no punches were attempted by anyone. Per sources, the promotion was already tipped about some sort of beef between the two. Hence, they took necessary steps beforehand to not let ‘Trailblazer’ and ‘Gamebred’ get too close to one another.
Jorge Masvidal and Kevin Holland’s fight at UFC 287
It is worth mentioning that both Kevin Holland and Jorge Masvidal are competing on the main card on April 8. The prospect from Texas will take on Argentine Santiago Ponzinibbio, a well-known name in the sport. Kevin is on a 2-fight losing skid, with the first loss coming at the hands of rising star Khamzat Chimaev and the second one to Stephen Thompson.
Masvidal, on the other hand, is on a 3-fight losing streak. The first two losses hail from his shot at the welterweight gold against Kamaru Usman. The third loss happened in his grudge match with friend-turned-bitter rival Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington in 2022. If ‘Durinho’ were to win this contest, he might very well stand next in line after Colby faces Leon Edwards potentially this year.
While Holland’s upcoming bout won’t put him straight in line for a title shot, it will bring the winner a tad bit closer to the belt. Whereas Masvidal has already lost both his title quests in 2020 and the year later. A 4th straight loss could potentially throw him out of the title picture for a long time.
Who are you picking in their respective bouts on the highly touted UFC 287 card? Let us know in the comments down below.
