On April 8, 2023, Jorge Masvidal laid down his gloves and announced his retirement from mixed martial arts. In his last bout, the Miami native returned home to fight Gilbert Burns at UFC 287. While he did come up on the losing end, many, including Drake, took to social media to praise the veteran fighter for his exploits in the cage.
“[He’s a] street legend [and a] UFC GOAT,” he wrote on Instagram
“Hats off to a great man, Jorge Masvidal.”
Masvidal finishes his career with a record of 35-17 and 16 knockouts. Along the way, the 38-year-old beat Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz to secure not one, but two shots at former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman. In his last two fights, he has suffered back-to-back unanimous decision losses at the hands of Colby Covington and Glibert Bruns. Following his last loss, the Miami native took time to address the crowd and thank them for their support.
“I love everybody here,” Masvidal said.
“This is where I started my career. It’s been a long 20 years, 50-some fights. Sometimes your favorite basketball player doesn’t have that 3-pointer any more. Your favorite quarterback loses that rifle. I don’t feel the same when I get in here no more. It’s been 20 long years.”
He also praised conservative Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and recently indicted former President Donald Trump on his way out of the building.
“I just want to say, greatest president in the history of the world sitting right there. I love that guy,” Masvidal said.
“We also have the greatest governor of all time here in Florida. Let’s keep Florida free and get ‘Brandon’ out of power on election day.”
