It now looks like the verbal altercation is going to turn into a physical one because UFC President Dana White revealed that Usman and Masvidal will meet this July during UFC International Fight Week.
“We haven’t had a fighter from Miami to embrace yet,” White said on The Jim Rome Show (via Dave Doyle of MMA Junkie) . “Since I got here, I went to dinner last night, I’ve been walking around – everybody’s yelling, ‘When’s Masvidal fighting in Miami?’ Not soon. We’re going to bring him to Vegas. Him and Usman will fight in Vegas, probably International Fight Week (in July). If he wins, maybe we’ll do his first title defense down here in Miami.”
This is going to be the second title defense for Usman, who last defended the gold against former UFC Interim Welterweight Champion Colby Covington at UFC 245.
White admits that the verbal altercation between the two earlier this week forced his hand in announcing the bout.
“That was the plan, and whatever happened with them (Wednesday) – we hadn’t announced it yet, but now this has forced me to announce it,” White said.
Based on what White has revealed, it looks like Usman and Masvidal will settle the score on UFC 252 on July 11.
