UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and BMF Champion Jorge Masvidal may be rivals inside of the Octagon, but outside of the Octagon, they are favorites of President Donald Trump.
Trump, during a “Latinos For Trump” event this past Friday, mentioned Masvidal and how he represents the “American dream.”
“(Hispanic Americans) champion our shared values and embody the American dream,” Trump said (via Nolan King of MMA Junkie). “That’s what it is. This guy was a fighter on the street. He used to beat up people. You know, your route is much different. Most of these people… I know your story… Actually, for what you do it’s sort of cool. For other people, it wouldn’t be so good. But he used to beat up people and somebody said, ‘Come on (into) the gym. Let’s see if you’re so good.’ Then he goes into the gym and guys who are fighting for a long time, he beat the hell out of him. They said, ‘I think he’s going to be a good fighter,’ and they were right. But these are all different stories, right?”
Masvidal would take to Twitter to react to Trump’s pointing him out during his speech:
Can’t believe the president knows who I am. Humbled. Leader of the free world knows my name #theresurrection https://t.co/lOEpCvv67n
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) September 25, 2020
The U.S. President would speak at a second rally later in the day at the Cobb Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, mentioning Usman, while joking about who would win a fight between them.
“Does anybody like UFC?” Trump asked. “I’ll tell you what… Usman, I know who he is. He’s tough. That’s who he is. Kamaru Usman. Where is our champ? Come on, champ. Get up. Man, oh man, oh man," Trump said. "What a fighter you are. I don’t want to mess with him. I may weigh a couple of pounds more. Do you think I could take you in a fight, champ? I don’t think so. He goes, ‘No.’ I think you’re right, champ. I watched the fight you had a couple of months ago. (You’re) an unbelievable talent – and (smart), too. It’s a combination. The muscles are important but you’ve got to have the other. He actually looks really good in a suit but he’s one of the few people who look better without a suit. There aren’t too many of us. There aren’t too many of us that can say that. Right, men? The men in this audience, eh? I just want to thank you, champion. Good luck. I’ll be watching. You have a big fight coming up. I’ll be watching and it’s a great group of people. A great group of champions. Thank you very much. Thank you.”
Usman and Masvidal met once in the Octagon at UFC 251, where Usman successfully defended his UFC welterweight championship against the BMF Champion.
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