EXCLUSIVE | Jorge Masvidal expects title shot after “devastating” Wonderboy

This weekend, on the main card of the stacked UFC 217, Jorge Masvidal will step into the cage with two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. While Wonderboy is an incredibly dangerous opponent, Masvidal plans to devastate him when the cage door closes.

“I got respect for his skillset and his heart,” Masvidal said on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio. “He definitely took some shots against [Tyron] Woodley in both fights, that a lesser man would’ve gave into. He fought through that. Through the guillotine, through the right hands, the abuse that he took, you know? I don’t think he’s a walk in the park or northing like that. He has a skillset, but come Saturday, I’m gonna devastate him.”

If he’s able to devastate Wonderboy as planned, Masvidal believes he can count on a title shot next. In fact, he’ll be incredibly surprised if the UFC goes in a different direction.

“Shit man, that’s Twilight Zone shit,” he said. “I don’t see anybody else but me, being in line after this fight. If somebody else was to get the call, it’d be real left field type shit to me. Twilight Zone. I think I’ve proven myself in this division, and not just that but, the action that I bring to every fight. People like to watch me fight because there is a certain value you can put on that you know? You can invite your friends, ‘Hey, let’s watch Gamebred fight, because it’s actually gonna be a fight.’ There is gonna be violence, there is gonna be technique involved and there is gonna be a lot of grit.”

How do you think Jorge Masvidal will perform against Stephen Thompson at UFC 217 this weekend? Do you think he deserves a titel shot with a win?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 2/11/2017.