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Ariel Helwani recently floated the idea of online personality KSI (real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji) as the next potential opponent for Jorge Masvidal following his defeat to Nate Diaz in their boxing match.
This past Saturday, Masvidal came up short on the judges' scorecards in a rematch of their Octagon clash from UFC 244 in November 2019. This time, the bout took place in a professional boxing ring, headlining a pay-per-view event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
After a showdown marked by intense, back-and-forth action, two of the three judges awarded the victory to Diaz with scores of 98-92 and 97-93. The third judge, however, saw it as a dead heat, scoring the fight a 95-95 draw.
Following the loss, the former BMF titleholder contended that he had done enough to secure the victory and claimed that the judges were prejudiced against him. Although Masvidal immediately called for a rematch, Diaz promptly dismissed this request during the post-event press conference.
"Gamebred" has previously mentioned that he has a three-fight contract with Fanmio, granting him the opportunity to pursue high-profile boxing matches. Considering Masvidal's recent passion for the sweet science, it seems highly probable that he will seek a swift return to the squared circle.
While Helwani may not be an official matchmaker, he has an intriguing contender in mind for Masvidal's comeback fight...
Helwani Sees KSI As Prime Matchup For Masvidal's Next Boxing Bout
During a recent episode of The MMA Hour, Helwani explored potential opponents for Jorge Masvidal's next boxing match, ultimately suggesting the possibility of pitting YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI against the former two-time UFC welterweight title challenger.
The Canadian combat sports journalist suggested that a fight with Masvidal would be significantly more intriguing than the scheduled 1 vs. 2 matchup against Slim Albaher and MMA veteran Anthony Taylor.
I'll tell you what, with all due respect, I would much rather see Jorge against KSI than KSI in this, you know, whatever, [1 vs.2]," Helwani said. "Actually, Jorge versus KSI is really interesting to me.
Helwani further noted that the bittersweet past between Masvidal and KSI makes this matchup a more logical and compelling choice for both fighters.
Remember, that was a thing that kind of happened a year and a half ago on the show, where they suggested it and they were kind of looking into it. I'm pretty sure KSI is on the okay list; you know, like, there's this list that the UFC gave Jorge that he's allowed to take fights with X, Y, and Z.
Last July, in a conversation with Masvidal, Helwani broached the notion of arranging a boxing match with KSI. However, the 39-year-old Miami native swiftly dismissed any interest in squaring off against the British social media influencer.
Despite announcing his retirement from MMA after a loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 in April 2023, Masvidal recently disclosed that he is still under contract with the UFC.
The organization has granted him special permission to pursue boxing opportunities, and Masvidal has hinted at an inevitable return to the Octagon in the future.