The first thing to pick up on Jorge Masvidal is the intensity in his eyes.

Like a viper ready to strike, or a lion sitting in wait, the energy the surging UFC welterweight contender casts is one which assures there will be no comfort within. Those are settings and conditions he himself controls, and Masvidal is game enough to invite anyone who begs to differ.

For those who operate and move within his inner circle, Masvidal offers warmth and sincerity at the most genuine of levels. Anyone who exists beyond the fringe of those boundaries is an enemy first, and this is the precise range where every fighter on the UFC's welterweight roster currently exists in his scope.

This is the way Masvidal feels because it's the only reality he's known. And it's not one that will be changing anytime soon.

"The term long overdue falls short, man," Masvidal told FloCombat. "I've been doing this for a long time and been kicking everyone's ass."

The same boatyards and back alleys the late great Kimbo Slice threw down in is where Masvidal earned his original stripes. The hard-knock, street game knuckle hustle provided Masvidal his chance at something greater, and a decade later he's still capitalizing.

Nevertheless, the same fiery scrapper who as a teenager was folding grown men twice his size for cash grabs, is the same game competitor who has carved out a vicious imprint on the most competitive division under the UFC banner. Masvidal was simply born and bred to fight, and he's steadily been proving his place as one of the very best in the world to do what he does.


Jan 28, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Donald Cerrone (red gloves) competes against Jorge Masvidal (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Any doubters of his prominence were recently silenced in the most devastating of fashion as "Gamebred" smashed and steamrolled fan-favorite Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 103. With "Cowboy" coming into the tilt on an absolute murderous run since his arrival in the 170-pound division, many assumed Masvidal would simply be another victim added to the list.

Yet, those who made such a quick assumption failed to give credence to just how dangerous Masvidal can be, and it took him less than one full round to turn the fight game upside down. With one vicious combination after the next Masvidal proved he's without a doubt the man to fear in the welterweight ranks, and it's a message he's positive the rest of the UFC roster took full on.

"When you drill something so much it becomes a certainty in your head," Masvidal said of his victory over Cerrone. "You know it is going to happen. My team and I weren't surprised at all I can tell you that much, but it's an awesome feeling to have when the picture you draw in your head come to fruition. That's execution."

This is a theory Masvidal has already seen proven thrice over as every fighter in the elite tier has refused to face him. Where the American Top Team product originally assumed a win over Cerrone would open him up to bigger matchups, he's since learned his destruction of the rangy veteran has cast a resounding silence over the MMA landscape.

"I'm not even dwelling in the past because Cowboy is in the past and I'm a future type of dude, but I can't even get a fight right now," Masvidal said. "I thought my life would change after that fight as far as getting fights go, but it's the same thing all over again.

"All of a sudden guys are injured. I see them on social media with their little Twitter fingers working just fine and firing away, tweeting my name and talking all kinds of madness. But when I call Sean [Shelby] and tell him this dude has a big mouth I want to shut so let's make the fight happen, and Sean tells me how he just got off the phone with him and he's injured. It's like high school and I thought I was a long way removed from that.

"All these people talk but no one wants to fight. It's hard for me to get fights and it was hard for me to get the Cowboy fight as well. I don't know how many years it took me to get that one, and I figured it would be easier to get fights after I beat him. It hasn't been."


Jan 28, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Donald Cerrone (red gloves) reacts after his match against Jorge Masvidal (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

One fighter who Masvidal has his sights set on fighting is Neil Magny.

The Ultimate Fighter alum has been making waves of his own through the welterweight division, and has built a solid resume that includes victories over Hector Lombard and former champion Johny Hendricks. Although Magny once declined to face Masvidal a few years back, the Colorado-based fighter recently told FloCombat he's down to face "Gamebred" inside the Octagon.

Masvidal saw the call out and attempted to answer the challenge, but says all isn't what it seems when it comes to Magny's eagerness to scrap.

"In this sport you would think dudes don't get scared, but believe me when I say to anyone reading or listening, some of your favorite fighters are the ones turning down fights and doing it multiple times," Masvidal said. "I can't get a fight and it sucks, man.

"Magny is one of the prime candidates who all of a sudden had a magical injury. Sean Shelby just told us that yesterday. He said [Demian] Maia isn't budging and asked me if I wanted to wait for him to come around. I told him I'm healthy and wanted to keep fighting so how about Neil Magny? I've been wanting to break his face for awhile, but he comes back and says Magny is injured and they don't know when he'll be ready.

"That's awesome because he was just saying how he wanted to fight me, but when that becomes an actual possibility he becomes magically injured."


Dec 3, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Jorge Masvidal (blue gloves) fights Jake Ellenberger (red gloves) during the TUF tournament of champions at Palms Casino. Mandatory Credit: Tracy Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Masvidal is a man who never steps out of the fighting mindset, but also understands he's fought himself into a position where the stakes have become much higher. Another one or two high profile victories will put him firmly into position to compete for a world title, and that championship gold is the only thing on his mind these days.

Yet, in order for a title fight to materialize, Masvidal knows he'll have to knock off another one or two top contenders to bring the ultimate goal to fruition. And that's where the frustration sets in.

The only thing Masvidal wants to do is fight, but he can't step out and throw hands with just anyone in the division. Each bout has to matter, and until one comes to the forefront that does, Masvidal will be grinding away in the gym, keeping that fire alive and ready to unleash on the next man to sign the contract

"That's all I'm thinking about and that's why I have to knock out a fight ASAP," Masvidal said in regard to a world title. "I need to get my hands on one of the top contenders because I need to put myself into title contention and leave no doubt about it. You're not going to see me get on my knees and beg any man for anything. That's hoe sh*t. I'm not going to sit on the sidelines and hope for anything. I'm a fighter and that's what I love to do.

"I'm going to fight my way to the title because the people want me there. It's not going to happen because I begged my way there or sat out and waited for something to be handed to me; I'm going to fight my way there every step of the way.

"All I want to do is fight. That's why I wake up early to run my miles and stay working in the gym only to go to bed early so I can wake up early again to swim and continue to work. I do these things just for the pleasure of fighting. Nothing else."