The battle between Jorge Masvidal and Dana White continues.

For most of the year, Jorge Masvidal was viewed as the top contender in the welterweight division. Then, a dispute over money arose and instead, Dana White offered the next title shot to Gilbert Burns. Both sides have since dug their heels in on the issue and last weekend at a pre-fight press conference, White made a statement that didn’t directly reference Masvidal, but might as well have for all the subtlety it held.

“My number one goal always is that I don’t want to layoff any of my employees and I don’t want fighters sitting inactive and not being able to compete,” White said. “You know when you are a professional athlete, you have a very small window of opportunity, a very limited amount of time. You know, we get into all this money sh*t and stuff that is going on right now, and everybody acts like this is a f*cking career. This isn’t a career. This is not a career. This is an opportunity. Anything can happen in any given moment. Your knee could blow out, your back, your this, your that, COVID-19. Who the hell knows what is coming down the pipeline. So you have to take every opportunity that you can get.”

Needless to say, Masvidal had some thoughts on this curious statement by White and yesterday, the ‘BMF’ champion used his YouTube channel to respond.

“I want to address something actually, because of the Dana White thing,” Masvidal said. “Dana White said the other day - and maybe you can explain this - he said this is not a career, this is an opportunity. I’ve been doing this 16 years, sh*t I’ve had a lot of opportunity, huh? That’s crazy. So, it’s not a career Dana White, that’s interesting to know man. I really think sometimes we don’t see eye-to-eye on anything you f*cking you say, bro. How is this not a career, you know? It’s crazy.”

The tension between Masvidal and the UFC has been palpable for awhile now, with both sides taking veiled, and sometimes direct, shots at each other in the media. Masvidal even went so far as to demand his release from the UFC and gave an interview with ESPN where he lambasted the UFC’s pay structure and revenue split. But despite what has clearly become an acrimonious relationship, Masvidal says he doesn’t actually have any ill will towards Dana White personally. After all, it’s just business.

“He’s my co-worker,” Masvidal said. “It’s not like I’m going to go hang out with him anywhere anytime soon or anything like that. I don’t have no animosity towards him but I also don’t really like him too much either because he has to do his job which is to generate the most money for his company. I got to do my job which is to generate the most money for me and myself. So, you see where that clashes? You know, we’re not always going to see eye-to-eye but I don’t think he’s like a devil or this evil f*cking person. I just think he is doing his job and I got to do mine.”

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MUST-READ STORIES

Statement. Max Rohskopf breaks silence on UFC on ESPN 11, decision to call fight on stool.

Mad. Chad Mendes blasts ‘wooden eye having pr*ck’ Michael Bisping, calls USADA a ‘crock of sh*t’ program.

Awkward. Gilbert Burns details awkward run-in with Kamaru Usman, coach Henri Hooft’s stance on teammate matchup.

Justice. Colorado commission overturns Chas Skelly’s controversial loss to Bobby Moffett, fight is no-contest.

Retirement. Rogerio Nogueira to end 19-year MMA career with Shogun Rua trilogy on ‘Fight Island’.

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VIDEO STEW

The A-Side Live Chat.

Mike Perry being Mike Perry.

Filthy Casual’s guide to Dustin Poirier.

Cowboy has a video series about life on his YouTube channel.

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LISTEN UP

Mookie & Crookie. Discussing UFC and ONE Championship finances.

UFC Unfiltered. Interviews with Luis Pena, Mickey Gall, and Mike Perry.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

A small victory.

Beef.

A popular man.

An olive branch.

And Darren is still doing his thing.

Jimi Manuwa is unretiring.

Fight poster.

Get this man in a cage.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Yoel Romero (13-5) vs. Uriah Hall (15-9); UFC Fight Night, Aug. 22.

William Knight (7-1) vs. Cody Brundage (5-0), DWTNCS, Sep. 1.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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