Jorge Masvidal gunning for title shot with win over ‘Wonderboy’ at UFC 217

Masvidal believes a win over Stephen Thompson at UFC 217 puts him in line for a shot at the welterweight title.

Jorge Masvidal might be coming off one of the biggest losses of his career, losing to submission expert Demian Maia in a number one contender’s bout at UFC 211, but ‘Gambred’ is hoping to spring into title contention with a win over Stephen Thompson next week.

Masvidal, who has beat the likes of Donald Cerrone, Jake Ellenberger, and Michael Chiesa, takes on Thompson at the upcoming UFC 217 pay-per-view in New York.

Thompson, 34, came up short in back-to-back title fights against current welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, who recently defended his belt against Maia.

Both fights were lackluster, and Masvidal hopes Wonderboy doesn’t ‘get on his bike and run’ at Madison Square Garden.

“For the title, duh. Of course, I won against the guy that went 10 rounds with the champion [Thompson]. That’s my idea,” Masvidal said in a recent edition of The MMA Hour, per MMA Mania’s Adam Guillen Jr.

“As long as he doesn’t get on his bike and run, it should be interesting. I’ve seen him do that in the past, he gets on that bike, side kicks the air and tries to win a decision and my plan is to stop that, put a hurting on him.”

UFC President Dana White has gone on record to state that the winner of the upcoming bout between Robbie Lawler and Rafael dos Anjos will take on Woodley for title, but ‘T-Wood’ wants the winner of Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre.

Masvidal vs. Thompson could shake things up, however, as both men are considered two of the best strikers in the division. A win over Thompson would be the biggest win of Masvidal’s career, and the 32-year-old could surpass Lawler and dos Anjos if he makes a statement at UFC 217.

The highly anticipated PPV, which features a headlining middleweight championship bout between Bisping and St-Pierre, takes place Saturday, Nov. 4 at Madison Square Garden, New York.