After revealing that he would be taking on veteran Japanese lightweight Satoru Kitaoka at Sengoku 11 on Nov. 7, American Top Team’s Jorge Masvidal spoke with Tapology about his strategy going in against Kitaoka, his hesitance to sign with the UFC, and his desire to avenge a pair of nagging losses.
Tapology: We most recently saw you in action for Bellator during the lightweight tournament this year. How did you feel about the whole tournament?
Masvidal: I felt awesome about the whole tournament, man. I like to stay active and fight five to six times per year, so that gave me a chance to at least get three fights off quick. Obviously I didn’t like the outcome, but I liked the whole tournament.
Tapology: So were you happy with Bellator and with the way they ran their show?
Masvidal: Yes. I’d like to stay more active come 2010, and they keep it coming, they keep us fighting.
Tapology: Are you going to be involved with the next season of Bellator in 2010?
Masvidal: Man, I hope so. I would like to think so.
Tapology: I think most people heading into that tournament had you as the favorite to face Eddie Alvarez in the finals. Is it disappointing that you didn’t get to fight him?
Masvidal: Yeah, especially when you lose—and no disrespect to Toby Imada—but I thought I had the fight in my hands, I made a mistake, and Toby took it from me. My hat is off to him, but hopefully we’ll have the rematch and I’ll kill him the next time, and I think I’d kill him the next ten times as well.
Tapology: Is the Alvarez fight a fight you would like to get sometime in the future?
Masvidal: Yeah, he is the champ. I am actually a fan of Eddie; I like the way he fights, but he is the champ so I’d like to kick his ass and take the belt and make more money.
Tapology: How is the training at American Top Team going?
Masvidal: Awesome, man. I get pushed harder and harder every day.
Tapology: Would you be able to confirm whether or not you are fighting Satoru Kitaoka at Sengoku 11?
Masvidal: I don’t mind confirming at all, man. For all my fans, anyone who wants to know, November 7 I’ll be fighting Satoru Kitaoka.
Tapology: What do you think of Kitaoka as an opponent?
Masvidal: He is dangerous with the leg locks, you know, and that’s really it. I don’t think he’s a threat anywhere else. I’m going to come at him at 100 mph like I do with everybody and try to break his will.
Tapology: Kitaoka is known for his submissions, so have you been working the submission game in this training camp?
Masvidal: We actually just found out two days ago that we were fighting Kitaoka, but we’ll be bringing in guys to attack my legs to speed up the camp a little bit. I have about a month to prepare for Kitaoka, when usually I am told when I am boarding the plane.
Tapology: Do you like fighting in Japan? There have been complaints from fights about not knowing who they will be fighting, as well as issues with pay.
Masvidal: I love it. One thing I have had an issue with in the past has been them switching opponents on me. I was scheduled to fight Gomi at one point, so I was training for him for about two months, then I was boarding the plane and boom—my opponent switched to Rodrigo Damm. Other than that, I love it over there. I love the food, I love the way they treat me, and I haven’t had any problems with the money and that’s the most important thing to me.
I love Japan, man. It’s one of my favorite places to fight.
Tapology: Is this a one-fight deal or are you scheduled for more fights under the Sengoku banner?
Masvidal: I was actually on a four-fight contract with Sengoku and this will be my fourth fight, so I’d better kick Kitaoka’s ass or I’m sure they’re going to cut me.
Tapology: So was this a non-exclusive deal since they let you fight in Bellator?
Masvidal: Yeah, Bellator is exclusive in the U.S., and Sengoku is exclusive in Asia and the eastern hemisphere, so I couldn’t fight in Dream or anything like that.
Tapology: You said you just found out about this fight yourself, but how will you go about attacking Kitaoka? Will you try to keep the fight on the feet, as most people expect?
Masvidal: Definitely, but I’m going to be ready for him to shoot, and I’m going to punish him when he does. I’m going to put a lot of pressure on him.
Tapology: Looking at your record, and your age, you have some very impressive wins over current and former UFC lightweights. Would you ever consider joining the UFC, and do you think you could compete with the guys in that division?
Masvidal: I know I can compete with those guys, any one of them. I think I could break any of their teeth on any given day, but I don’t really like the business model of the UFC. I don’t like the way they treat certain fighters. As a fan though, it’s probably my favorite show to watch. I want to fight the best in the world, and I want to remain active, which might not happen in the UFC. With Sengoku and Bellator, I am going to be fighting Kitaoka next month and when I return to Bellator I could be fighting another top guy in Eddie Alvarez.
The UFC only has like three top lightweights: Gray Maynard, BJ Penn and Frankie Edgar, so this way I can fight most of the top fighters in the world outside of the UFC.
Tapology: So for you it is more about staying active right now rather than going after a guy like BJ Penn?
Masvidal: Yeah, I don’t want to fight twice a year. They seem a little bit too strict to me, you know.
Tapology: Are you more financially secure right now with Sengoku and Bellator?
Masvidal: Yeah, man, and I guess you could say I’m spoiled because I used to be in Bodog and they paid me a decent amount of money, so when the UFC came to me and offered a contract, it didn’t seem like enough money to settle for.
Tapology: Is it important to you to avenge your losses to Toby Imada and Rodrigo Damm or is the past in the past for you?
Masvidal: To me, the past is always present, man. I’d do it right now if I could. Toby Imada actually beat me, but with Rodrigo Damm, I dropped him and then he dropped me and as soon as I hit the canvas the referee jumped in with that Japanese bullshit. I definitely wouldn’t say he beat me.
Tapology: Thanks for the time, Jorge.
