UFC 287: Gilbert Burns defeats Jorge Masvidal, leading to his retirement announcement

Jorge Masvidal, the fan favorite mixed martial artist, announced his retirement from the sport on Saturday after his loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287. The 38-year-old fighter lost to Burns in his hometown of Miami, with a unanimous-decision result (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in Burns’ favor. This defeat prompted Masvidal to retire from his 20-year professional MMA career. Though he twice challenged for the welterweight championship, losing to then-champion Kamaru Usman in 2020 and 2021, Masvidal holds the record for the fastest knockout in UFC history. He knocked out Ben Askren with a flying knee in 2019, five seconds into their fight. UFC 287 at the Miami-Dade Arena was the promotion’s first event in Miami since 2003, the year Masvidal made his pro debut. He stated in the Octagon after the fight, “It’s been a long 20 years, 50-something fights [52] . You know, sometimes your favorite basketball player ain’t got that three-pointer no more, your favorite quarterback loses that right foot. I don’t feel the same when I get in here no more, it’s been 20 long years.” Masvidal’s defeat by Burns was his fourth consecutive loss, following two losses to Usman and a defeat by Colby Covington in March 2022.