Strikeforce

And he had a pretty good hand and understanding of how to mix those together.

Strikeforce, when it worked, did a lot of that.

And they also did a lot of talent development too.

That's a big part of what's made Strikeforce good.

If you change those equations, you get different results.

I think the other part, too, is also he's older.

What was your take on a streaming platform like DAZN that streaming wasn't as big as it is now, and they came to America with a billion dollars, trying to disrupt the market in the boxing world.

You as a promoter, obviously you started Strikeforce that birthed some of the biggest MMA stars that we know today.

What made you want to take that chance and say, I'm going to go with this streaming platform?

You know, that opportunity came to us through Viacom, executives at the highest level.

I mean, he's doing his thing.

I'm doing my thing.

There was a crossover when they purchased Strikeforce back in the day.

And, you know, we had some, you know, dialogue, but nothing, nothing that was, you know, like we're not buddies hanging out at the golf course.

And so how do you get introduced to mixed martial arts?

I started when I was watching a lot of Strikeforce when I was younger.

I just come across it.

I don't know if it was on FX.

Not FX.

It was definitely...

Strikeforce.

Yeah, Strikeforce.

They did a tremendous job in building him up, and then walk over to the UFC and just sort of like waltz right in there as a stud.

Reminds me a little bit of when Strikeforce fighters came over, WEC fighters came over, where they were put right into main events.

Gilbert Melendez, for example, in San Jose fighting Benson Henderson, like that type of scenario, they walk right into the main event in title fights and are given big opportunities.

And make no mistake about it, I think that Saladin Parnas could fight for the belt today.

And I do think there's a lot of legs for the UFC to keep pushing.

I just don't think there's necessity anymore because there isn't the likes of Pride or Strikeforce or whatever doing other cool things like a Grand Prix or whatever.

So there's not really the challenge in the market to keep pushing the UFC to strive themselves, I would imagine.

And obviously with this deal as well, it ties them up with a whole bunch of cash for so long that... they've already sold the product for years to come.

A lot of times people talk about a fighter, and is this guy a fighter? Is he not a fighter? You can never question that when it comes to Jorge Gamebred Masvidal.

From the backyard to Strikeforce to the UFC, this man has willed himself to building his career and becoming a true star in mixed martial arts.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for joining us and helping us welcome in Gamebred himself, Jorge Masvidal.

Thank you so much for joining the show, my friend.

But that didn't last-

Oh, yeah

... forever, right? Because ultimately you end up in Strikeforce, where you and I spent some time-

Yeah