Speaking Daniel Cormierthe former
Ultimate Fighting Championship title challenger and BMF champion detailed how a joint association with the Miami Freestyle Fighting Academy eventually led to him competing at Slice’s backyard fighting platform.
Jorge Masvidal recalls how Kimbo Slice beat him on his backyard fight platform
Masvidal revealed that he and Slice came from close quarters, had mutual friends and started working out together at the same gym. By that time, Masvidal was already seriously engaged in mixed martial arts.
“Well, especially with Kimbo, what happened was that we didn’t grow up far apart,” Masvidal said. “We had some mutual friends and ended up at the same gym, the Freestyle Fighting Academy, and started training.”
Masvidal recalled that he already had amateur fights and fighting experience when one of the gym owners asked Slice to play. At the time, Slice’s videos attracted a lot of attention on the Internet.
“One of the gym owners asked him, ‘Man, I’ve got a really talented guy. I want you to watch him play sports and put him on,” Masvidal said. “I always give him big props because he put me on his platform. He didn’t have to.”
Masvidal said the fights were kept secret because organizers risked fines and possible arrest, recalling that they only received two hours’ notice before one event. The first event took place behind a laundromat in Liberty City, Miami. Before Masvidal’s fight, Slice warned him about his opponent’s right hand.
“I’ll give you the location right away. You have two hours,” Masvidal recalled being told. “He comes back in about 20 seconds and says, ‘Keep your left hand up.’ He’s got a really, really good right hand.” So, we went in there and made magic, man.
