Jorge Masvidal tells Arnold Barboza Jr to have 'one or two amateurs' before UFC move
The former WBO interim light welterweight champion has said he wants to fight in the UFC at featherweight, and Masvidal warned him not to learn on the big stage.
Jorge Masvidal has told boxer Arnold Barboza Jr to compete outside the UFC before he moves to mixed martial arts, suggesting "one or two amateurs" to "get the feel for it".
Barboza, 33-1 as a professional boxer, has said he wants to fight in the UFC at featherweight and plans to spend four months training in Thailand. He won the WBO interim light welterweight title with a split decision over Jack Catterall in Manchester in February 2025.
Speaking to Barboza on Full Send MMA, Masvidal said: "Don't let the learning experience be on the bright lights with a guy that's been doing it since he's seven years old. You're cutting yourself short."
"You don't wanna go in there where you win one fight, you lose two, three fights," he added. "No, you wanna go in there and win as many as you can. You wanna get yourself as much chips and the odds on your side."
Masvidal said: "And the only way you're gonna do that, I think, is by competing outside of UFC, like doing a couple of amateur matches, you know, one or two amateurs. Get the feel for it."
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Reported by the Combat Sports UK desk. Times are UK and Irish time, and we update the report when the facts change. How we work.