As special as it is to compete in front of all your supporters, training in the comfort of your own home is just as sweet. Training at American Top Team, one of the world’s most prestigious MMA gyms and one filled with elite UFC talent, including Dustin Poirier and Mateusz Gamrot, Masvidal only needs to make a short drive to and from training sessions, and can finish the final, grueling aspects of a training camp without needing to travel.
“[It makes a] huge difference,” Masvidal said regarding training close to home. “The weight, the flying. You fly sometimes and your feet don’t fit in your shoe, your ankles are huge. Not flying is amazing, man. Just to do this in my own backyard, it feels like it’s f****** cheating because I got a sauna at the house, I got everything at the house that I need. My gym, American Top Team isn’t far from here, so I really feel like it’s almost cheating. My home has always been a flight, a hotel and that’s it, let’s get to work. Now it’s different; I’m in my own house, I’m gonna get to sleep in my own bed, drive my own car to the arena. It’s going to be a different feeling. Gilbert and nobody in the world is ready for what’s coming.”
Miami also hosts the perfect setting for Masvidal to turn his career back in the right direction after three consecutive losses. In 2019, Masvidal earned his third straight knockout victory and was first in line to accept a short notice fight against Kamaru Usman for the welterweight strap in Abu Dhabi. After 25 minutes, Masvidal withstood Usman’s power, but lost via unanimous decision.
In their rematch nine months later, Usman doubled down and earned another victory over Masvidal, this time by second-round knockout. Then, in one of the UFC’s biggest grudge matches, Masvidal fell short against Colby Covington, a former friend turned bitter rival.
These losses weighed heavily on Masvidal’s mind, and opened his eyes to the root of these setbacks. Masvidal found himself in a negative environment that was holding back his potential, so he started weeding out anything and anyone that didn’t contribute to his happiness and success.
