Jorge Masvidal turns down Gilbert Burns' request for BMF title fight

Jorge Masvidal is set to return to the octagon when he faces Gilbert Burns in the co-main event of UFC 287 after over a year of inactivity. The No.11-ranked welterweight recently rejected his opponent's request to fight for the symbolic 'BMF' title [Bad Moth**f***er] that he earned after defeating Nate Diaz at UFC 244.

Burns took to Twitter to call on UFC President Dana White to put the symbolic belt on the line, which he has not done in each of Masvidal's past three fights since earning the title. The No.5-ranked welterweight stated:

"Come on @danawhite April 8 has to be 5 rounds! Put that belt on the line! Everybody knows it’s only one guy in the @ufc that fights ANYONE! #ufc287"

During his appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Masvidal responded to 'Durinho' and laid out his terms for putting the 'BMF' title on the line:

"[I'll put the title on the line] If they pay me BMF money, but UFC ain't going to up the money, so, sorry Gilbert. I already got my contract, man. I already signed my s**t. I could give a f**k less. Three rounds is more than I need for Gilbert. I like all the publicity and the extras he's putting into it, and all that other stuff, but, bro, three rounds is all I need for his a**."

Burns is the latest of Masvidal's opponents to call for the belt to be put on the line. Despite this, Dana White has previously claimed that the symbolic title is a one-time thing and the belt will not be contested going forward.

Check out Gilbert Burns' tweet and Jorge Masvidal's response below:

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Jorge Masvidal discusses why Gilbert Burns is an ideal opponent

Jorge Masvidal will enter UFC 287 on the back of three consecutive losses. Furthermore, each of those losses has come against fighters with strong wrestling backgrounds - Kamaru Usman (x2) and Colby Covington.

During his recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, the No.11-welterweight shared why Gilbert Burns is the ideal matchup for his next bout:

"Immediately, I didn't want to fight another heavy wrestling-oriented individual, just because that's been like my last three, four fights out. So I just wanted to fight somebody different, like a grappler, striker, something like that. Not necessarily somebody wrestling heavy, so I thought Gilbert was the best choice."

Masvidal added that Burns' desire to look for a finish, whether the fight is on the ground or on the feet, will make the fight entertaining. Both fighters will look to work their way back into the welterweight title picture with a victory at UFC 287.

Watch Jorge Masvidal discuss facing Gilbert Burns below (starting at the 52:15 mark):