Jorge Masvidal tucks into pizza on his private jet ahead of fight against Kamaru Usman at UFC 251

Jorge Masvidal took advantage of stopping over at Rome airport on the way to Abu Dhabi by eating some pizza on his private jet. 

Masvidal, nicknamed ‘Gamebred’, has been drafted in late to fight Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 on Saturday night at UFC Fight Island, after his original opponent – Gilbert Burns – tested positive for coronavirus. 

But after admitting that he needed to shed some weight, 20 pounds, in order to be fit to fight at welterweight, the 35-year-old tucked into pizza and posted proof on his Instagram page. 

Jorge Masvidal posted a picture of himself eating some pizza after stopping over in Rome

Masvidal has stepped in late to face Usman, after Gilbert Burns tested positive for Covid-19

Another picture shows Masvidal posing for a picture outside the airport in Rome where his plane stopped off, before heading on to the Middle East. 

Masvidal has not fought since his memorable victory over Nate Diaz at UFC 244 in November, and after taking the fight with six days to go, he did not hide that he was not in tip-top condition. 

‘Yeah I got 20 pounds to go. I’m taking the fight on 6 days notice,’ he told ESPN First Take.  

‘When they made the fight official I was 191 pounds. So Friday, I gotta lose that weight.

Gamebred poses outside Rome airport, where he stopped-off in on his way to Abu Dhabi

‘I’ve been doing this a long time, it won’t be the first time I have to cut a crazy amount of weight at short notice. Like I’ve always said God has my back so I’ve got no worries.’ 

The 35-year-old claimed the ‘Baddest Mother F*****’ belt (BMF) with his win against Diaz in November. 

His opponent Usman, nicknamed the Nigerian Nightmare, promised he would ‘ragdoll’ Masvidal in the main event on Saturday night.  

Responding to the BMF title potentially being up for grabs at UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, Usman told TMZ Sports: ‘That’s my (expletive), absolutely.

Kamaru Usman has already thrown down the gauntlet ahead of the fight this weekend 

‘They’re saying it’s a “BMF” – they’re really considering this a real title, kind of an interim thing or whatever. 

‘They’re really considering this a title. So you know, yes – after I go out there and beat his a** and ragdoll him, that (expletive) is coming home with me so I can throw it in my closet.’  

UFC president White has not actually yet confirmed whether the ‘BMF’ title will be up for grabs when the pair meet on Saturday night (Sunday morning, UK time).