Jorge Masvidal narrates his incredible story of choosing a UFC career over the military

Jorge Masvidal has recounted the epic story of his decision to pursue a career as a fighter in the UFC mixed martial arts organization rather than enlisting in the military. 

Born to Mama Dukes and Jorge Masvidal Sr. -- to a Peruvian mother and Cuban father -- Masvidal forged a legacy as one of the biggest combat sports superstars over a career spanning two decades. 

Jorge Masvidal suggests that his father guided and supported him to choose UFC over the military as a career

During a recent appearance on The Daniel Cormier Show -- hosted by former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier -- the UFC's inaugural BMF champion Jorge Masvidal addressed multiple topics. The Miami street fighting legend notably expounded upon the origins of his combat sports career. 

"Gamebred" has often indicated that he had a tough childhood, wherein he even witnessed his beloved father spend around a couple of decades behind bars. Masvidal implied that he's been enthralled by martial arts since childhood and took up various street fights and engaged in sparring sessions as a teenager. 

Masvidal's past as a street fighter in the late Kimbo Slice's backyard fights is well-known, as is his eventual success as a professional MMA fighter in Strikeforce and later in the UFC. The 41-year-old suggested that he saw two paths to success for himself -- one being becoming a UFC fighter, the other being joining the military. 

Narrating an amazing story about how a conversation in jail shaped his personal and professional lives, Masvidal stated: 

"At 14, I went to jail to go see my dad. And my mom's there. I look at my dad. And I tell him. I go, 'Listen. I got two options. I going to do either this UFC fighting sh**...' My dad had already heard about it, kind of seen; they talk about it in prison a lot. 'Or, I think I'm gonna go in the military and be like a commando; some Special Forces sh**.'" 

"I tell my dad. He looks at my mom. He looks at me. He pauses for, like, a minute or two, and he goes, 'You should do that fighting sh** for sure, man. I'm with you. Let's go.' And my mom's like, 'No. Absolutely not. Please, not my son.' And my dad's like, 'You want him to go to war?'"

The veteran fighter implied that his father believed he wouldn't be suited to a military environment where he'd likely lose his temper upon being reprimanded by his superiors. He said: 

"'And anyways, you're not made out -- if somebody starts screaming in your (Jorge Masvidal's) face, this and that, you're going to snap, man. I'm telling you. Fighting is what you're meant for. I'm gonna back you up.' So we shook hands, and boom! I took off. I went all out in fighting." 

Watch Jorge Masvidal discuss choosing the UFC over the military below (*comments at the 38:45-minute mark of the video): 

Jorge Masvidal is expected to return to the UFC's famed Octagon three years removed from his MMA retirement

Jorge Masvidal made his pro MMA debut way back in 2003, competing for various promotions before entering the UFC in 2013. He made a mark at both lightweight and welterweight inside the Octagon, even challenging for the UFC welterweight belt twice. 

The striking savant faced a few setbacks toward the latter part of his UFC run, with his last fight being a unanimous decision defeat against Gilbert Burns in 2023. Masvidal retired from MMA thereafter and competed in a professional boxing match against Nate Diaz the following year, losing via majority decision. 

He'd beaten Diaz via TKO in their classic BMF title MMA matchup in the UFC back in 2019. Speaking of which, Masvidal, here in 2026, recently signaled that he's likely to unretire from MMA and return to the UFC later this year or early next year. Speculation has abounded that he could face former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards in their long-awaited grudge match.