Jorge Masvidal wants to be more than just the 'King of Miami'

MIAMI — IT'S A BALMY Monday evening at the newly renamed Kaseya Center downtown, and Jorge Masvidal is looking for a legal parking spot for his classic dark blue Lincoln Continental convertible. He takes a right off Biscayne Boulevard and stops on a relatively quiet side road. Masvidal thinks the car should be all right here. And quite frankly, in the event police or security officers approach, chances are they'd ask the UFC star for a photo rather than write him a ticket.

Arena lights illuminate Masvidal's face as he walks up a concrete walkway toward the main entrance. In 12 days, a likely sellout crowd will pack into this arena to watch Masvidal (35-16) take on Gilbert Burns (21-5) at UFC 287 (10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV). Officially, Masvidal's fight is the co-main event, but it's safe to say he is the main reason the UFC is returning to this city for the first time in 20 years, as he was born and bred here.

«I'm getting goosebumps, not going to lie,» Masvidal says, as he gazes at the arena. «It doesn't happen often in my life, but it's hitting me hard right now. Damn. S--- will be packed, people screaming. Violence.»

Masvidal was 18 when the UFC brought its marquee premium event to this arena for the first and only time in 2003. He spent every dollar he had to purchase a ticket for UFC 42. The night ended with him sleeping across the street on a train station floor.

«I was catching the train back, but by the time the UFC finished up, and we went to a bar, the trains were closed,» Masvidal laughs. «So, I'm stuck downtown — not a dollar to my name because we used everything to get there. I slept in the station.»

A lot has changed in 20 years. These days, Masvidal has an entire fleet of vehicles to get him around Miami.