Jorge Masvidal: 'All I want to do is fight'

If you'd gotten the feeling from recent interviews that UFC lightweight Jorge Masvidal isn't too happy with flying under the radar in perhaps the promotion's most competitive division, you're right. Masvidal has won five out of six since coming to the UFC in 2013.

On April 4, he'll face Al Iaquinta in Fairfax, Virginia. Masvidal says he knows that Iaquinta is a good fighter, but wishes that he would have gotten to fight someone higher ranked, like Benson Henderson (whom he was set to fight, briefly). Masvidal has quietly become a contender at 155 pounds, but he's ready for his presence to stop being quite so, well, quiet.

"Oh, definitely," he tells FOX Sports Tuesday afternoon.

"I don't even know if this guy is ranked. I wanted to get my hands on the biggest-ranked guy I could get. But, you know, I just have to put in work. I'm thankful the UFC is still getting me a fight."

Many UFC fighters have become suddenly more focused on the promotion's "official" rankings, ever since it was announced that upcoming royalty pay-outs from the UFC's exclusive apparel deal would have vaguely something to do with where fighters were listed. Masvidal's obsession with fighting higher-ranked opponents has to do with his desire to become world champion, however.

"Way before the Reebok deal was announced, I wanted to get my hands on the biggest opponents possible," he says.

"I thought I was one of the best in Strikforce, and I thought I would get that matchup in the UFC. Seven fights later, I still haven't gotten that matchup where I could prove my worth. That was my main focus, always, though, in wanting higher-ranked opponents. If some Reebok cash comes with it, fine. But the main thing is to have that world title. My whole career, this whole path I've been on, doesn't mean anything if I don't get that belt next to me in bed."

Masvidal insists that he doesn't have "anything personal" against Iaquinta when he laments having to fight him. However, we wonder if there's a chance "Gamebred" could be looking past his surging opponent out of New York.

According to the fighter, nope. No chance at all.

"Let's see April 4 if I'm looking past him," he tells us.

"I don't look past nobody. He's got two hands. Any man can hurt another man."

Masvidal may be frustrated, but all he can do is to keep on winning to rise through the UFC lightweight ranks. Well, that and possibly tease the public through social media, as well.

"I just have to beat 'em all up," he says.

"Well, that and maybe sell my soul on social media. Maybe I need to get popular there, first, and then I'll get bigger fights. Because that's what the rankings seem to be all about.

"Maybe I have to get on there and post some naked selfies or pictures of half-eaten sandwiches and me, with me telling people what I'm having for lunch and what I'm going to do at night time. I hate social media. I'm not good at typing, as it is. I just want to fight and do my thing. I do it from time to time because my managers push me to, but all I want to do is fight. I wish I could fight four, five, six times a year."