The
UFC and Jorge Masvidal might be destined for a reunion. |
Getty/UFC.
It appears that Jorge
Masvidal’s return to the
Ultimate Fighting Championship could be imminent.
On the “Death Row MMA” podcast, “Gambred” revealed
that he was offered a fight on the
Most Valuable Promotions “Rousey vs. Carano” card but
ultimately decided not to accept it because of talks he had with
UFC brass.
“I got offered to fight on this [Netflix] card,” Masvidal said
(transcription via MMAjunkie.com). “I had a very good, nice offer
from Netflix, but UFC had other plans for me. I was talking
to Nakisa [Bidarian]. I get along very well with Nakisa and
nothing but love for him for even thinking of me and calling me up,
but it just didn’t work out.
“I had the first offer before they gave it to Nate [Diaz]. It
was me, and I desperately wanted to take the fight, but the UFC has
a good, good plan for me, and they told me the plan. I like it, and
we’re going to see it through now.”
It’s Nice to Have Options
Masvidal retired following his fourth straight UFC defeat, a loss
to Gilbert
Burns in April 2023. However, “Gamebred” returned to combat
sports in July 2024, dropping a unanimous decision to Diaz in a
boxing match. Masvidal has teased a return to the UFC on multiple
occasions in recent years, but nothing concrete has come to
fruition. That appears to have changed following a recent
discussion with UFC executive Hunter Campbell. Masvidal hinted that
he has a few options in front of him.
“I had a good, long talk with Hunter, and there’s a nice little
deal for me there, so I’m going to take it,” Masvidal said. “We
don’t know who I’m fighting yet, but we have like three good
candidates there, 170 [pounds], so shout out to Hunter, shout out
to Dana. Thanks for always taking care of your boy. It’s going to
be a fun one, and I’m not just coming back for one. I definitely
want to do a couple of fights.”
Now 41 years old, Masvidal was a favorite among hardcore MMA fans
before a breakout 2019 campaign brought him to a new level of
stardom. That year, he finished Darren Till,
Ben
Askren and Diaz inside the distance. The victory over Askren,
in particular, was a star-making effort, as Masvidal set a UFC
record for fastest finish with a five-second, flying knee KO of the
former Bellator champion. His triumph over Diaz, meanwhile, earned
him the inaugural BMF title — a belt that remain a popular piece of
hardware among fighters in the promotion to this day.