Outside Source
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.
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“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.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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