Jorge Masvidal, after retiring from MMA and briefly venturing into boxing, is planning a UFC return with potential fights targeted for late 2024 or early 2025.
Jorge Masvidal is coming home again.
Following his retirement from MMA in 2023 and a recent boxing match against Nate Diaz, the first-ever “BMF” champion is ready to resume his UFC career. Talks are already ongoing for his next fight, targeting a potential return in late 2024 or early 2025.
“I’ve been talking to my boy Hunter [Campbell],” Masvidal told MMA Fighting. “Finding out, he’s like, ‘Let me check this date, see if this dude wants the heat, let me see if that guy wants to get beat up.’ First, we’ll lock in the date. Lock in that date and then we’ll find the body.”
With more than 50 professional fights on his résumé and a career spanning over 20 years, Masvidal needed a break after his loss to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287. Despite retiring, he didn’t step away entirely. He launched his own promotion, hosting events in both boxing and bare-knuckle MMA.
Masvidal eventually decided to test himself in boxing, a long-held desire even during his UFC career. The opportunity arose to face Diaz in a rematch after Masvidal beat him for the “BMF” title back in 2019.
Despite out-landing Diaz during their 10-round battle and connecting with several hard shots, Masvidal lost by majority decision. That night, he blamed hometown cooking for his loss, pointing to the fight taking place in Diaz’s backyard in California.
His resolve only strengthened after watching the fight at home.
“How do you rob somebody so blatantly?” Masvidal said. “But I knew that going in. Originally when we were negotiating, my team was going to get a judge from California, a judge from Vegas, and a judge from Florida. It seems fair. And [Diaz’s team] weren’t having it.”
“They’re like, ‘No, we’re not interested in that. Three Californians, all the judges [have to be] from California or there will be no fight.’ I’m thinking, ‘I’m going to knock this guy out again anyway.’ But unfortunately, it didn’t go my way.”
As much as it stung to lose controversially, the fight served a greater purpose. It reignited Masvidal’s passion for the sport where he first made his name.
“I ain’t slowing down. I’m training every day,” Masvidal said. “Especially after what that last robbery did to me. It left a bad taste in my mouth.”
“It was on nobody else’s scorecards anywhere else in the world. Some rounds I threw more, landed more, hit him more, rocked him, and they still gave him the round. It’s bad.”
Masvidal isn’t entirely opposed to another boxing match if the right opportunity arises but is focused on returning to the UFC for now.
He reacted to news that Diaz filed a lawsuit against Fanmio — the company that promoted their fight on pay-per-view — over $9 million allegedly owed from the fight.
Masvidal couldn’t confirm if he was paid his full purse but hinted he would address it eventually.
“I’ve got to plead the fifth,” Masvidal said. “I can’t really tell you yes or no. Someone is telling me to plead the fifth right now and I’ve kind of got to listen to them.”
“As far as my UFC return goes, I’m not wasting any time.” Training six days a week with coaches and teammates at American Top Team in Florida is getting him back into fighting shape.
While the date and location are crucial right now, Masvidal has ideas for potential opponents — maybe even stealing a fight from longtime rival Conor McGregor.
“It could be this year,” Masvidal said of his next fight. “It could be Vegas, Dec. 7. I’ll f*cking drop Michael Chandler dead on his ass.”
“Maybe next year during Super Bowl weekend? Knock somebody else on their ass? I don’t know yet.”
“I’m going to review all my options.” He added with a smirk: “See what the money looks like too. I love fighting; most don’t need to know that—they might try to drop the price on me.”