{"id":558451,"date":"2026-03-24T22:58:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T22:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/558451\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T22:58:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T22:58:11","slug":"jorge-masvidal-reveals-exciting-26-ufc-return-looming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/558451\/","title":{"rendered":"Jorge Masvidal Reveals Exciting ’26 UFC Return Looming!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jorge Masvidal<\/a> (35-17 MMA, 12-10 UFC) last fought under the UFC promotional banner almost three years ago for a fight inside Kaseya Center in Miami against Gilbert Burns (22-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) during UFC 287\u2019s co-main attraction. The contest resulted in Masvidal coming out on the losing end of a unanimous decision after 15 minutes of action.<\/p>\n

In the aftermath of the bout, he was interviewed by UFC analyst and stand-up comedian Joe Rogan, where he announced his retirement from active competition<\/a> in MMA.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love everybody here, thank you, everybody for watching,\u201d Jorge Masvidal began. \u201cThis is where I started my career. It\u2019s been a long 20 years, 50-some fights, you know, sometimes your favorite basketball player ain\u2019t got that 3-pointer no more, your favorite quarterback loses that rifle. I don\u2019t feel the same when I get in here no more. It\u2019s been 20 long years. I love all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jorge Masvidal Takes to Podcast to Suggest Potential Comeback<\/p>\n

In the last few weeks, the MMA world has been abuzz with talk of the May 16 card from Jake Paul\u2019s Most Valuable Promotions. The event from Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA is headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano<\/a> in a five-round bout at women\u2019s featherweight.<\/p>\n

Jorge Masvidal was one of the names that MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian had hoped to have on the event in May. In the latest episode of Masvidal\u2019s eponymous\u00a0Death Row MMA\u00a0podcast, he discussed that he was given the chance to make his MMA comeback with MVP.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I got offered to fight on this card,\u201d he said. \u201cI had a very good, nice offer from Netflix, but [the] UFC had other plans for me. They said \u2018No, we\u2019re going to use you\u2019 and we\u2019re going to break the news here first on this podcast, where they want me to fight and when they want me to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

No Hard Feelings Between Jorge Masvidal and Nikisa Bidarian<\/p>\n

Unlike some business deals that go awry, there\u2019s no animosity between \u201cGamebred\u201d and Nikisa Bidarian after the UFC reentered the picture for a Masvidal comeback. He also said that his name was being considered for the May 16 show ahead of Nate Diaz.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI was talking to Nikisa, I get along very well with Nikisa,\u201d he mentioned. \u201cNothing but love for him for even thinking of me and calling me up and stuff, but it just didn\u2019t work out. I had the first offer [for the Netflix show] before they gave it to Nate. It was me and I desperately wanted to take the fight, but UFC has a good, good plan for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jorge Masvidal Kept Busy in Combat Sports During MMA Retirement<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s been close to three years\u2019 time since he last set foot inside the fabled Octagon, Jorge Masvidal\u2019s combat sports career didn\u2019t stop after he left the UFC. Over the July 4 holiday weekend in 2024, he squared off inside the squared circle of boxing for a rematch with Diaz.<\/p>\n

That night, in the main event of Fanmio Presents Last Man Standing,<\/a> Diaz came away the victor after 10 rounds via majority decision. The card was co-promoted by Diaz\u2019s Real Fight Inc. and Jorge Masvidal\u2019s Gamebred Boxing.<\/p>\n

After that boxing match, Masvidal was set to compete in a grappling bout against Shara Magomedov in Hype FC on March 11. The contest was postponed, however, and Magomedov fought to a draw against Edson Barboza after 10 minutes.<\/p>\n

No Opponent Revealed for Jorge Masvidal\u2019s MMA Comeback Just Yet<\/p>\n

Jorge Masvidal\u2019s return to the UFC began with a message sent by Hunter Campbell, the promotion\u2019s Chief Business Officer containing the words \u201cWelcome back home.\u201d He and Campbell conversed about the possibilities that await him for his comeback.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know who I\u2019m fighting yet,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have three good candidates there.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Masvidal wouldn\u2019t have been at liberty to say a specific name during the podcast, he did mention that a welterweight fight is in the offing.<\/p>\n

\u201cShout out to Hunter, shout out to [UFC CEO] Dana [White],\u201d he mentioned. \u201cThank you, guys, always, for taking care of your boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts<\/p>\n

While a fight involving Jorge Masvidal would have been amazing to see on the May 16 MVP show on the West Coast, a UFC return is probably the better option for the fans. If thought about, the MVP event in May is loaded with star power as it is.<\/p>\n

That card features three five-round fights at the top of the bill, with Rousey vs. Carano headlining, preceded by Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins and Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry. Promotions shouldn\u2019t have too many high-profile contests in the same evening.<\/p>\n

Given that Masvidal is set to make his return in the promotion he called home for a number of years, he\u2019s been dealt the best hand possible. It gives him the chance to have a high-profile bout in friendly confines.<\/p>\n

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