👀🔥Jorge Masvidal announced his return to the UFC in Miami in April and hopes to find out who his opponent will be soon:
“Hopefully I can get my opponent by December and the Miami card for April.”
🎥@jakeshieldsajj
🔹 pic.twitter.com/s7T5qIQQ7a
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight)
December 2, 2024
Jorge Masvidal is looking to bring the Ultimate Fighting Championship back to his hometown.
“I’m coming back to the UFC next April,” Masvidal recently said on the “Fightback” podcast. “I don’t have an opponent yet. Hopefully I’ll have an opponent by December. April, Miami card.”
Masvidal, 40, hasn’t competed in MMA since April 2023, when he defeated Gilbert Burns by unanimous decision at UFC 287, also held in Miami. “Gamebred” announced his retirement after the loss, a decision that was supported by UFC CEO Dana White. However, Masvidal returned to combat sports in July of this year, losing a boxing match to former Octagon rival Nate Diaz by majority decision.
Masvidal also works with his own Gamebred promotion, most recently hosting a bare-knuckle MMA event in Mississippi on November 15th.
Long a favorite among hardcore fans, Masvidal gained mainstream appeal with a breakthrough 2019 campaign that saw him defeat Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz within striking distance. The victory over Askren in particular was a star-making feat as Masvidal set a UFC record for fastest finish by KOing the former Bellator champion with a flying knee in five seconds. Masvidal has lost four straight UFC appearances since July 2020, two of which were title fights against then-welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Earlier this year, Masvidal told ESPN that he had reached out to the UFC about a possible return. Gamebred already has a contract with the Las Vegas-based promotion, so no new deal is needed. He has expressed interest in fighting Leon Edwards, but that seems unlikely as he has indicated his intention to appear on the UFC’s next card in London. The promotion has not officially announced a 2025 event in Miami.
