2026 has not exactly been kind to a certain UFC legend in Conor McGregor, who finally made his Octagon return after five years away. Unfortunately for the Irishman, the comeback lasted just 69 seconds after he reportedly tore his ACL and meniscus in his right knee against Max Holloway.
The former two-division champion is now staring at another year-long layoff. And with McGregor sidelined once again, the buzz around another legend, Jorge Masvidal, ending his own inactivity is getting louder.
For the unversed, “Gamebred” retired after losing his fourth straight fight to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 in April 2023. However, Masvidal has remained open to a UFC comeback and has been in talks with the promotion for some time. Now, it appears those talks could finally be going somewhere.
In an interview with MMA Junkie, Masvidal revealed that a return could happen sooner rather than later. He said, “I’ve been talking to the UFC. Could be this year, could be early next year. We’ve been talking for a little bit, and the numbers are getting closer and closer and better and better. So there might be some big news coming soon.”
He added, “Nothing worth mentioning yet, waiting for the right names and stuff. Once they give me the right name and the right number attached to that, you’ll see your boy right back over here at the T-Mobile Arena.”
And it seems one particular name is already on Masvidal’s mind. The inaugural BMF champion teased a potential rubber match with Leon Edwards, saying, “Leon (Edwards) is definitely somebody that I would like to get back in (with) and just close that chapter out.”
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For the unversed, it was back in 2019 when Masvidal famously sucker-punched Edwards backstage at the O2 Arena. “Gamebred” was fresh off his main-event knockout win over Darren Till, while “Rocky” had just edged Gunnar Nelson via split decision in the co-main event.
Edwards had repeatedly approached Masvidal and tried to goad him into a confrontation. The final attempt ended with Masvidal throwing hands, leaving fans with one of the most memorable backstage moments in UFC history.
Masvidal then gave ESPN an all-time quote when explaining what happened, “So I give him the three-piece with a soda. And then just glide out of there.” That moment helped put Masvidal on another level. The knockout win over Till, followed by the infamous Edwards altercation and his eventual BMF title run, turned “Gamebred” into one of the UFC’s biggest stars.
Now, seven years later, Masvidal is suggesting that he could finally settle things with Edwards inside the Octagon. Of course, Masvidal has been talking about a UFC return for years. “Gamebred” asked for and received a conditional release from the promotion in 2023, allowing him to pursue a handful of boxing opportunities. He eventually faced Nate Diaz in Anaheim, losing by controversial majority decision.
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The former 2-time title challenger revealed in March that the UFC prevented him from competing on the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card on Netflix this past May because he remains under contract. A UFC return, however, would be a completely different story.
At 41, Masvidal would be stepping back into the Octagon against an active and dangerous striker in Edwards. That is a tough ask for anyone, especially someone who has not fought MMA since 2023.
There is at least one factor that could make the matchup more appealing. Edwards is also coming off a rough stretch, having lost three straight fights to Belal Muhammad, Sean Brady and, most recently, Carlos Prates at UFC 322.
So while Masvidal vs. Edwards may have sounded like a wild idea a few years ago, the stars could finally be aligning for “Gamebred” to close the chapter he started back in London.
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Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
