Jorge Masvidal Says He’ll Make UFC Return on April Card in Miami

👀🔥Jorge Masvidal announces his UFC return in April in Miami and hopes to know who his opponent will soon:

“Hopefully by December we got the opponent and April, Miami card”

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— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) December 2, 2024

Jorge Masvidal has his sights set on making a Ultimate Fighting Championship return in his hometown.

“I’ll be back April next year in the UFC,” Masvidal recently said on the Fight Back podcast. “We don’t have the opponent yet. Hopefully by December we’ve got the opponent. April, Miami card.”

The 40-year-old Masvidal hasn’t competed in MMA since April 2023, when he dropped a unanimous verdict to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287, which also took place in Miami. “Gamebred” announced his retirement after the defeat, a decision which was which was endorsed by UFC CEO Dana White. However, Masvidal returned to combat sports this past July, losing a majority decision to former Octagon rival Nate Diaz in a boxing match.

Masvidal has also been active with his Gamebred Promotions, which recently held a bareknuckle MMA event in Mississippi on Nov. 15.

Long a favorite among hardcore fans, Masvidal gained mainstream appeal with a breakout 2019 campaign that saw him defeat Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate 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. Masvidal has since lost four straight UFC appearances since July 2020 — two in title bouts against then welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

Earlier this year, Masvidal revealed to ESPN that he had contacted the UFC regarding a potential return. “Gamebred” is already under contract with the Las Vegas-based promotion and would not require a new deal. While he has expressed interest in squaring off against Leon Edwards, that seems unlikely since the Brit indicated that he will be competing at the UFC’s upcoming card in London. The promotion has not formally announced an event for Miami in 2025.