The long-awaited return of Conor McGregor to the UFC Octagon appears to hinge on a fresh set of negotiations. The former two-division champion, who has not fought since shattering his leg in July 2021, publicly claimed his current contract was void due to the promotion's seismic shift away from the traditional pay-per-view model to a new streaming partnership with Paramount+.
Additionally, with Dana White recently dismissing the long-planned McGregor vs. Michael Chandler bout, the door is wide open for a new, lucrative opponent. Now, Jorge Masvidal has thrown his name into the mix, sharing news about a potential super-fight.
In addition, Masvidal has been inactive in competing since retiring after his loss to Gilbert Burns in 2023, save for a boxing match against Nate Diaz back in 2024. He also previously called out Leon Edwards for his comeback fight, though that bout never materialized.
Masvidal’s inactivity, however, may not be as important to the UFC as one might think. Even UFC commentator and former world champion Michael Bisping believes that this fight booking may be Dana White and the UFC brass's decision for the White House.
On his YouTube channel, Bisping posted a video saying, “It looks like we might be getting Conor McGregor vs. the one and only, Jorge 'Gamebred' Masvidal, at the White House potentially.”
Watch his full reaction here:
"Conor McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal makes all the sense in the world because for McGregor coming back, he's the big star,” he explained. “They want him to win, simple as that. They do. The sport of mixed martial arts is a better place with stars like Conor McGregor involved.”
Masvidal himself admitted that nothing is signed, but hinted that if he does get booked against McGregor, he will not hold anything back once those cage doors lock.
“I’m gonna beat the f— dog sh— out of him... Straight-up, stand-up style,” he told Helwani. “None of that wrestling, none of that grappling. I’m just gonna get in your face, knee your ribs, elbow your f*cking face. It’s gonna be a fight, man.”