CLEVELAND – Jorge Masvidal is looking to get back in the octagon, and the wheels are in motion to make that happen.
Nothing firm has been set for the two-time UFC title challenger and “BMF” champion, but Masvidal’s manager, Malki Kawa of First Round Management, says a meeting with UFC brass is targeted for the coming weeks, at which point he hopes something will be finalized.
Masvidal (35-15 MMA, 12-8 UFC) hasn’t seen action since a second-round knockout loss to Kamaru Usman in their welterweight title bout at UFC 261 in April. He took a substantial amount of head trauma with the fight-ending punch, but Kawa said Masvidal is ready to return to action, and he hopes to have a productive discussion with Dana White, Hunter Campbell and the UFC’s matchmakers.
“We’re just trying to see what the next steps are,” Kawa told MMA Junkie. “There’s so many options there. We just got to get out to Vegas and meet with the UFC, and we are planning on doing that after (Paul vs. Woodley fight week). Hopefully in the next two weeks we can get out there and see what’s going on with him.”
Since the moment he lost his rematch with Usman, Masvidal has kept consistent with the same message when it comes to his future. “Gamebred” said he wants whichever fight will put him on the fastest track to another championship opportunity.
A grudge match with Leon Edwards has been a popular suggestion for Masvidal, as has a rematch with Nate Diaz, or potential bouts with top-ranked contenders Gilbert Burns or Vicente Luque.
Kawa didn’t hone in on one particular name for his client, but he knows Masvidal’s goal is to challenge for gold once more, so it’s his job to find him the fight that will put him on the desired path.
“We’re looking for the fight that makes the most sense to get his way back to a title,” Kawa said. “All this, ‘Oh he ducked this guy and ducked that guy.’ Masvidal’s not ducking anyone.”