Conor McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal at UFC White House? Chances 'not looking bad right now,' says Masvidal
Jorge Masvidal is optimistic about his chances of making a high-profile MMA comeback in 2026.
Jorge Masvidal has made no secret about his ideal MMA comeback — he wants to return this summer at the UFC's much-discussed White House event. But could that comeback actually come in a missed matchup from years past against Conor McGregor, as recent rumors have suggested?
The inaugural UFC BMF champion addressed those rumblings Monday on the "The Ariel Helwani Show."
"It's not looking bad right now," Masvidal told Uncrowned on the prospect of fighting McGregor at the White House. "I can't say too much more, but it's not looking bad right now. They're talking, dialogue has been open, there's communication there, and we'll keep that communication going.
“I’m going to beat the f***ing dog s*** out of him. Straight-up, stand-up style. None of that grappling. I’m just going to get in your face, knee your ribs, elbow your f***ing face."
Masvidal, 41, retired from MMA after a loss to Gilbert Burns in April 2023, but returned to competition for a boxing match against Nate Diaz in July 2024. Still under contract with the UFC, "Gamebred" reiterated on Monday that he and his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, are in negotiations with the promotion and expressed repeated optimism for a potential McGregor fight, though he declined to share many details.
A collision with McGregor would channel the days of Masvidal's BMF heights, when he captured the ceremonial title against Diaz in 2019. Around that time, a bout between Masivdal and McGregor was generally considered a layup of a spectacle fight for the UFC, yet it never came to fruition, with UFC CEO Dana White insisting the welterweight Masvidal was too large for the former featherweight and lightweight champion.
Ultimately, Masvidal doesn't care if McGregor is the one welcoming him back to the Octagon. He just hopes whatever fight he does return to goes down on the lawn of the nation's capital in June.
"The White House card is, for me, everything," Masvidal said. "I want to be on this card very bad and there's more speculation going. We're talking to UFC. Ali is talking to Dana, Ali is talking to [UFC CBO] Hunter [Campbell].
"I pray to God I get on this card, because this is the White House."
McGregor has been absent from competition even longer than Masvidal. The Irishman last fought in July 2021, suffering a second consecutive defeat to Dustin Poirier when he broke his leg in the opening round.
McGregor, 37, has teased numerous comebacks over the past five years. None, however, have gotten as close to happening as his scheduled clash against Michael Chandler. After filming "The Ultimate Fighter 31" in early 2023, the duo were finally booked to meet at UFC 303 in June 2024, but a broken pinky toe led to McGregor's withdrawal weeks out from fight night and the bout hasn't been rebooked since.
Chandler has continued to hold onto hope for the matchup, however White recently stated that UFC has moved on. So Masvidal won't feel bad about potentially getting the opportunity over Chandler.
"I don't feel bad for nobody in the sport," Masvidal said. "I was actually with Michael Chandler like two or three days ago. I love the dude. He's f***ing hilarious. Very good energy. He's very focused, very driven in what he's going to get done and accomplish.
"I've got nothing but respect for Chandler, but when it comes to this fighting s***, I don't feel bad for nobody, really. If it would have been roles reversed, it wouldn't be nothing against Chandler. He wouldn't feel bad for me, and I wouldn't feel any type of way for him, because it's out of our hands, these decisions. It's not like I stole the fight from anybody.
"It just might be a chance for me to make some extra income."
Should Masvidal vs. McGregor happen, each man will attempt to snap multi-fight losing streaks and earn their first win in at least six years.
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