Oct 30, 2026 · 55 min
Masvidal maps a comeback while challenging MMA’s economics
Jorge Masvidal On Reuniting With Ben Askren, GOES IN On Chael Sonnen & Reveals 2027 Comeback Plans
Jorge Masvidal connects a possible 2027 return to fighter pay, officiating, matchmaking, and the business he is building outside competition.
- 1Masvidal says Ben Askren’s recovery reignited his interest in a major 2027 UFC or Zuffa Boxing comeback.
- 2He argues MMA’s pay structure and stalled pay-per-view negotiations expose the financial pressures facing elite fighters.
- 3He revisits the Leon Edwards rivalry, referee controversies, and Gamebred Fighting Championship’s bare-knuckle expansion.
Don't miss
Masvidal explains how reconnecting with Ben Askren after Askren’s double-lung transplant reignited his own desire to compete.
The brief
Jorge Masvidal traces his combat-sports identity to Miami’s backyard-fighting culture and Kimbo Slice’s influence, then explains how years of limited recognition tested his perseverance and faith.
A reunion with Ben Askren after Askren’s double-lung transplant becomes the emotional hinge: Askren’s recovery convinces Masvidal that competing again may still be possible.
Masvidal says a 2027 return must be a major event, while his criticism of UFC pay and pay-per-view negotiations frames comeback ambition against the economics of MMA.
He revisits the Darren Till fight, the Leon Edwards confrontation, controversial officiating, and the matchmaking questions surrounding the BMF belt and lightweight division.
Outside the cage, Masvidal discusses media work and Gamebred Fighting Championship, presenting promotion-building as a second route for shaping the sport’s future.
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