Did Jorge Masvidal just get the ol’ bait and switch from UFC? ‘We have no fights for him right now’

JACKSONVILLE, FL - APRIL 25: Jorge Masvidal of the United States prepares to fight Kamaru Usman of Nigera during the Welterweight Title bout of UFC 261 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on April 25, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jorge Masvidal won’t be returning to the UFC Octagon any time soon. That’s according to Dana White, who was asked about a “Gamebred” return after UFC 327.

“We have no fights for him right now,” the UFC CEO said at the post-fight press conference. “We have nothing done with him. He’s talking to us.”

That’s a surprise, considering Masvidal recently said he passed up a fight on Most Valuable Promotions’ May 16th Rousey vs. Carano card because the UFC had fights for him. On the new UFC video podcast Deep Waters, Masvidal discussed the current situation.

“We’re definitely talking,” Masvidal said. “We’ve been talking for a minute, you know. We just haven’t landed on that thing. You guys know how the UFC is. I love them to death But man, they make you work for every single thing. And it’s always like it’s not quite what you want it to be a lot of times. So we’re working. We’re going to get something done.”

Like a growing number of names in the sport, Jorge Masvidal exists in that space where he cost too much money for UFC to book. Jorge was one of the UFC’s biggest names during the Pandemic Era that introduced MMA to an entire new generation of fans. Despite his losses, “Gamebred” is like a Diaz brother in that a lot of fans don’t care about his record. They just want to see him fight.

Masvidal has a limited permission arrangement that allows him to box while still technically being under contract with the UFC. That seemed like a pretty sweet deal until Jorge boxed Nate Diaz and got screwed out of millions in purse money by promoter Fanmio. Now the Miami star wants back in the UFC, but the UFC does not seem interested in paying him properly or booking him right.

There were rumors that perhaps Masvidal would fight Conor McGregor at UFC 329 on July 11th, but those fizzled, just as hopes are now fizzling that UFC can reach a deal with McGregor. Now White is giving the same non-committal ‘we have nothing done’ answers for Masvidal as he’s given for McGregor over the years. Did they just string Jorge along with a pair of red panties to keep him off the MVP card?

Whatever is going to happen with Masvidal now, it looks like it won’t happen fast.

“I think the more time they give me to prepare the better,” a 200+ pound Masvidal said. “So a good four months, five months from here would be perfect. I will take a fight at welterweight if it’s the right names that I’m asking. There’s a name or two I’m asking, and if it’s those guys I just get back on that running diet s–t. If they give me the Leon [Edwards] fight, I’ll get to 170 by tomorrow. No kidding. Quick. I would like that fight.”

That fight’s a no-brainer to book, especially given how anemic the UFC’s UK offerings have been lately. But with UFC standing for ‘U Fight Cheap,’ we have our doubts that Jorge ever makes it back into the Octagon.