Yesterday, a former UFC contender Jorge Masvidal sent shockwaves through the division, teasing a potential return to the Octagon after his recent boxing showdown with Nate Diaz. In an interview with MMAFighting SBN, he didn’t hold back, dismissing any hopes of a Conor McGregor comeback, saying the Irish star is nowhere near ready to return. But the real headline? He threw his own name into the mix as a potential opponent for Michael Chandler, who’s been on standby for McGregor for over 18 months. “That wouldn’t be a bad fight against Michael Chandler to get my feet wet again in MMA,” he remarked.

What really turned heads, though, was Chandler’s response. Many assumed Chandler would stick to holding out for his long-promised ‘red panty night’ with McGregor. But instead of rejecting the offer, Chandler surprised everyone by showing interest in a fight with none other than Jorge Masvidal, suggesting he’s ready to move on from the endless wait.

This unexpected twist leaves fans buzzing—will we see Chandler vs. Masvidal before McGregor ever steps back into the Octagon? Only time will tell.

Will Michael Chandler Fight Jorge Masvidal Instead of Conor McGregor?

Michael Chandler recently went live on his Instagram story, revealing his desire to fight Jorge Masvidal. He said, “Good morning, guys. Just woke up to respond to this right here. This thing went pretty crazy yesterday, with everyone talking about this dream matchup that a lot of people are excited about. I love, love the idea!”

Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler have had several scheduled fights, particularly in 2023 after the conclusion of TUF 31. However, McGregor’s issue with USADA intervened, and he later became occupied with other ventures such as Hollywood and business, causing further delays. Although they were nearly set to fight earlier this June, McGregor’s pinky toe injury disrupted those plans. Recently, rumors have emerged that they might be scheduled to face off in January 2025.

Chandler has downplayed these rumors, emphasizing that the UFC is not currently in favour of the fight. He stated, “The problem is, I don’t think the UFC loves it right now. But at some point, Jorge, you will absolutely get your block knocked off. I respect what you’ve done in the sport, but you will absolutely get your block knocked off at some point. Until then, trust me, boys and girls, we’ve got something cooking.”

However, Micahel Chandler is not the only fighter on Jorge Masvidal’s hit list. The BMF title holder, Max Holloway, is also target. Holloway is set to enter the octagon in October to challenge featherweight king Ilia Topuria on UFC’s Abu Dhabi card. Let’s delve into what Masvodal has to say about a poetntial fight against Holloway.

Jorge Masvidal sets his sights on Max Holloway

Last August, Jorge Masvidal decided to hang up his gloves after losing three consecutive matches, including two title fights against Kamaru Usman. Earlier this year, Masvidal shocked the combat sports world by announcing his comeback—not in the octagon, but in a boxing ring against Nate Diaz, which was considered a spiritual rematch of their iconic BMF fight at UFC 244. However, the boxing experience did not go well for Masvidal, who has since called the judges’ decision biased. Now, Masvidal is eager to return to the UFC with a primary goal in mind: reclaiming the BMF title, which was initially held by him and is now held by Max Holloway.

In his recent interview with MMA Fighting, when asked by the host if he wants to fight Max Holloway, Masvidal revealed his desire to face Holloway, stating that he is a big fan of him. He said, “I’m the biggest Max fan. I love this guy. I love how he fights, I love his style, and I love how he carries himself outside of the cage. He’s one of my all-time favorite fighters. So, man, it would be an honor to fight Max.”

What are your thoughts on a fight between Jorge Masvidal and Michael Chandler? Do you think it would be a good way to kickstart Chandler’s career, which has been stuck since 2022? Drop your opinion below.