Michael Chandler issues four-word response to Jorge Masvidal UFC return as MMA fans demand showdown
Michael Chandler has hinted at wanting to fight Jorge Masvidal after news of the expected return of the UFC legend.
Masvidal announced on Monday that he would make a return to the UFC in ‘April next year’.
The 40-year-old Miami native has not fought in MMA’s premier promotion since losing to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 in April 2023.
He subsequently retired from the UFC and went on to fight fellow cult hero Nate Diaz in a professional boxing fight in July but lost via majority decision.
Chandler returned to MMA for UFC 309 in November after a two-year hiatus but suffered a defeat to Charles Oliveira in what turned out to be a brutal five-round affair.
He was scheduled to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 303 in June, and finally moved on from the much anticipated showdown, with the Irishman unable to put a stamp on his return to the octagon.
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“Where you at Jorge?” Chandler on social media platform X on Tuesday in a question and answer session with his fans.
The 38-year-old was referring to fellow MMA icon Masvidal who will contest his 28th UFC bout, should he actually make the return.
UFC President Dana White is yet to make an announcement on Masvidal’s return.
But he has previously urged MMA’s longest-serving stars including Donald Cerrone and Tony Ferguson to retire, despite both men wanting to continue.
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Masvidal revealed his intentions to return to the octagon on the latest episode of Jake Shield’s podcast.
"I'll be back in April next year in the UFC, we don't have the opponent yet, hopefully by December we've got the opponent and April, Miami card," he said.
MMA fans were quick to react to the potential legendary showdown between Chandler and Masvidal.
One said: “I’d love to see this. I’m a huge fan of the both of you and stylistically you both complement each other so it would definitely be a great entertaining show.”
While another added: “I like this.”
And a third said: “Now this is the best bang for any buck!”
‘Iron’ Chandler went unbeaten in the UFC who he signed for after becoming a three-time Bellator MMA lightweight champion.
His first UFC defeat came at the hands of Oliveira at UFC 262, but he would go on to defeat MMA legend Tony Ferguson in May 2022.
Chandler was then submitted by Dustin Poirier six months later, before suffering his ninth pro MMA defeat to Oliveira at UFC 309.
Before his defeat to Burns, Masvidal lost to polarising welterweight contender Colby Covington in an emotionally-charged 2022 bout.
Even after sharing the octagon for 25 minutes, their bad blood was evidently not settled as Masvidal proceeded to attack Covington outside a Miami steakhouse weeks after the bout.
The former was arrested by police and charged with aggravated battery/great bodily harm and criminal mischief.
Masvidal’s legal battle ended in November 2023 when he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour battery charge as part of a plea deal to have two further charges dropped.
The 40-year-old was also beaten twice by former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in July 2020 and April 2021.
He does, however, have victories over the UFC’s biggest names, including Darren Till, Cerrone and Diaz.
Usman and Masvidal were involved in numerous heated exchanges in the buildup to their first bout, but Masvidal insisted at the time he was not going to “disappear from the sport” without a title.
Their first battle for the welterweight belt remains one of the best-selling UFC pay-per-views of all time as Masvidal stepped up on short notice to replace Brazil’s Burns in the main event of UFC 251.
A monumental 1.3 million fight fans tuned in to watch the clash due to the lack of sport taking place during the Covid pandemic, but the bout proved to be a five-round snorefest.
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The rematch provided a significantly more definitive ending as Usman knocked out Masvidal with a thunderous punch in the second round, marking the first time ‘Gamebred’ had been finished in the UFC.
Masvidal remains the owner of UFC’s fastest knockout since ending Ben Askren, who went on to fight Jake Paul, in just five seconds at UFC 239.