TLDR
- Jorge Masvidal revealed he is training for a major fight and expects confirmation within 10 days
- When asked about fighting Conor McGregor at the White House, Masvidal refused to confirm or deny the rumors
- The UFC is planning a special event at the White House on June 14, Flag Day
- UFC CEO Dana White recently said McGregor will not fight Michael Chandler, opening the door for other opponents
- Masvidal has not fought in the UFC since 2023 and says he would only return for the White House event
Sources: Heavy | Times of India | Fox Sports | BJPenn.com
Jorge Masvidal is fueling rumors about a potential fight with Conor McGregor at the UFC’s upcoming White House event. During a recent appearance on MMA Junkie Radio, the former welterweight contender said he has major fight news coming soon but refused to confirm or deny whether McGregor is his opponent.
“Some of it is like level-five only access, so I can’t really say too much, but I am training for something big,” Masvidal said. “You never know. Give ’em what they want, not what they expect. I can say it’s some big news. I have some fight news coming soon, and it’s very big news.”
When pressed specifically about whether McGregor would be his opponent, Masvidal remained cryptic. “I can’t deny or confirm any of that right now, but maybe hopefully soon, I can,” he said. “Like maybe 10 days, something like that, I should have more confirmation on it.”
The timing of Masvidal’s comments is difficult to ignore. UFC CEO Dana White recently told Complex that Conor McGregor will not fight Michael Chandler, despite years of buildup for that matchup. White said that fight was “a couple of years ago” and the moment had passed.
McGregor responded to White’s comments by posting on social media that he is ready to fight whoever the UFC wants. The former two-division champion has not competed since July 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
Jorge Masvidal addresses rumors of a potential fight against Conor McGregor at the rumored UFC White House card. https://t.co/XEmLnxq3O5
— calfkicker (@calfkickercom) January 18, 2026
Why the White House Matters to Masvidal
Masvidal explained that competing at the White House would be personally meaningful to him. He has appeared on the campaign trail for President Donald Trump and considers himself close to the administration.
“I get it if people don’t want to fight for the elitists or however they distribute the tickets, but I just want to fight at the White House,” Masvidal said. “I’m a Latin [person] from immigrant parents on both sides, putting my crafts and skills on display, at the highest level on the White House lawn. Who’s ever done that?”
He added that representing the Latin community at such a historic event would be an honor. Masvidal also stated that the White House card is the only fight that would bring him back to competition.
The UFC is planning a special event at the White House on June 14, which is Flag Day. UFC CEO Dana White has acknowledged the challenges of planning such an event but has not ruled it out.
Masvidal’s Path Back to the UFC
Masvidal last fought in the UFC at UFC 287 in April 2023, losing a unanimous decision to Gilbert Burns. He announced his retirement after that loss but left the door open for a potential return. Since then, he competed once in a boxing match against Nate Diaz in July 2024, which he also lost.
The 41-year-old former “BMF” champion would need to be re-signed by the UFC to compete at the White House event. He last won a UFC fight in November 2019, when he knocked out Darren Till.
A fight between Masvidal and McGregor would take place at welterweight, which could give Masvidal a size advantage. The two fighters have gone back and forth in the past, with Masvidal previously saying McGregor was too small for him.
Michael Bisping, a former UFC champion and current analyst, suggested on Fox Sports that Masvidal versus McGregor could be a compelling matchup for what figures to be one of the biggest cards in MMA history. Multiple high-profile fighters have expressed interest in competing on the White House card.
Masvidal said he expects to have confirmation on his next fight within approximately 10 days. He emphasized that he is currently training and preparing for what he described as “something big.”
