Jorge Masvidal vs. Conor McGregor a “possibility” for UFC Fight Island event

When UFC president, Dana White revealed earlier in the week that the promotion had strayed away from booking a welterweight title clash between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal this summer – speculation was rife in regards to, who or what this “something else” could be for ‘Gamebred’.

As ever – rumblings began to circulate about a possible BMF championship clash between ‘once-off’ title victor, Masvidal, and former two-weight world champion, Conor McGregor. Before his successful return from a fifteen-month hiatus in January this year – ‘The Notorious’ one outlined how he has plans to compete three times this year, or as he referred to it, his “season“. After his forty-second knockout of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, McGregor made plans clear to pursue the victor of UFC 244’s BMF title match between Masvidal, and former two-time foe, Nate Diaz. Subsequently, Florida’s Masvidal reigns supreme.

According to UFC president, Dana White – a pairing between American Top Team staple, Masvidal, and SBG Ireland mainstay, McGregor is a “possibility“. Speaking with former UFC featherweight prospect, Dennis ‘The Menace’ Bermudez, on Menace and The Man, White explained how a meeting between Masvidal and McGregor was a possible next step – also revealing a matchup with the aforementioned Usman also made sense.

“The (Kamaru) Usman fight is the fight that makes sense,” White revealed. “It’s the fight that needs to happen if (Jorge) Masvidal wants a title shot. But, yeah, there’s another interesting fight out there for him (Jorge Masvidal) right now. Very good point. That’s a possibility too.” White said when asked about a pairing of Masvidal and McGregor.

The reasoning that surrounds a clash of the two – can be directly linked to the fiasco that is the second instalment of UFC 249 this Saturday. It’s original headliner – Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson has fallen to the wayside for a fifth separate time, after Khabib was left stranded in his native Dagestan due to travel restrictions imposed, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In Khabib’s place, steps fellow Dominance MMA stablemate, Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje, who now meets Ferguson with interim spoils up for grabs. In late February, it was reported that a pairing of McGregor and Gaethje was expected to headline a UFC event this summer. However, with Gaethje’s decision to replace Khabib on short-notice – the kibosh is firmly placed on that clash – especially if the Arizonian emerges victorious.

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Ross Markey

Senior writer for FightBook MMA. An aspiring mixed martial arts reporter based in Ireland. Producer of news articles, interviews, opinion features, and exclusive features such as, ‘The Fallout’, ‘The Breakdown, and, ‘This Week In MMA’.