MMA star Jorge Masvidal eyes boxing match ‘early next year’

Jorge Masvidal says he will return to fighting relatively soon.

The former UFC BMF champion and one of MMA’s biggest stars of recent years told ESPN he will fight in a boxing match “early next year.” No opponent has yet been designated.

“No names yet, but I can tell you it’s early next year and someone is going to be killed,” Masvidal said in an interview Thursday.

Masvidal retired from the UFC in April after falling to Gilbert Burns at UFC 287 in Masvidal’s hometown of Miami. Since then, he has focused on running three combat sports organizations that he promotes, including Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA. This promotion’s next event will take place on November 10, a heavyweight title main event between two UFC veterans – Roy Nelson and Alan Belcher.

The UFC still has Masvidal under contract, so it’s unclear what the deal would be regarding him competing in boxing.

Masvidal, 38, took umbrage with this month’s boxing event that featured Logan Paul vs. Dillon Danis and KSI vs. Tommy Fury. Masvidal said the spectacle was a “disrespect to boxing”.

“Logan didn’t hit [Danis] dead,” Masvidal said. “I really wanted Logan to punch him to death. So I’m a little angry with Logan. I hope he gives me my money back, you know? Not that I paid for it, but still.”

If and when he steps into the ring, Masvidal would be the latest former UFC star to transition to boxing, a list that includes Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, Jose Aldo and Anthony Pettis. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will box lineal heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury on Saturday.