Jorge Masvidal says his UFC return is trending toward “the right direction,” with Leon Edwards still the storyline to close

Jorge Masvidal insists his UFC return is moving in the right direction, framing the comeback as a chance to finish what he started with Leon Edwards. Masvidal, a former UFC interim welterweight champion, has long described his interest in returning to the sport after stepping away following a run of losses, and in recent comments he placed additional emphasis on how he wants to treat Edwards as a chapter rather than a footnote.

The UFC veteran last fought at UFC 287 in April 2023, where he lost to Gilbert Burns. According to the report, that loss came after Masvidal had dropped four straight fights, which ultimately contributed to his retirement from competition at the time. That context matters because Masvidal is not portraying a short-term dabble back into the sport, but a deliberate effort to re-enter UFC with clear motivation and a specific narrative target.

Masvidal also tied his return plans to the kind of timing that has frustrated him in the past. He revealed earlier in March that the UFC blocked him from competing on the Netflix card featuring Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano this past May, and that the reason was contractual. The mention of that situation underscores a familiar reality in UFC: even when fighters want to be featured, promotional timing and organizational commitments can control what is possible.

In the same conversation, Masvidal’s message was that things have started to line up better for his return. The reporting characterizes his current posture as optimistic, with “trending” toward the right direction, rather than a definitive announcement of opponent or date. In other words, there is intent and movement, but the calendar and the match-making still appear unsettled.

Leon Edwards is the central storyline in Masvidal’s framing. For Edwards, the UFC has leaned into a status that extends beyond a single rivalry, with the welterweight title picture and the sport’s broader marketing orbit shaping who gets treated as the “next” meaningful opponent. For Masvidal, tying his comeback to a desire to close the Edwards chapter suggests he wants the return to be rooted in credibility rather than novelty, a common theme for fighters returning after time away.

It is worth noting what is not provided in the reporting. The story does not confirm an opponent, a specific UFC event, or the exact mechanism of his return beyond the general claim that things are improving. It also does not describe whether there will be a tune-up fight, a contract resolution, or a particular path through rankings. Until the UFC and Masvidal provide more concrete details, this should be understood as a statement of intention rather than a full scheduling announcement.

For UFC fans, the immediate watch item is whether Masvidal’s “right direction” comment turns into formal matchmaking. If the Edwards storyline remains the plan, the UFC’s next major decisions in the welterweight division become more relevant, because Edwards’ future opponents and promotional priorities will likely determine whether Masvidal’s preferred narrative can be accommodated quickly or only after other fights are set. The bigger question is whether Masvidal’s return becomes a spotlight moment tied to Edwards, or whether the organization steers the comeback through a different competitive sequence.