Chael Sonnen thinks Jorge Masvidal is making a desperate attempt by calling out Leon Edwards.
Masvidal (35-17 MMA, 12-10 UFC), who’s still under contract with the UFC, is plotting an octagon return. He retired after losing a unanimous decision to Gilbert Burns in April 2023 – his fourth loss in a row – but has now changed his tune. Not only is “Gamebred” looking to fight again in the UFC, he wants to settle his grudge match with Edwards (22-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC), which never came to fruition. Sonnen is doubtful that happens.
“Masvidal has looked very thirsty as of late, and this is always a tough spot,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “You’re fighting for money, the same reason you will get up and go to work. It’s for the money, but there’s something about it where you have to pretend that it’s not about the money. There’s some sort of act in there. ‘This is who I am. This is what I do.’ That part is just needed and if you get away from that act, or you don’t sell it well enough, then you go into a category called ‘looking thirsty.’ If he’s calling out guys like Leon, that guy is a badass, and that is what Jorge Masvidal is. And now that fight wouldn’t make a lot of sense.
“That fight isn’t taking you anywhere. It’s not taking you to a title fight. It’s not a title fight. For those reasons, the fight makes more sense. That’s the whole reason we couldn’t do it before. One was champion, but the other wasn’t a top contender. Or before, one was a huge star and the other just wasn’t there yet. All of the things that got in the way once upon a time, now here we are. I don’t predict that they’re going to make that fight. In fact, quite the opposite. I don’t predict for you anybody at the age of 40 is going to get signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, including if it’s a re-signing.”
Masvidal boxed Nate Diaz in July, losing the bout by majority decision. Meanwhile, after going unbeaten in 13-straight fights, Edwards lost his welterweight title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304.
