Jorge Masvidal's manager has insisted that the UFC star will once again offer to fight Conor McGregor after the pair's heated Twitter dispute.
Malki Kawa, who manages Masvidal as well as a host of other major UFC stars under the First Round Management banner, has insisted that his side have frequently pushed to make the McGregor fight. But he alluded to it perhaps being the fault of the Irishman, or the UFC that as yet they have been unable to organise such a bout.
McGregor was stopped twice by Dustin Poirier last year, the second of which saw him suffer a broken leg that will keep him out of action until later this year at the earliest. Meanwhile, Masvidal lost his last three against Colby Covington and twice Kamaru Usman.
Despite their five collective losses, the pair are still two of the biggest drawing stars in the promotion. And with McGregor insisting that he is now moving up to welterweight when he returns, it seems like the fight is closer than ever.
Kawa took to Twitter to explain Masvidal's side of the issue, telling fans: "Everyone texting me about Masvidal vs McGregor, I’ve tried making this fight in the past and will try again. if it doesn’t happen, just know it wasn’t our end who turned it down."
McGregor and Masvidal got into it on Twitter recently, with the Irishman branding his rival a "pigeon brain". Responding to a story where Masvidal proclaimed his innocence amid three felony charges with Colby Covington, McGregor tweeted: "An absolute pigeon brain this guy is. Stupid beyond belief."
Masvidal didn't directly reply to McGregor's tweet, but did tweet a thinly veiled response saying "This pea brain is the biggest fight of your life. So you’re either too scared or too stupid to get this check."
Promotional boss Dana White has indicated that he doesn't want to make the fight, even though McGregor and Masvidal are both lightweights who have moved up to welterweight. White believes that the size difference is too severe, with Masvidal a much more natural 170lb fighter.
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“Hell no,” White said last year when the bout was suggested. “Masvidal is too big for Conor. There’s plenty of fights for [Masvidal] in his weight division without Conor. He’s too big for Conor. [McGregor] doesn’t belong at 170 [pounds]. He’s got the balls to fight at 170, but he doesn’t belong there.”
McGregor is currently recovering from his broken leg and has yet to return to full MMA sparring with contact. He was scheduled to be back last month, but was only able to spar in the boxing ring with pal Cian Cowley.
Meanwhile, Masvidal appears to be in fighting shape, but likely needs to sort out his legal issues outside of the cage after an altercation with former pal Covington on the streets of Miami.
