Masvidal wants to make UFC return vs. 'fragile' Edwards

Former UFC star Jorge Masvidal wants to return to the Octagon against ex-welterweight champion Leon Edwards.

Masvidal told "Submission Radio" that he's interested in rescheduling a grudge match with Edwards and then fighting for the 170-pound title should he win.

"If the UFC wants to make this happen, this is what they do: Give me the Leon fight, and then after that, I fight whoever has that damn belt," Masvidal said. "Let's go. Leon just came off being the champion. Anyone else beats him, you give him the title shot. Why wouldn't they give (it to) me?"

Masvidal, a former two-time welterweight title challenger, retired from mixed martial arts in 2023 but said last September he would "definitely" return to the UFC. Masvidal fought fellow ex-UFC star Nate Diaz in a boxing match last July, losing by majority decision.

Masvidal and Edwards have an extensive history. They competed on the same UFC London card in 2019 and got into a physical altercation backstage after the event. Masvidal confronted Edwards and hit him with several punches, leading to the iconic "three-piece-and-a-soda" line.

The two were scheduled to fight at UFC 269 in December 2021, but Masvidal was forced out of the matchup due to an injury.

Edwards - who went on to become the welterweight champ in 2022 and lost the title last year - is coming off a fourth-round submission defeat to Sean Brady at UFC London last weekend.

Masvidal, 40, said he believes he would defeat Edwards "in every way, shape, and form."

"He can't wrestle me for five rounds, so I don't have to worry about the takedowns," Masvidal said. "And I know on the feet, he's fragile compared to me."

Masvidal, who came up short in a pair of title fights against Kamaru Usman in 2020 and 2021, said "it would mean everything" to return to the UFC and finally win a championship.

"Especially against (current champion) Belal (Muhammad)," Masvidal said.

He added: "Belal would definitely be a tough fight. ... But there's some areas where I think I'm better than him."