Ex-UFC star teases high-profile return, Merab Dvalishvili's post sparks staph rumors, Donald Trump on Joe Rogan beef: MMA News Roundup
A retired UFC A-lister recently teased a return and named several high-profile opponents as potential opponents. The fighter did not rule out a possible title run either. Elsewhere, a social media post by Merab Dvalishvili got fans concerned about staph infection.
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Jorge Masvidal teases UFC return
Jorge Masvidal is disillusioned with boxing and wants to return to MMA. After a majority decision loss to former BMF rival Nate Diaz in July 2024, 'Gamebred' is now eyeing another potential title run in the UFC.
The former welterweight title challenger told John Morgan on Grind City Media's podcast Cageside:
"I had a blast doing the boxing, it was fun, it was everything, but there’s just nothing in the world that compares to MMA... Definitely 100 percent back to MMA. don’t know when I’m fighting but I’m fighting at either the end of this year or next year."
As for who he would like to fight, Masvidal said he wants to knock Michael Chandler out and call out Conor McGregor. He also called out Nick Diaz.
Check out Jorge Masvidal's comments below (3:15)
Fans concerned with Merab Dvalishvili's bruise
With a little over a week remaining before Noche UFC, Merab Dvalishvili scared his fans with a social media post promoting his newly launched merchandise. In some of the photos, a small reddish bruise on his left arm is visible, which stirred concern among the fans about a potential staph infection.
The alarm was possibly somewhat fueled by Dvalishvili's previously posting photos of injuries sustained during the training camp, much to Dana White's chagrin. However, MMA reporter and fellow Georgian Giorgi Kokiashvili pointed out on X that the promotional photos were old pictures of the fighter and the bruise in question is all but faded in the more recent videos posted by Dvalishvili.
'The Machine' is set to challenge Sean O'Malley for the UFC bantamweight belt on Sep. 14 at UFC 306, also dubbed as Noche UFC, at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Donald Trump breaks silence on rumored beef with Joe Rogan
Donald Trump says he has no beef with Joe Rogan despite his comment last month about the comedian-commentator getting booed. During a recent appearance on Lex Fridman's podcast, the former U.S. president addressed his Truth Social post where he wrote:
"It will be interesting to see how loudly Joe Rogan gets BOOED the next time he enters the UFC ring???"
It came after Rogan hailed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the only politician who "makes sense" to him. However, when questioned about it by Fridman, Trump changed his tune on the matter:
"I don’t think there was any tension and I’ve always liked him. But I don’t know him. I think he’s good at what he does but I don’t know about doing his podcast. I mean, I guess I’d do it but I haven’t been asked and I’m not asking him. I’m not asking anybody." [H/t The Daily Beast]
Rogan previously stated that he is not willing to invite Trump on his podcast as he is reluctant to help any one candidate in the U.S. election race.