Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has his doubts when it comes to Jorge Masvidal entering the Octagon again.
Masvidal — who failed in his two welterweight title bids opposite Kamaru Usman — called time on his mixed martial arts career at UFC 287 in Miami early last year.
The event saw "Gamebred" comfortably outpointed by Gilbert Burns, adding to his previous losses to Colby Covington and Usman to mark his fourth straight setback inside the cage.
After announcing his retirement, the 39-year-old made his expected venture to the ring, where he ran it back with fellow ex-UFC star Nate Diaz at an event this past July.
But both during the lead-up to that bout — which he lost on the scorecards — and since, Masvidal has repeatedly expressed interest in a UFC comeback. He's even set his sights on an opponent, calling to settle his unfinished business with Leon Edwards.
But when it comes to the UFC's alleged interest in granting the return, Sonnen isn't buying it...
During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen discussed Masvidal's comeback talk and his decision to place Edwards in his sights.
While "The American Gangster" suggested that the matchup itself makes more sense now than it did at the time of Masvidal's retirement, he ultimately can't envision the UFC being interested in the soon-to-be 40-year-old extending his Octagon career.
The last time I checked on Masvidal, he was 39," Sonnen said. "Masvidal has looked very thirsty as of late. ... I don't care how thirsty a guy is or what he looks like in that regard, if he's calling out guys like Leon, that guy is a badass, and that is what Jorge Masvidal is. Now that fight wouldn't make a lot of sense. That fight isn't taking it anywhere. It's not taking it to a title fight. For those reasons, the fight makes more sense. That's the whole reason we couldn't do it before; one was a champion but the other wasn't a top contender.
I don't predict for you 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," Sonnen continued. "That's what I think, but there's not an actual rule that says otherwise.
Regardless of Sonnen's view, Masvidal is evidently confident of making the walk again down the line.
By the looks of things, he's been hard at work at the American Top Team facility in Coconut Creek, Florida, training with the likes of former Bellator champion and current free agent Yaroslav Amosov.
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