A big welterweight grudge match is heading for UFC 269 in December.
Former title challenger Jorge Masvidal will meet Leon Edwards at the final pay-per-view event of the year. A source with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the news with MMA Junkie following an initial report from Ariel Helwani.
The main card bout will be a three-round fight. Although the venue and location for the event have yet to be officially announced, the event is expected to take place in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena.
The matchup has been anticipated for years following their backstage scuffle at UFC on ESPN+ 5, where the infamous, “three-piece and a soda,” line was delivered by Masvidal.
You’re welcome #supernecessary
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) October 11, 2021
Masvidal (35-15 MMA, 12-8 UFC), 36, will be looking to rebound from two title opportunity losses against Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 and UFC 261. Masvidal racked up three consecutive wins against Darren Till, Ben Askren, and Nate Diaz to earn his initial shot at the title, which was taken on very short notice.
Edwards (19-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC), 30, has been on a tear through the welterweight division since losing to the current champion Usman in 2015. The Jamaica-born fighter has secured nine victories without a loss, the second-longest streak in the division behind the champion. Most recently, Edwards defeated Nate Diaz at UFC 263 via unanimous decision.
As a result of this matchup being added to the event, the flyweight title fight between Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo has been moved to UFC 270 in January 2022.
The latest the lineup of UFC 269 is as follows:
- Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier – for lightweight title
- Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena – for women’s bantamweight title
- Leon Edwards vs. Jorge Masvidal
- Dominick Cruz vs. Pedro Munhoz
- Randy Costa vs. Tony Kelley
- Cody Garbrandt vs. Kai Kara-France
- Priscila Cachoeira vs. Gillian Robertson
- Dricus Du Plessis vs. Andre Muniz
- Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell
- Ryan Hall vs. Darrick Minner
- Sean O’Malley vs. Raulian Paiva
- Maycee Barber vs. TBA
