5 Fighters Poised To Take Conor McGregor’s Place As The Face Of UFC
1. Jorge Masvidal
If anyone said they predicted 34-year-old Jorge Masvidal would be 2019's breakout star — simply put — they're lying.
This time last year, he was a forgotten entity coming off a two-fight losing streak, who seemed destined to spend the rest of his career as a high-end gatekeeper. However, after scoring an upset win of Darren Till this past March, Masvidal's fortunes changed drastically.
In his next fight, the man they call 'Gamebred' knocked out previously undefeated wrestler Ben Askren in just 5 seconds, with the flying knee heard round the world. The record-setting knockout made headlines and turned Masvidal into an overnight sensation. After 47 pro fights, the scrappy welterweight had finally become a major star.
His recent win over Nate Diaz for the BMF title solidified Masvidal's status as one of the biggest names in the UFC heading into 2020.
On the surface, Masvidal seems like an unlikely candidate to become the UFC's franchise player. After all, he's a rough around the edges character who first made a name for himself by literally brawling in backyards. Heck, he recently attacked another fighter (Leon Edwards) backstage last March. However, while these things may not make him a good corporate citizen, it's this authentic tough-guy persona that fans gravitate towards.
Masvidal has only recently become a headlining act, but he has more momentum than just about anyone in the UFC right now. He'll likely be next in line for the winner of the Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman title bout set to take place at UFC 245.
If he's able to capture the gold, particularly with a flashy finish, Masvidal's stock could continue to soar to unprecedented heights.