Jorge Masvidal still has a sharp eye for star power, and his list of the UFC’s five biggest names right now contains at least one pick that will generate debate.
Speaking on Deep Waters, Masvidal was asked to rank the fighters he considers the promotion’s biggest current stars. His answers reflected a mix of global appeal, television ratings pull, and cultural reach that goes beyond title belts.
“I got Ilia Topuria, No. 1,” Masvidal said. “Chama at No. 2 because that guy fights. Everybody knows, in Japan, in Korea, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Thailand or Japan. International, he is a star. He is an effing star, bro. Like, it’s crazy, man.”
Alex Pereira’s global following has grown dramatically since his UFC run began, making his number-two placement easy to understand. Masvidal’s third pick was equally straightforward.
“No. 3, I’ll go with Chimaev. I think Chimaev is a huge star worldwide.”
The fourth name is where Masvidal chose to surprise people, framing it as a deliberate curveball while predicting that Sean Strickland’s profile will only rise further after his UFC 328 middleweight title fight against Khamzat Chimaev.
“No. 4, I’m going to throw a curveball at y’all. But I think especially after his next fight, he’s going to be one of the biggest names, Sean Strickland, bro. And he’s got like that whole love and hate. He’s going to be up there.”
Masvidal rounded out the list with a nod to one of the sport’s most beloved international figures. “No. 5, I’m going to go with Charles Oliveira. He’s so famous worldwide. He’s got the whole Brazil on his back.”
Masvidal last competed in the UFC in 2023, suffering a decision loss to Gilbert Burns that extended his losing streak to four consecutive defeats following losses to Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman twice. He lost a boxing match to Nate Diaz in 2024 via controversial decision. Despite his extended competitive absence, Masvidal has repeatedly stated that he is in negotiations for a UFC return.