UFC legend Jorge Masvidal says Ilia Topuria will ‘break the internet’ and that speaking multiple languages will see him become a global superstar.
UFC legend and inaugural BMF champion Jorge Masvidal thinks Ilia Topuria has all of the ingredients to become a bonified superstar in the sport, thanks to an unbelievable skillset that includes the ability to speak multiple languages.
‘Gamebred’ explained that speaking both English and Spanish in front of the UFC cameras will be one of the reasons why the company pushes to ‘brand’ Topuria for the ‘massive markets’ that will help him enter superstardom.
Jorge Masvidal hails Ilia Topuria: ‘What else could the UFC want?’
One of the most pivotal skills that younger international fighters can use to make waves in the UFC is learning English, allowing them to communicate directly to the promotion’s biggest audience without the stop-start need for a translator.
Not only does multilingualism open a whole other audience outside of the English-speaking market, but it also helps the regional branches of the UFC to promote fighters more in step with the overall brand.
Speaking to MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, Jorge Masvidal explained how Topuria “definitely” has the potential to become a global superstar and that it should only be a matter of time before the UFC starts to develop his brand for bigger markets:
“It’s just a matter of the UFC now wants to push him you know and brand this guy, like he has all the qualities you know, he’s a hell of a fighter man and he speaks all these languages he speaks English and Spanish, what more do you need?”
“You know, there’s some massive markets right there alone so I think this dude could really f-ing could break the internet.”
Whilst many fans are only just jumping on the Topuria bandwagon following his stunning KO victory over Alexander Volkanovski, Masvidal has been riding high on the Georgian-Spanish athlete for some time.
“I’ve known him for a while, I’ve been talking about Ilia for a while that he’d be a champion one day now the day has come you know…This guy is talented [but] I didn’t even think that he was going to do Volkanovski like that…Just hats off to him what a performance man.”
Masvidal expects Topuria to win the rematch with Volkanovski
In the days following UFC 298, much of the online conversation has been surrounding an immediate rematch with the consensus being that whilst Volkanovski does deserve another shot, it should arrive only after an extended recovery.
“Do I want to see a rematch? Yeah of course, Volk deserves it you know, Volk definitely deserves a rematch [but] I think though that Ilia is just a bad style for him, I don’t really see him being able to take down Ilia and wear him out and control him, and I don’t see in the stand up that it would favor him.”
Masvidal also favors Topuria over anyone currently ranked in the Top 5 of the UFC featherweight division: “Ilia has the power to catch any one of these guys and put their lights out.”