Jorge Masvidal Maps Blueprint for Ilia Topuria to Reach ‘Mythical’ Status in UFC History

UFC welterweight veteran Jorge Masvidal weighs in on what it would take for Ilia Topuria to become the first three divisional champion.

Jorge Masvidal Maps Blueprint for Ilia Topuria to Reach ‘Mythical’ Status in UFC History

Jorge Masvidal weighs in on Ilia Topuria's future (via SportsRush, MMA Mania)

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Ilia Topuria has experienced one of the fastest rises to two-division success in modern MMA. Throughout his undefeated career, he has demonstrated exceptional knockout power, driving his dominance at the highest level. Recently, former UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal highlighted the scale of what would be required for the Georgian-Spanish champion to pursue becoming the UFC’s first three-division titleholder.

Topuria first caught global attention by knocking out long-reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski to win the title at UFC 298. He then became the first fighter to knock out Max Holloway before vacating the belt.

Moving up to lightweight, he knocked out former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to become a two-division champion, a run often cited as the greatest three-fight win streak. Before moving to 155lbs, Topuria had made it clear that he wanted to challenge then-champion Islam Makhachev.

However, Makhachev had already shifted his focus to the welterweight division. Topuria remained vocal about his ambition to become a three-division champion. The same pursuit Masvidal recently highlighted when discussing what defeating the Dagestani would represent for his legacy.

No one’s ever won three belts. It’s a very uphill battle for Ilia to go to 170 and beat Makhachev. If Ilia does that, he’s above everybody – Jon Jones, GSP – like you’ve got to put him in his own category of greatness. When you fight Volkanovski in his prime and you end him, you fight Max in his prime and end him, and then you go up and end Charles Oliveira, it’s like, who’s this mythological figure?

Jorge Masvidal via Death Row MMA

After moving up to 170lbs, Islam Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to win the championship. The bout featured one of the most dominant wrestling performances in recent years. In contrast, Topuria is primarily a striker and has faced fewer opponents with elite wrestling credentials. That stylistic contrast became central to Jorge Masvidal’s comparison of their potential matchup.

Now you’re talking about he’s gonna go to 170 and beat the No. 1 pound-for-pound guy who is just crushing everybody. He takes the biggest names to the black hole and submits them. The complete opposite fighter to beat a guy like Ilia is Makhachev – that’s the type of guy you need to beat Ilia.

Jorge Masvidal via Death Row MMA

Masvidal has remained publicly supportive of Topuria’s rapid rise at the elite level. He has previously trained with ‘El Matador’ and has spoken about Topuria’s power being comparable to that of a welterweight contender. Masvidal also accurately predicted the Georgian superstar’s brutal knockout victory over Oliveira at UFC 317, further reinforcing his belief in Topuria’s ceiling across divisions.

While Topuria and Islam Makhachev remain linked by rivalry narratives, both champions carry immediate responsibilities within their divisions. Ilia Topuria is expected to face interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, while the Dagestani champion now leads a stacked welterweight division. Masvidal’s comments frame the discussion as a long-term possibility rather than an imminent matchup.

Jorge Masvidal’s dream to return to UFC White House gets diminished by the UFC top brass

Jorge Masvidal last competed in the UFC in 2022, concluding his mixed martial arts run with a series of high-profile bouts. He also fought Nate Diaz in a professional boxing match, losing. Despite that setback, the prospect of returning to the Octagon has resurfaced for Masvidal. One opportunity that has particularly piqued the Miami native’s interest is the upcoming June 2026 UFC White House event.

Dana White shuts down Jorge Masvidal's UFC return
Dana White shuts down Jorge Masvidal’s UFC return (via MMA Mania)

Masvidal publicly called out UFC superstar Conor McGregor, who has also expressed interest in competing at the White House event. Both fighters have highlighted the appeal of a potential matchup, fueling widespread speculation. UFC CEO Dana White was asked about the circulating rumors and addressed them directly, noting they were not under active consideration.

I didn’t hear that. You know what’s funny? In my algorithm on Instagram I have nothing MMA, literally nothing MMA pops up… There’s some politics but I don’t listen to any of the goofy s**t that goes on.

Dana White via TMZ Sports

The card for the UFC White House event remains unconfirmed, with no official matchups finalized as of late February 2026. Jorge Masvidal’s potential return to the Octagon faces multiple obstacles, including contract status and inactivity. Combined with Dana White’s dismissive stance on the McGregor matchup, the likelihood of him competing in the near future appears low.

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