Jorge Masvidal backs Kevin Vallejos to become future UFC champion

Jorge Masvidal publicly endorsed rising featherweight Kevin Vallejos after his first-round knockout of Josh Emmett at UFC Vegas 114, underscoring growing attention around the 145-pound prospect. On the Death Row MMA podcast, Masvidal said he has not been this enthusiastic about a prospect in years and predicted championship potential for Vallejos. The former welterweight contender praised Vallejos' performance over Emmett and highlighted his momentum in the UFC featherweight division.Vallejos (18-1) took his only professional loss on Dana White's Contender Series in 2023 to Jean Silva, then returned to earn a UFC contract with a first-round knockout. He has since won three straight, finishing Giga Chikadze and Seung Woo Choi before headlining against Emmett.