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#4. Jorge Masvidal
Masvidal for a long time didn't get the respect he deserved and was seen by some as a glorified UFC journeyman. However, a monster 2019 made him a legit star and one of the most popular fighters on roster.
2019 saw Masvidal beat Darren Till in London and then confront his next opponent Leon Edwards backstage. Next, he produced one of the most viral knockouts in UFC history with his flying knee against Ben Askren.
Masvidal wasn't done there and faced Nate Diaz in a huge main event at UFC 244. That bout for the symbolic "BMF" title was incredibly popular, and when Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson placed the belt around Masvidal's waist, 'Gamebred' cemented himself as one of the most marketable UFC battlers.
Masvidal's popularity has allowed him to take on a number of projects away from the octagon. He started his own bare-knuckle MMA promotion called Gamebred Fighting Championship and is a partner with Recuerdo Mezcal.
#3. Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz's popularity has definitely benefitted from his rivalry with Conor McGregor, but the Stockton native is a huge star in his own right. 'The Stockton Bad Boy' has been authentic throughout his illustrious career and he deserves his cult-like following.
While Diaz was already a popular fighter following his early career success, as mentioned, Nate's stock soared during his Conor McGregor rivalry. Both men reaped benefits from that heated feud.
Diaz has been able to captialize on his success with a number of smart business moves. He and his brother created their own CBD company called Game Up Nutrition and Nate is also the official spokesperson for Lodi Vintners, a California-based winery.
While Diaz can be unpredictable, his at-times strained relationship with the UFC brass only endears himself further to the fans. With just one fight left on his contract, Diaz could become a highly sought-after free agent should he hit the market.
