Masvidal

Masvidal is a Spanish-language surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the Catalan word “mas” meaning “more” combined with the suffix “-vidal” which may be related to the Latin verb “videre” (to see). The name is most widely recognized in the United States through the professional mixed‑martial‑arts fighter Jorge Luis Masvidal.

Jorge Masvidal was born on October 16, 1988, in Miami, Florida. He was raised in a family of Puerto Rican and Venezuelan descent and achieved early success in boxing, winning a national Junior Olympic championship. After a brief amateur boxing career, Masvidal transitioned to mixed‑martial‑arts (MMA) and began training at the American Top Team gym in Coconut Creek, Florida. He made his professional MMA debut in 2009 and quickly accumulated a record of 7–0.

Masvidal made his debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2011, competing primarily as a welterweight. Over the course of his UFC career he has earned multiple performance bonuses, including the “MMA Junkie” and “The Sports” Performance of the Night awards. His most notable victory came in 2017 when he defeated former champion Ronda Rousey, delivering the fastest knockout in UFC history at 5.5 seconds. In 2022, Masvidal moved to the featherweight division and has continued to compete at a high level, earning a reputation for finishing fights with rapid striking and relentless pressure.

Masvidal’s impact on MMA extends beyond his fight record; he is recognized for popularizing certain aggressive techniques and for his role in growing the sport’s global fan base. His nickname “El Coyote” reflects his tenacious fighting style.