The Top 4 Promising Prospects of the UFC

The UFC is one of the most followed fighting competitions in the world, followed by millions of fans who tune in to watch its stars fight one another in search of glory. Those running the UFC are always looking to the future, searching for the next fighter to help take the competition to an even bigger audience. 

In this article, we’ll look at four of the UFC’s most promising prospects, looking at how they’ve developed recently and what it takes for somebody to get to the top — there’s more to that than talent alone. Let’s get started with our first inclusion. 

1. Shavkat Rakhmonov

Despite being 28 years old, Rakhmonov only made his UFC debut in 2020, so he is a relative newcomer to the competition but still has plenty of experience. He’s currently undefeated in his 17 fights, with eight of those wins coming via a knockout, showing just how clinical Rakhmonov is when fighting in the octagon. There’s plenty more for him to achieve in UFC, so watch this space to see if he can beat the MMA odds and become a world champion.

2. Rafael Fiziev

Like Rakhmonov, Fiziev is also from Central Asia, coming from Kyrgyzstan. While he’s no spring chicken at 30 years old, Fiziev has only had 14 fights, 12 of which resulted in wins for the knockout specialist. Fiziev is a dangerous opponent because he is a master of distance management, has a knack for landing his punches at the perfect moment, and is highly resilient. 

3. Adrian Yanez

With an 80% win rate in UFC, there’s room for improvement regarding Yanez’s technique and style, but he still needs to be a formidable fighter who can land some potent punches (and elbows). At 29 years old, he should now be approaching his prime fighting age, with the average UFC fighter being 29.5 years old, so while he’s still slightly on the younger side, now’s the time to prove his worth. 

4. Ilia Topuria

Born in Germany but with Georgian and Spanish nationality, Topuria is among the most exciting UFC prospects. Aged just 26, pretty young by UFC standards, Topuria has done much in the sport since making his debut in 2020. He’s currently undefeated with a 14-0 record, developing a reputation as a sort of submission specialist, with most of his fights ending in tap-outs. 

What it takes to be a top UFC prospect

Several factors contribute to a fighter being considered a top prospect in the UFC. These factors include:

Skill level

While there’s more to becoming a successful athlete than skill alone, being talented in the sport you want to pursue will ensure you can get a foot in the door and your coach has something to work with. 

Potential

To make it big in the UFC, you still need to have youth on your side and the ability to improve your fighting ability. While UFC fighters can fight well into their 30s, you should aim to make your debut well before then.

Dedication

Top UFC prospects must be dedicated to their training and career, not letting personal matters get in the way. They must be willing to put in the hard work and sacrifice necessary to reach the top, which all current and former champions will echo. 

Mental toughness

The mental toughness to handle the pressure of competing at the highest level is necessary for anybody wanting to go far in the UFC. They must stay calm under pressure and make the right decisions in the heat of the moment and when scrutinized by pundits, coaches, and fans. 

Conclusion

If a fighter has all of the qualities listed above, they should have a better chance of making it in UFC, although there’s much more to it than just that. There’s no guarantee when it comes to going professional in any sport, but you can reach your potential by putting in hard work and effort.