UFC’s Breakout Stars: Fighters Who Rose to Fame Quickly

In the high-voltage world of MMA, it’s very common for fighters to really toil away in obscurity before they make their way into mainstream success. However, some UFC fighters have risen to colossal fame in shockingly quick ways, seizing the attention of fans and media with their dominant performances and charismatic personalities. These breakout stars normally leave behind household names, changing their career trajectories and leaving hardly forgettable marks on the sport. In fact, this paper seeks to explore some of the most notable breakout stars in the UFC, further scrutinizing how they go from zero to hero almost overnight and what makes them stand out on this MMA stage that is so crowded.

1. Conor McGregor: The Notorious Rise

When speaking of UFC breakout fighters, one cannot do so without mentioning Conor McGregor, who is one of the most spectacular rags-to-riches stories in the history of sport. The Irishman stormed onto the UFC scene in 2013 and, within his first fight, quickly became one of the most popular fighters in the world due to his brash personality, sharp wit, and devastating knockout power.

Meteoric Ascent
McGregor embarked on his rise by first-round knockout over Marcus Brimage in his UFC debut. All the noise inside and outside the cage started with his post fight interviews and public predictions. Soon, he backed them up with a two-knockout run over Diego Brandao and Dustin Poirier. By the time McGregor was called to face Chad Mendes in a replacement interim featherweight title bout at UFC 189, he had already grown into a mainstream superstar.

The Featherweight Championship
Star of McGregor just raised up to new levels as he became the new featherweight champ by knocking out the longest-reigning champion, José Aldo, in just 13 seconds in the fastest finish in UFC 194. The win established McGregor as a UFC superstar and one of the most marketable athletes in sports.

Dual-Champion
McGregor would then make history when he heeded advice to take on the lightweight division and take his place at the head of it by knocking out Eddie Alvarez into submission during the second round at UFC 205, thus becoming the first fighter in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship to hold current titles in two weight divisions. His ability to deliver on those bold promises, coupled with the magnetism of his persona, made him the UFC’s biggest breakout star to date.

2. Ronda Rousey: The Queen of the Armbar

However it was not only rapid but revolutionary: Ronda Rousey became the face of women’s MMA and one of the most dominant champions in the history of UFC. Over the years, Rousey helped women’s MMA to be legitimized and threw wide open the door for female fighters to take on the male-dominated UFC.
Olympic Lineage
Before joining the UFC, Ronda Rousey had already been a very accomplished athlete, as she had won a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She switched to MMA in 2010 and immediately stamped her name in lights with the now-legendary armbar submission, with which she had finished her first six pro fights.

Dominates the UFC
When the UFC introduced a women’s bantamweight division in 2013, Rousey was the natural choice to become the inaugural champion. She defended the title with super quick finishes, such as a 14-second knockout of Cat Zingano and a 16-second submission of Alexis Davis. Towards the peak of Rousey’s dominance, she crossed over into mainstream celebrity with lead and feature roles in both movies and television.

Living Cultural Legend
It wasn’t just in the Octagon that Rousey did all her talking; she became a model of empowerment for women in individual sports. But with that reigning onslaught, it was exactly that; an onslaught to be shockingly hushed by Holly Holm in UFC 193. For no one to have ever done more, Ronda’s promotion to explode onto the scene uplifts women’s MMA.

3. Israel Adesanya: The Last Styleb

Israel Adesanya landed on the UFC scene in 2018 like a bolt of lightning, putting him up among the most inspirational and dynamic fighters in the sport. With striking skills combined with flair, Adesanya locked down fans’ imaginations and rode them all the way up to the hallmarks of a quick rise to the throne within his weight class of the middleweight division.

Striking Mastery
The former kickboxing champion made his debut in the UFC during February 2018 by scoring a second-round technical knockout over Rob Wilkinson. His ability to string together strikes from different styles of martial arts puts Adesanya way above his contemporaries in the middleweight division. So effortless in the way he moves, which can piece together ways to crack his foes coming from any other styles of striking or darting in and out of his radius, it has to be astonishing in the eyes of his opponents.

Rapid Rise to Champion
After only five UFC fights, Adesanya got his shot at the interim middleweight title against Gastelum in UFC 236. In what many called one of the greatest fights in UFC history, Adesanya willed his way to a unanimous decision. He completed his whirlwind race to the top at UFC 243 by knocking out champion Robert Whittaker to become the unified middleweight champion.

Superstar Status
His stardom has risen as he successfully defended his middleweight belt against the best the division had to offer in the likes of Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori. With his interestingly flashy personality, entrances, and Octagon dominance, Adesanya has easily catapulted as one of the biggest breakout stars and fan favorites world over in the UFC.

4. Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev is the latest example of the UFC’s perennial rise from its paranoid top to the marvel most highlighted overnight. The Chechen-born, Swedish-based fighter made his UFC debut in 2020 and very suddenly became the topic of conversation as one of the sport’s most brilliant performers who had emerged with a grinding style.

Beginning of Unheard
Just ten days later, in July 2020, Chimaev made his UFC debut with a second-round submission of John Phillips. A mere ten days later, Chimaev already fought at welterweight, where he recorded a TKO victory over Rhys McKee. Putting him at back-to-back wins within ten days has made him a viral sensation for the moment; it shows he’s willing to fight anyone presented to him.

Dominant Performances
It was solidified even further with another standout performance from Chimaev in his next fight. He flatlined Gerald Meerschaert in only 17 seconds with just a punch, keeping his undefeated record alive along with his streak of finishes. At the same time, his ability to administer dominance on his opponents in the stand-up and grappling departments made Chimaev rise to one of the most feared and hyped fighters in the UFC.

Future Potential
Fans and analysts bet he had great things in his future, having come out of obscurity to dominate at two different weight classes with almost 10 fights in only three months. His career is still embryonic, but Chimaev has already announced himself to the world of MMA and is considered a potential future UFC champion.

5. Brock Lesnar: WWE Superstar vs. UFC Champ

The emergence of Brock Lesnar’s debut to the cage is one of the most phenomenal stories that will live to be mentioned in sports up to today. Lesnar is obviously raw in his mixed martial arts experience, but his physical gifts, wrestling pedigree, and star power have combined to make him an instant box-office smash—the fastest rise to stardom in UFC history.

Wrestling Experience
Lesnar was a college wrestling champion, part of the NCAA Division I, and was making his entry into the UFC in 2008 with that wrestling pedigree and the huge size. He lost his UFC debut to Frank Mir by a submission, but Lesnar’s raw power and athleticism were easily visible during the fight. He promptly rebounded, knocking out Heath Herring, and was soon getting his title shot against the UFC heavyweight champion.

Undisputed Heavyweight Champion
In only his fourth professional MMA fight, he challenged UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture at UFC 91. Lesnar overpowered Couture with his stature and strength, forcing him to a second-round TKO victory and establishing himself as the UFC heavyweight champion. The victory turned Lesnar into one of the biggest stars in the UFC, suitably winning a different audience of fans from his days as a WWE fighter.

Pay-Per-View King
Lesnar fight cards were hot property, posting some of the top pay-per-view figures in UFC history. His ongoing feud with Frank Mir, concluded in an overwhelming victory at UFC 100, to go along with his thriller against Shane Carwin and war with Cain Velasquez, made him a full-fledged UFC superstar. In less than a handful of career fights, he proved an indelible impact concerning elevation in the sport and super-stardom of an athlete.

6. Jorge Masvidal

Jorge Masvidal was that kind of a fighter who commanded respect for a long period of time, but it never quite broke through until 2019. That launched him into UFC superstardom as he became one of the most massive stars in 2019. Gamebred, as he is fondly known, brought into the UFC years of experience, charisma, and highlight-reel finishes that have inspired the MMA community world over.

The “knockout heard around the world”
Masvidal’s real rise to prominence at 239 was against the fighter named Ben Askren. Five seconds into the fight, Masvidal hit Askren with a flying knee, knocking him completely out and setting an all-time fastest knockout in UFC history. The highlight-reel finish went viral. Of course, post-fight antics included mimicking Askren’s stiffened body—more icons than Askren.

BMF Title
He became the star of the UFC after defeating Askren. He would go on to face Nate Diaz for the “Baddest Motherf***er” belt at UFC 244 in New York—a fantastic fight between two favorite fighters of the fans. Masvidal emerged victorious in a doctor’s stoppage match, sealing his name as a stalwart on the list of most thrilling and lucrative fighters.

Superstar Status
Masvidal’s newfound late-career life within the rebirth and willingness to fight anyone anywhere has been that of a breakout star. His beginning life, combined with street-fighting authenticity, knockout power, and showmanship among big audiences, has made him fast in terms of being a fan favorite in the UFC quickly.

7. Ronda Rousey: The Queen of the Armbar

Ronda Rousey’s career was not only meteoric but legendary, helping her establish as the face of women’s MMA and one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. This includes being the one to attain this achievement since a long time ago, through the credibility it brought to the sport of women’s MMA, which allowed someone to stage set the path for the future of females inside the cage.

Olympics Bloodline
Expected to meet at UFC 157, Rousey came in as a former Olympic judoka with a bronze in the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games. She made her debut in 2010, quickly running out to a perfect 6-0 start with a series of fights completed by armbar.

Domination
UFC Rousey was crowned the inaugural champion when the UFC established a women’s bantamweight division in 2013. She continued to secure her championship in classic fashion, with first-round victories over opponents such as Cat Zingano. Her dominance and appeal across the board led to her being a mainstream celebrity with movie and television roles.

Pop Icon
Rousey transcended fighting and was, to a point, female empowerment in practice—she was fighting’s ambassador. That reign came crashing to an end as she was dropped by Holly Holm at UFC 193. Ronda Rousey did more for women’s mixed martial arts than any audacious breakout star before her.

Conclusion
The UFC has produced so many immediate superstars who clicked with the fans within seconds, that the mixed martial arts atmosphere changed. From phenomenal performances to some peculiar fighting styles, many breakout stars have become household names and made their own niche in the sport. Stars from the that crazy rise of Conor McGregor to this ultimate meteoric rise of Khamzat Chimaev proved that with the perfect balance of talent, speed, and timing, one could just possibly hit superstar status inside the UFC. As the sport grows, new emerging stars will surely continue to write the UFC’s already rich and ever-growing popularity and history, intriguing audiences globally.