Rising Stars: UFC Fighters to Watch in the Next Decade

  As the UFC evolves and new fans continue to join the movement, we see new talents already rising to the stage and leading the way in the coming years. Below is a list of what can be considered some of the most outstanding current UFC fighters that are secured to have a great impact in the course of the next decade.

1.Khamzat Chimaev

 Meet Khamzat Chimaev, a former Chechen or Slavic fighter from Sweden who has suddenly become one of the most discussed UFC talents. Chimaev drew attention as a durable mixed martial artist, whose excessive pressure and wrestling ability allowed him to swiftly climb up to the welterweight level. His striking prowess, especially on the ground and assuming a fighting stance, has led many to draw parallels with Khabib Nurmagomedov. He is only 5-0 at the UFC and has already recorded multiple first-round victories, and the sky’s the limit in his career. Chimaev is a future champion in the making and a force to be reckoned with within the UFC.

2.Sean O’Malley

 Sean O’Malley is one of the most popular fighters in the bantamweight division due to his exciting freestyle fighting and his engaging personality. “Sugar” Sean is another lightweight that uses unconventional but accurate strikes, making him a lethal wrestler. All the same, O’MALLEY’s desire to get to the top has sometimes been halted by injuries, though he has proven strong determination. This guy is extremely marketable, and his fighting style is a lot of fun to watch, making him a future star in the making.

3.Yair Rodriguez

 One of the most promising young fighters, Yair Rodriguez, who combines spectacular striking with unorthodox movements, has already demonstrated his worth in the featherweight division. His bout with Chan Sung Jung (The Korean Zombie) portrayed his prowess in finishing off an opponent, even in the style and flamboyance of a last-second knockout, which has been ranked among the best in UFC history. Rodriguez performs with lots of creativity and has the ability to take a number of risks inside the Octagon, which makes him a fighter to watch and even a champion in the making.

4.Islam Makhachev

 A prospect on Nurmagomedov’s team, Islam Makhachev, who is also one of the most promising athletes in the lightweight division, has also demonstrated a rather efficient grappling style and skill set. Makhachev, who is currently on a winning streak and has also beaten many other contenders, is seen as the natural successor of the great Khabib. This wrestler’s skills to control the fights, close the opponents with wrestling skills, and submit them every time make him a dangerous contender to the current champions and possibly the future ones.

5.Marina Rodriguez

 Being a Muay Thai practitioner, Marina Rodriguez has been rising in the rankings in the women’s strawweight division through her technical striking and dominance in the clinch. Wins over serious contenders have demonstrated her superiority over opponents on a striking level, and the K.O. win over Amanda Ribas proved that she can knock down her adversaries. At the same time, it is impossible not to notice that, with further development of athletic abilities and an increase in the number of battles, Rodriguez will be able to become the leader of her division as well as a contender for the title of champion.

6.Ciryl Gane

 Currently, Ciryl Gane, a former multiple-time WCO Muay Thai champion, has immediately revealed himself as a top contender in the heavyweight division. Gane has been most famous for his knockouts, incredible agility, and, most notably, his sparing methods and efficient damage control. Considering the victories over high-ranked opponents, Gane could be heading for the heavyweight championship level and become one of the division’s dominant fighters for years.

7.Arnold Allen

 Arnold Allen is from the United Kingdom and has had his fair share of attention in the featherweight division. With excellent all-around skills and a high fight IQ, Allen has compiled a rather nice string of victories over quality opposition. As an experienced tactician who changes from style to style and similarly develops winning strategies, he makes an ideal candidate to face anyone in the division. Allen remains one of the best current prospects and is considered a future title contender. The fighter will only improve with time as he gains experience.

8.Kevin Holland

 Kevin Holland is now considered one of the most popular middleweight fighters, and it is easy to understand due to his bright personality and interesting fights. He is famous for speaking a lot during fights, and he is ready to fight against any opponent. Besides, he is a fully-drug-resistant fighter who wins fights in different categories. This makes him a dangerous all-around fighter who has no specific weak point and can finish a fight using KOs or submissions. More experience and polishing may help Holland shine at the Ultimate Fighting Championship level.

9.Maycee Barber

 Maycee Barber, also known as “The Future,” is a young and up-and-coming women’s flyweight contender fighter. Having had some origin in karate and bar none, the desire for finishes, Barber has been fast tracking his way in rank. Although she has been badly injured, she is still motivated to effectively compete and become the youngest champion in the history of the UFC. Her in-your-face attitude, along with the confidence with which she handles herself, make her an attractive prospect for the future.

10.Jiri Prochazka

 Jiri Prochazka, the former Rizin FFLIGHT Heavyweight Champion who was added to the UFC, brought his striking dancing style and finishing prowess to the promotion. Prochazka is a stylist and top knockout artist, and he has already defeated many contenders for the title. Looking at the future of the division, it is necessary to note that, with such an aim, Prochazka is a worthy contender for the championship in the coming years.

Honorable Mentions:

Adrian Yanez

 Adrian Yanez, with his elaborate boxing and naturally impressive knockout ability, has the potential for rapidly growing recognition at 135 pounds. The good performances seen in Dana White’s Contender Series as well as his subsequent fights in the UFC have revealed that he has what it takes to be a future contender in the UFC.

Tom Aspinall

 Tom Aspinall is a 31-year-old UK-based fighter in the promotion’s heavyweight division, and he has shown good skill and power. Aspinall, with his previous experience in boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has the skills that may help him pose real problems to other fighters in the heavyweight category.

Casey O’Neill

 As for female fighters in the women’s flyweight division, there are still reasons to believe in Casey O’Neill: the girl possesses aggressive wrestling and striking manners. She is fast, and what is more important, she does not stop after several kicks; she finishes her opponents.

Rafael Fiziev

 Rafael Fiziev, the striker with accurate punching power and flashy knockouts, has been making his presence felt in the lightweight division. He has been attracting attention due to his technical ability and entertaining manner of playing his game, and he is rapidly rising up the ranks.

Ilia Topuria

 Ilia Topuria is an undefeated featherweight and has shown good takedowns as well as his finishing skills. Winning against such interesting opponents, Topuria proved that he has all the chances to become the future contender for the championship in the division.

    The UFC will always remain a rapidly growing sport, and the upcoming ten years will be rich in great performances. The rising stars featured in this article are the future of this sport, and each features what they feel, think, and want inside the Octagon. Learning this trade, these fighters can definitely become champions, make their streaks, and build the future for the fans of MMA. For any other fighter, rising to the top takes a lot of effort—lots of hard work, luck, and more effort—but these fighters have what it takes to make a difference in the cage.