Fighters make list by being a prospect with no losses on a major stage that is generating excitement from fans and media. Fighters climb list by continuing to win fights and build popularity and hype about their potential. 1 loss is typically enough for removal from the list as MMA fans are a fickle bunch, but some instances like an injury allow for fighters to remain on list after a loss. Undisputed UFC champions also are removed from the list as the hype is proven real at that point.
-
1
- Khamzat Chimaev
- "Borz"
- 13-0-0
-
13-0
Chimaev has become quite the villain, but in the cage he is still ragdolling high level opponents, and the hype train is full speed ahead.
-
2
- Ian Machado Garry
- "The Future"
- 14-0-0
-
14-0
Two guys on this list proved me as a doubter way wrong. One was Garry
-
3
- Shavkat Rakhmonov
- "Nomad"
- 18-0-0
-
18-0
another good finish against stephen thompson. For now it is still Khamzat 1a and Rakhmonov 1b.
-
4
- Bo Nickal
- 6-0-0
-
6-0
starting to look more human and like a work in progress
-
5
- Tom Aspinall
- 14-3-0
-
14-3
quick KO win against Pavlovich, he should be champion but since he isn't, he still gets to be on this list
-
6
- Vadim Nemkov
- 18-2-0, 1 NC
-
18-2-0, 1
easy win in PFL. best 205er outside of UFC
-
7
- Usman Nurmagomedov
- 17-0-0, 1 NC
-
17-0
Beat Brent Primus at Bellator 300. What happens next? PFL? UFC?
-
8
- Tatiana Suarez
- 10-0-0
-
10-0
another 2nd round submission win, at least she is active now
-
9
- Seika Izawa
- 13-0-0
-
13-0
not sure how much higher she can claim in a weight class without many notable potential opponents. but she's very active
-
10
- Umar Nurmagomedov
- 17-0-0
-
17-0
Usman has impressed me more than Umar
-
11
- Paddy Pimblett
- "The Baddy" | 21-3-0
-
21-3
The UFC is doing their best to prop this guy up, but I don't think he will ever be a legitimate contender
-
12
- Manon Fiorot
- "The Beast" | 12-1-0
-
12-1
huge 2 fight win streak
-
13
- Muhammad Mokaev
- "The Punisher" | 11-0-0, 1 NC
-
11-0-0,1
nice continued couple of wins in late 2023 and early 2024
-
14
- Magomed Ankalaev
- 19-1-1, 1 NC
-
19-1-1
nice finish against johnny walker
-
15
- Johnny Eblen
- "Pressure" | 15-0-0
-
15-0
bellator > pfl
-
16
- Movsar Evloev
- 18-0-0
-
18-0
impressive win on paper over arnold allen but his style and attitude is holding him back with matchmakers and fans
-
17
- Tatsuro Taira
- 15-0-0
-
15-0
Taira is legit, and I think it is smart not to rush him too much, another good win over hernandez
-
18
- Movlid Khaybulaev
- "Killer" | 21-0-1, 1 NC
-
21-0-1,1
undefeated since he started competing 12 years ago, but most people don't even know who he is
-
19
- Michael Morales
- 16-0-0
-
16-0
nice win over jake matthews
-
20
- Anatoly Malykhin
- "Spartak" | 14-0-0
-
14-0
nice win over de ridder
-
21
- Rinya Nakamura
- "Hybrid" | 9-0-0
-
9-0
might be the best fighter to come out of road to UFC thing and he is now officially 3-0 in the UFC
-
22
- Azamat Murzakanov
- "The Professional" | 13-0-0
-
13-0
Murzakanov looked more human in a decision win over Jacoby but keeps the unbeaten record
-
23
- Lerone Murphy
- "The Miracle" | 13-0-1
-
13-0-1
back to being active it will be interesting to see Murphy's limit
-
24
- Jack Della Maddalena
- 17-2-0
-
17-2
back with another impressive wins after a couple close calls
-
25
- Khasan Magomedsharipov
- 9-0-0
-
9-0
He may have to step up the competition more quickly if Bellator joins PFL and they keep the tournament format
-
26
- Vitor Petrino
- "Icão" | 11-0-0
-
11-0
legit brazilian prospect, very active
-
27
- Darragh Kelly
- "The Moville mauler" | 5-0-0
-
5-0
one of the Irishmen that stayed in the W column in Bellator's likely last Ireland event
-
28
- Dakota Ditcheva
- "Dangerous" | 11-0-0
-
11-0
Continues to be built at a good pace by PFL Europe
-
29
- Ali Isaev
- 9-0-1
-
9-0-1
falls on my list after pulling out of 3 straight bouts he gets a draw on an untelevised undercard. Tough matchup for a prelim fight but still not a great start in Bellator.
-
30
- Jena Bishop
- 7-0-0
-
7-0
got a win in PFL after acquisition of bellator, but she still has not stood out on her cards
-
31
- Hyun Sung Park
- "Peace of Mind" | 9-0-0
-
9-0
I would rank him #2 on the Road to UFC alum list
-
32
- Steve Erceg
- "AstroBoy" | 12-1-0
-
12-1
shooting up flyweight rankings
-
33
- Halil Amir
- "No Mercy" | 10-0-0
-
10-0
Turkish fighter that beat Nastyukin in One Championship and followed it up with two additional 2023 wins
-
34
- Timur Khizriev
- "Imam" | 15-0-0
-
14-0
was not overly impressed with his most recent outings
-
35
- Mick Parkin
- 9-0-0
-
9-0
one to watch as it doesn't take much to climb the ladder in the higher weight classes
-
36
- Victoria Dudakova
- 8-0-0
-
8-0
gross injury win and then win after missing weight
-
37
- Rafael Estevam
- "Macapá" | 12-0-0
-
12-0
UFC newcomer worth monitoring
-
38
- Ikram Aliskerov
- 15-1-0
-
15-1
this guy is being fast tracked. only loss is to khamzat
-
39
- Magomed Umalatov
- "Prince" | 15-0-0
-
14-0
Umalatov got another win over an undefeated fighter, but next he faces Magomed Magomedkerimov. I'm afraid two Magomeds will be better than one.
-
40
- Norbert Novenyi Jr.
- "Magic" | 7-0-0
-
7-0
big KO win for Novenyi against a decent opponent
-
41
- Shara Magomedov
- "Bullet" | 12-0-0
-
12-0
One eyed Russian. Yes please
-
42
- Shamil Musaev
- "The Silent Assassin" | 17-0-1
-
16-0-1
7/28 got a win in RCC... not sure if this was a stay busy fight or if Musaev is no longer with KSW
-
43
- Aliaskhab Khizriev
- "The Black Wolf" | 14-0-0, 1 NC
-
14-0
I'm worried this list is beginning to be no different from best Russian prospects list.
-
44
- Hamdy Abdelwahab
- "The Hammer" | 3-0-0, 1 NC
-
3-0, 1
his UFC debut was ugly and overturned to a no-contest for drug test failure. I can either leave him on this list for two years or remove him and see if he ever returns. I will leave him on here why not
-
45
- Artur Szpilka
- "Szpila" | 3-0-0
-
3-0
difficult to seriously rank as an older former legitimate boxer but beat Pudz
-
46
- Rafael Lovato Jr.
- 11-0-0
-
11-0-0
difficult to rank after inactive so long due to health concerns
-
47
- Kayla Harrison
- 17-1-0
-
17-1
Adding Harrison back to list after her organization change and impressive debut win
-
48
- Magomed Gadzhiyasulov
- "MG" | 8-0-0
-
8-0
The first name gives him +10 ability, but he looked good in contender series
-
49
- Arkadiusz Wrzosek
- "Hightower" | 4-0-0
-
4-0
Upcoming fight with Artur Szpilka will knock someone off the list
-
50
- César Almeida
- "Cesinha" | 5-0-0
-
5-0
pretty impressive UFC debut
My Summary