The UFC’s compilation video game has been on point of late, and this time the promotion is looking ahead.
The UFC has put together a list of “fighters who could dominate in 2025.” What does that mean, exactly? “The top fighters in the UFC are always evolving, with new contenders emerging all the time. This video examines fighters with the potential to become stars and championship contenders in the next few years.”
In other words, the UFC thinks there’s a good chance these are the ones who will be competing for Fighter of the Year on everyone’s lists come December – not long after many of them were Breakout Fighter of the Year candidates.
Check them out in the video above, and check out their curriculum vitae below.
Magomed Ankalaev
Magomed Ankalaev def. Aleksandar Rakic, UFC 308 (©Craig Kidwell, special to MMA Junkie)
Division: Light heavyweight
Record: 20-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC
Past 5: 4-0-1
Key wins: Aleksandar Rakic, Johnny Walker, Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, Volkan Oezdemir
Notes: Challenges light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira for the title in the UFC 313 main event March 8.
Payton Talbott
Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Payton Talbott (red gloves) reacts after knocking out Yanis Ghemmouri (not pictured) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Division: Bantamweight
Record: 9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC
Past 5: 4-1
Notes: Admittedly, Talbott’s inclusion isn’t great timing. At UFC 311, he suffered one of the biggest upsets in promotion history when he was outworked by Raoni Barcelos.
Joaquin Buckley
Dec 14, 2024; Tampa, Florida, UNITED STATES; Colby Covington (red gloves) fights Joaquin Buckley (blue gloves) at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Division: Middleweight
Record: 21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC
Past 5: 5-0
Key wins: Colby Covington, Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque
Jean Silva
Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Jean Silva (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Drew Dober (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Division: Lightweight
Record: 14-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC
Past 5: 5-0
Key wins: Dew Dober, Charles Jourdain
Zhang Mingyang
Zhang Mingyang def. Ozzy Diaz, UFC Fight Night 248 (via UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Record: 18-6 MMA, 2-0 UFC
Past 5: 5-0
Key wins: Ozzy Diaz, Brendson Ribeiro
Carlos Prates
Carlos Prates def. Neil Magny, UFC Fight Night 247 (via UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Record: 21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC
Past 5: 5-0
Key wins: Neil Magny, Jingliang Li, Trevin Giles
Erin Blanchfield
Nov 12, 2022; New York, NY, USA; Erin Blanchfield (red gloves) and Molly McCann (blue gloves) during UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports
Division: Women’s flyweight
Record: 13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC
Past 5: 4-1
Key wins: Rose Namajunas, Taila Santos, Jessica Andrade, Molly McCann, Miranda Maverick
Tatsuro Taira
Tatsuro Taira
Division: Flyweight
Record: 16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC
Past 5: 4-1
Key wins: Alex Perez, Carlos Hernandez
Ignacio Bahamondes
Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Manuel Torres of Mexico (red gloves) fights Ignacio Bahamondes of Chile (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Division: Lightweight
Record: 16-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC
Past 5: 4-1
Key wins: Manuel Torres, Christos Giagos
Bryan Battle
Dec 7, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Bryan Battle (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Randy Brown (red gloves) at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Division: Welterweight
Record: 12-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC
Past 5: 4-1
Key wins: Randy Brown, Kevin Jousset, Gabe Green, Takashi Soto
Michael Morales
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 24: Michael Morales of Ecuador battles Neil Magny in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 24, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Division: Welterweight
Record: 17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC
Past 5: 5-0
Key wins: Neil Magny, Jake Matthews, Max Griffin, Trevin Giles
Carlos Ulberg
Carlos Ulberg def. Alonzo Menifield, UFC on ESPN 56 (via UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Record: 11-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC
Past 5: 5-0
Key wins: Volkan Oezdemir, Alonzo Menifield, Da Woon Jung, Ihor Potieria
Yadong Song
Mar 9, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Song Yadong (blue gloves) fights Peter Yan (red gloves) during UFC 299 at Kayesa Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Division: Bantamweight
Record: 21-8-1 MMA, 10-3-1 UFC
Past 5: 3-2
Key wins: Chris Gutierrez, Ricky Simon, Marlon Vera
Daniel Zellhuber
Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Daniel Zellhuber of Mexico (red gloves) fights Esteban Ribovics of Argentina (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Division: Lightweight
Record: 15-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC
Past 5: 3-2
Key wins: Francisco Prado, Christo Giagos, Lando Vannata, Lucas Almeida
Oban Elliott
Nov 16, 2024; New York, NY, USA; Oban Elliott (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Bassil Hafez (red gloves) in the welterweight bout during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Division: Welterweight
Record: 12-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC
Past 5: 5-0
Key wins: Bassil H afez, Preston Parsons
Natalia Silva
Natalia Silva def. Jessica Andrade, UFC Fight Night 242
Division: Women’s flyweight
Record: 18-5-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC
Past 5: 5-0
Key wins: Jessica Andrade, Viviane Araujo, Andrea Lee, Jasmine Jasudavicius
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