Top 20 MMA prospects to watch in 2025

Despite the UFC’s reach and schedule feeling suffocating at times, there’s a ton of worthwhile talent that resides outside of the umbrella of the world’s leader when it comes to MMA.

In fact, between the constant growth of the sport to the UFC’s semi-recent business trends and how it affects the promotion’s talent cultivation, one could argue that life outside the octagon has never been richer.

With that in mind, I decided to go down the proverbial rabbit hole in order to compile a list of solid prospects that are either set to make big splashes or are worth keeping an eye on given their potential.

Lists like these are impossible to satisfy everyone, so I elected not to rank my selections. That said, I’m quite excited to share my findings.

So, without further ado …

Paris Moran

Record: 12-2Age: 22Division: Flyweight

With flyweight continuing to get bigger, it’s hard not to notice fighters like Paris Moran climbing the regional ranks.

A fighter who’s been on prospect wiz Shawn Bitter’s radar for some time, Moran checks off a lot of the proverbial boxes I look for when scouting talent.

Although the American can keep his head on center a bit too much for my liking, Moran’s size and skills help keep him insulated at range when competing against other 125-pound fighters. Moran’s background in Sanda also appears to lend itself to his distance management abilities, making solid reads from his southpaw stance.

Moran shows solid defensive wrestling in the open and against the fence, demonstrating a knack for turning defense into opportunistic offense at the drop of a dime. I’m also a fan of Moran’s composure given his age, as I see big opportunities for the Fury FC flyweight champion coming this year.

Murad Ibragimov

Record: 4-0Age: 23Division: Bantamweight

Despite Murad Ibragimov only having four professional fights to his name, the Russian-born fighter has an extensive amateur background – winning an IMMAF world title in 2022 – and has been wrestling (freestyle) since the age of 9.

Although I’d still like to see more connective tissue and depth at boxing range, Ibragimov appears comfortable striking from distance and offers a slew of slick kicks from his southpaw stance.

Ibragimov is more than capable of changing his level for reactive shots in the open, but the Dagestani prospect operates in the clinch like second nature, showing an undeniable athleticism in his ability to turn defense into offense that I’ve not seen on the Russian regional scene since Oleg Borisov was competing under the ACB banner.

Once Ibragimov can ground his opposition, the 23-year-old has proven he can control the action, advance position and close the show.

Ibragimov now fights out of the KHK MMA team in Bahrain, where he trains with longtime stablemate, Islam Makhachev.

Marcos Degli

Record: 11-3Age: 24Division: Flyweight

Flyweight’s future continues to look bright so long as fighters like Marcos Degli can make the weight in what is a growing weight class (in more ways than one).

Despite starting his career off with two competitive losses by decision, Degli has since gone on to amass an 11-1 record, with the lone loss coming to UFC flyweight Felipe dos Santos. And if you want to run down the MMA math rabbit hole, dos Santos just lost to another hot prospect in Andre Lima – a fighter whom Degli defeated during his undefeated amateur run.

Stylistically, Degli is as well-rounded as you’d expect from anyone who competes at 125 pounds, but the Brazilian brings a nice balance between breakneck action and high fight I.Q. that’s easy to appreciate.

From flying knees to well-timed level changes, there are plenty of directions that Degli can hypothetically take a fight. And when the party hits the floor, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt is not picky when it comes to his paths for victory.

Marko Bojkovic

Record: 8-0Age: 23Division: Lightweight

Although the term “action fighter” can be an overused one in this space, I can’t think of a better descriptor for a fighter as fun as Marko Bojkovic.

Looking like he was pre-programmed with all the UFC video game moves out of the chute, Bojkovic is a preternatural fighter to whom offense comes second nature.

From shifting offense to devastating counters, Bojkovic appears to already have a fully-fledged arsenal on the feet. And when it comes to his grappling game, the Serbian standout comes in tow with incredibly violent ground-and-pound, as well as opportunistic submissions if the occasion calls for it.

Bojkovic has strictly competed under the Croatian organization FNC thus far in his career, so I hope to see him test his skills in other shows this year.

George Mangos

Record: 6-0Age: 21Division: Featherweight

A fighter that my colleague Nolan King made me aware of, there was no way I was going to leave off someone like George Mangos.

Widely considered the best Anzac prospect from Australia to New Zealand, Sydney’s Mangos has made a name for himself by competing against tough regional fighters under promotions like Eternal MMA and HEX Fight Series.

Mangos appears to be an incredibly well-rounded fighter who can make some solid adjustments on the fly. From head kicks up high to opportunistic back-takes in the heat of scrambles, Magnos has a natural aptitude for the fight game.

Fighting out of the Lion’s Den Academy, Mangos represents the newest wave of Australian talent. Mangos is currently set to defend his HEX Fight Series featherweight title in March, and could earn himself a shot on Dana White’s Contender Series should he put on another impressive performance.

Jacinta Austin

Record: 8-1Age: 30Division: Strawweight

Staying in Australia, let’s give some love to the ladies by looking at strawweight prospect, Jacinta Austin.

Despite having a tough 2023 that saw her lose a split decision to Josefine Knutsson and come up short for an Oktagon title, Austin was able to bounce back with a strong 2024, going 3-0 en route to accruing belts in both UAE Warriors and Eternal MMA.

An experienced kickboxer who has competed under everything from muay Thai to K-1 rule sets, Austin’s comfort on the feet certainly helps her stand out from her contemporaries.

From healthy doses of jabs and straight punches to a slew of offense in clinch space, Austin appears equipped to slug it out with almost anyone at 115 pounds. The Australian has also made noted improvements to her ground game, showing everything from well-timed takedowns to aggressive ground-and-pound.

And when Austin can establish a dominant position, she appears to have little issue with closing the show.

Aside from having the look that the UFC loves to market, Austin, more importantly, seems to have the skills to back it up.

Anis Ekubov

Record: 8-1Age: 25Division: Flyweight

At the risk of going to the flyweight well too often, I couldn’t help but include Anis Ekubov on this list.

Ekubov competes in a tough (and secluded) circuit under the ACA banner, but his Tajik roots and fan-friendly stylings could be enough to garner attention from the UFC matchmakers.

Although Ekubov is a more than competent wrestler, the 25-year-old from Tajikistan comports himself more like Chute Boxe fighter Brazil.

Akin to someone like Thomas Almeida, Ekubov is not shy when it comes to closing the distance off knees or leading right hands. And when Ekubov finds himself in clinching range, he comes correct with frames and grips that allow him to turn the tables.

Most ACA fighters I like seem to get stuck over there, but I’m hoping that the UFC continues to show interest in Tajik fighters and tries to expand their flyweight division with talent like Ekubov.

Nicholas Hwende

Record: 8-2Age: 28Division: Bantamweight

Considering that Nicholas Hwende just took out a prospect whom I highlighted last year in Nkosi Ndebele for the Brave CF bantamweight title, I feel obliged to shout out the fighter from Zimbabwe here.

Resembling Marlo Stanfield from “The Wire,” Hwende appears to be a frustrating fighter to compete against.

Not only does Hwende seem to be competent from both stances on the feet, but the South African-based fighter is also a natural wrestler and scrambler with deceptive strength and athleticism. In fact, Hwende shows a knack for positional ground-and-pound that’s refreshing to see in the lighter weight classes.

Whether Hwende looks to defend his title or make a jump to the big show, I suspect that 2025 will be a key year in the African’s career.

Azamat Bekoev

Record: 18-3Age: 29Division: Middleweight

Before my bias toward the lighter weight classes becomes too obvious, allow me to highlight a middleweight worth keeping an eye on in Azamat Bekoev.

An LFA middleweight champion who trains out of American Top Team, Bekoev was last seen defending said title with a knockout over Chauncey Foxworth at LFA 186 last summer.

Despite the highlight shown above, Bekoev is more of a grinding fighter who tends to lean on his grappling to get the job done.

A master of sport in sambo who won the Russian Cup in 2017, Bekoev has no qualms when comes to snatching up a single leg and working his opposition over from topside.

Bekoev is not beyond being hurt and put in precarious positions (as seen in his title fight with Lucas Fernando), but the Russian fighter has shown solid composure and recovery to his credit.

Bekoev’s size and style doesn’t exactly help him jump off the proverbial page, but the 29-year-old’s experience and wrestling ability give him an undeniable edge over most middleweights in his orbit.

Amru Magomedov

Record: 8-0Age: 25Division: Lightweight

If this list was a ranked one, then Amru Magomedov would be toward the top of the list.

Known as the protege to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Magomedov has come up training with everyone from Usman Nurmagomedov to the late, great Abdul Manap Nurmagomedov.

Although Magomedov finishes a majority of his fights on the floor, the 25-year-old shows solid comfort on the feet, commanding a bevy of powerful kicks.

Magomedov appears to be shoring up his game at boxing range, filling space appropriately with jabs and counters. And when opponents come in hot, Magomedov – akin to Islam Makhachev – is good about utilizing collar ties to stymie strikes and segue into clinching scenarios.

Once Magomedov can get in on his opponent’s hips, then the Dagestani shows the relentless brand of grappling dominance that the Nurmagomedovs have popularized.

Magomedov is the current UAE Warriors lightweight champion, but don’t be shocked to see him picked up by the UFC by year’s end.

Rodrigo Sezinando

Record: 8-1Age: 26Division: Welterweight

Despite competing at non-traditional weight classes on the Canadian regional scene, Brazil’s Rodrigo Sezinando snags a spot on this list for his recent success up North.

Representing one of my favorite fighting archetypes, Sezinando is an accoladed Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt out of Nova Uniao who is not afraid to throw down in the pocket.

Sezinando may not be as polished on the feet as the fighters I alluded to in Jose Aldo or B.J. Penn, but the Brazilian displays a similar aptitude toward fighting that should take the 26-year-old fairly far in this game. And once Sezinando can establish a dominant position, he is good about immediately working toward a finish.

Sezinando’s lone loss comes in a catchweight fight to a natural middleweight, so hopefully the Brazilian stays within his more natural home of 170 pounds going forward.

Asaf Chopurov

Record: 6-0Age: 23Division: Bantamweight

When an analyst like Ryan Wagner tells you to check out an up-and-coming prospect, it behooves you to listen.

In this case, that prospect is Asaf Chopurov.

Despite only being 6-0 as a pro, Chopurov has an extensive amateur career where Azerbaijan amassed a 30-1 record en route to capturing multiple Russian and IMMAF titles.

Chopurov is as well-rounded as you’d expect for a bantamweight, but it’s his competence at boxing range that really allows him to connect his offense together.

Displaying a solid sense of range, Chopurov is good at drawing out offense in order to answer emphatically with his own. And once an opponent is hurt, Chopurov demonstrates effective killer instincts in multiple phases.

As far as grappling goes, Chopurov appears to have solid defensive fundamentals and works very well from topside or rear-waist-cinch positions.

I’m not sure if Chopurov will make it to any of the North American promotions in 2025, but I’m a big believer in his fan-friendly style.

Daniyar Toychubek uulu

Record: 10-0Age: 22Division: Flyweight

In keeping with fighters with slick hands, I thought I’d highlight the Central Asian flyweight, Daniyar Toychubek uulu.

Toychubek currently cuts his teeth on the tough ACA Russian regional scene, where he’s accrued some impressive stoppage wins.

Although I’d like to see more of Toychubek’s grappling depth tested, the Kyrgyzstani fighter demonstrates solid takedown defense and looks to be strong inside of the clinch.

From hips that are hardwired to sprawl to his ability to scramble via granby rolls, Toychubek appears to be a genuine puncher who is hard to control – making him a fantastic archetype for the flyweight division.

Kaleo Meheula

Record: 4-3Age: 29Division: Featherweight

Sticking with savvy strikers, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more exciting striker than Kaleo Meheula on this list.

Although Meheula’s professional record may not look as impressive at first glance, let me remind you that I put a 3-2 Xtreme Couture prospect in Matheus Camilo on previous lists, as Camilo has since exploded to 8-2 en route to getting signed by the UFC (as one of the few fighters to get signed without short notice circumstances or Contender Series contingencies attached, mind you). But I digress.

Meheula, akin to Camilo, is an incredibly talented martial artist who went through a rough transitional patch in his career during the early stages of the pandemic. Since then, Meheula has rounded out his skills under the care of Xtreme Couture and his head coach, Roman Isbell.

Now, Meheula is finding much more comfort when defending and operating in closed quarters. And once Meheula can get to space, the Hawaiian shows the shoulder-rolling swagger of a prime Bobby Green in the way he smoothly rolls with offense in order to return his own.

Meheula went 3-0 in 2024, earning stoppage wins across three different weight classes (bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight). “The Disciple” headlines a Fierce Fighting Championships show on Jan. 24 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Icaro Brito

Record: 8-1Age: 25Division: Featherweight

Hailing from the no longer unheralded Fighting Nerds team, Icaro Brito is the next prospect from that camp that we can expect to see in the big show this year.

Although I’d still like to see Brito’s ground game tested more meaningfully, there’s no denying the swagger he carries standing.

Utilizing his version of the karate-boxing archetype that his team clearly embraces, Brito carries a natural bounce to his step.

From a solid feinting presence to his ability to fight from both stances, Brito can seize striking initiatives and counter to equal effect – making for a frustrating read on the feet.

Brito is also not afraid to dig to the body, which is a big plus in my book.

Visa issues stifled Brito’s shot on Dana White’s Contender Series last year, so don’t be surprised to see the Fighting Nerds product get signed outright if the UFC makes a return to Brazil in the first or second quarter of 2025.

Akbar Abdullaev

Record: 11-0Age: 27Division: Featherweight

Kyrgyzstan continues to come strong with Akbar Abdullaev, who accounts for the second fighter from that country to make this list.

Coming in at 11-0 with a 100 percent finishing rate, it’s hard not to be impressed with Abdullaev and his undeniable power and proprioception.

From change-ups with his right hand on the fly to swarming strikes off the breaks, Abdullaev looks to be a suffocating fighter from multiple phases. And when Abdullaev is feeling in stride, he does well at digging into the body with everything from punches to spinning kicks.

Abdullaev is also an excellent wrestler who is not afraid to impose his will in closed quarters. Whether he’s working from a rear-waist cinch or is hitting crafty trips from the clinch, Abdullaev does not appear to be short on ideas when flowing through grappling positions.

Like many first-round finishers, I hope to see Abdullaev matched up with opponents who are durable enough to drag out his fights and test him further.

Abduallaev is scheduled to face ONE Fighting Championships lightweight champion, Kai Tang, on Jan. 10 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Luke Riley

Record: 10-0Age: 25Division: Featherweight

Despite this person being largely referred to as Paddy Pimblett’s protege, Luke Riley is a more impressive and interesting watch for my money.

Coming out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool, Riley is an exciting, action-first fighter who has natural instincts for this game.

Although his camp is known for its grappling, Riley is a solid striker who isn’t shy about going to the body. And whenever Riley can corrall his opposition toward the fence, the Englishman comes even further to life as he looks to unload a bevy of combination punches.

Riley appears to be comfortable in grappling exchanges, demonstrating composed problem-solving even when put into negative positions. Luckily for Riley, the 25-year-old looks to have fairly serviceable takedown defense with some strong hips in tow.

Visa issues appeared to stymie Riley’s shot on the last season of Dana White’s Contender Series, so I’ll be curious to see what the Graham Boyland-managed fighter’s next move is. Either way, it’s safe to say that Riley is in the proverbial UFC pipeline.

A’Keitheon Whitner

Record: 3-0Age: 30Division: Featherweight

Although this list is already loaded to the brim with featherweights, I had to make a special exception for a special athlete in A’Keitheon Whitner – a fighter whom I met during my travels in Thailand.

Despite being a D-1 cornerback who was No. 7 in the nation coming out of high school, Whitner made a surprising but successful transition into combat sports.

Not only has Whitner found success in striking arts ranging from boxing to muay Thai, but the savvy southpaw has also been able to develop his wrestling and grappling game under the care of Frank and George Hickman.

Working under the Hickman brothers at Bang Tao Muay Thai, Whitner has been able to expose himself to a ton of different looks from high-level training partners and coaches alike.

Whitner has some undeniable swagger when feeling his stride standing, but I believe that the American’s wrestling and ground-and-pound are quietly becoming his A-game in MMA. Either way, Whitner is a fighter worth looking out for.

Guram Gocashivili

Record: 2-0Age: 25Division: Middleweight

Despite there not being a lot of public info on Guram Gocashivili, I still wanted to include the Georgian fighter on this list.

Gocashivili, who is currently one of the main training partners to Alex Pereira at Teixeira MMA, is a Georgian judoka who trained with a Georgian Olympic team. Gocashivili has also been kickboxing since the age of 7, so striking is not exactly foreign to him either.

Glover Teixeira is incredibly high on this kid, proclaiming that his skills ceiling is up there with Poatan’s.

That’s lofty expectations for a 2-0 fighter who hasn’t competed since 2019, but Gocashivili is finally healthy and booked to get back to action this January at Fierce Fighting Championships 37.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Top 20 MMA prospects to watch in 2025