Shutterstock
Shutterstock
The youngest champion in the history of the UFC remains American Jon Jones, who won the belt at the age of 23 almost nine years ago. Usually, at best, fighters are just beginning their careers in the leading MMA promotion at this age. Therefore, we can only guess at their future path, highlighting the most promising athletes of the new generation.
It is worth noting that online casinos in India also have UFC-themed games. You can try them if you are a fan of the sport.
The most promising fighters can be considered these:
- Sean O’Malley;
- Jack Shore;
- Bryce Mitchell.
Sean O’Malley
One of the promotions most talked about prospects in recent years has turned out to be Sean O’Malley. The 25-year-old American with deceptive looks has everything to become the dominant leader of the division and a media star of Conor McGregor’s level.
The flamboyant athlete might have already entered the championship race, but disqualification put his career on hold. Then, in 2018, O’Malley was suspended due to a positive doping sample. However, it was later revealed that the fighter had not knowingly taken a banned drug but had contracted a contaminated food supplement.
The American, nicknamed Sugar, returned to the Octagon only after two years. In early March, at a tournament in Las Vegas, O’Malley proved that he didn’t lose his brightest skills. In two minutes, Sean handled Jose Quiñones technically and calmly, knocking him out. The American took away a $50,000 bonus for the “Performance of the Night” and made the sports media talk about himself. There’s no doubt that O’Malley is about to get the most severe challenge of his career and, at the same time, a chance to break into the top 15 of the lightest weight.
Umar Nurmagomedov
The inclusion of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin in the list of the promotion’s most promising fighters can be considered an advance because he has not even had time to make his debut in the Octagon. Umar is scheduled to fight Azur Hunter, also undefeated, at UFC 249, the future of which is unknown due to the coronavirus situation.
Undoubtedly, Nurmagomedov is a talented athlete, but his level of opposition in the strongest MMA league in the world will increase by order of magnitude. Nevertheless, according to his entourage, the 24-year-old athlete is ready for the new step. The trainer and uncle of the fighter Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov even predicted that his ward would replace Peter Yang as the dominant Russian in the lightest division within a year and a half.
In anticipation of his debut, Umar himself made some noise in the information field. The athlete briefly shared with UFC Russia his plans to “demolish” Yang, O’Malley, and lightweight champion Henry Sehudo.
Jack Shore
Another lightweight division talent is in the shadow of the “new McGregor” and “Khabib’s brother” headlines. The humble Jack Shore has a versatile skill set and solid stats, and his UFC debut earned him a chokehold victory and a Performance of the Night bonus. The 25-year-old Welshman was scheduled to fight next in London, but the coronavirus canceled the tournament.
Bryce Mitchell
The American made his UFC debut in the summer of 2018 and became an Internet star at the same time. However, it happened not because of his professional achievements but because of a drill that hurt his scrotum.
Bryce Mitchell has recovered from the injury, and his career has continued. Over the past year, the athlete has had two wins, each earning him a bonus. The 25-year-old American won by a rare “twister” painful hold in the last fight, which happened for only the second time in UFC history. As a result, the league ranked Mitchell’s sub for the best fight of 2019.
Arman Tsarukyan
The athlete, born in Georgia and living in Krasnodar, is gaining popularity in the former Soviet Union. In the UFC, Arman Tsarukyan decided to represent Armenia but regularly appeared in public also with the Russian flag.
One year ago, he made his debut in the Octagon at the St. Petersburg tournament. He competed against a Russian, Islam Makhachev, and both won the fight of the night award. Tsarukyan impressed the UFC matchmakers so much that his next fight was scheduled on the main card of the numbered show even after the loss.
In July, the fighter scored his first win in the Octagon and effectively escorted the once-promising Olivier Aubin-Mercier out of the promotion. His next opponent was Brazilian Davy Ramos, but his plans were ruined by coronavirus even in their case. But Russian mixed martial arts fans will miss the 23-year-old prospect even more.
Kalinn Williams
The American fighter made his UFC debut very recently and did it perfectly. Kalinn Williams knocked out stalwart Alex Morono in half a minute at the February numbered tournament and earned a Performance of the Night bonus. A test of the 25-year-old American by the unstoppable Laureano Staropoli was already scheduled for late March, but that fight has also been postponed indefinitely.
Edman Shahbazyan
The American of Armenian descent can be considered a true top middleweight contender. Edman Shahbazian came into the UFC in a whirlwind and, in four fights, worked his way up to the ninth place in the division standings.
However, the athlete nicknamed Golden Boy is only 22 years old, so his potential is awe-inspiring. Punching power is Shahbazyan’s main trump card, but he started to win with submissions not so long ago. By the way, in the last three fights, the Americans succeeded in about four minutes. His next fight against number eight middleweight Derek Brunson is postponed.
Jimmy Krut
The versatile Australian fighter made it to the UFC in 2018. Unfortunately, Jimmy Krut suffered his only loss six months ago in the most vital promotion, losing to Canada’s Michael Cirkunov of the top-15 division. However, the 24-year-old is back on the winning track, received the Performance of the Night bonus at the February tournament in Australia, and promised to prove more than once more that he is the top prospect in the flyweight division.
Macy Barber
The youngest member of our selection is 21 years old. But Macy Barber has been competing in the UFC for almost a year and a half and is ranked ninth in the featherweight division. So yes, it’s not one of the most competitive women’s divisions, but the American is genuinely endowed with talent.
Barber remains the hope of women’s mixed martial arts even after losing her last fight. However, now the athlete is in desperate need of support, as she tore her cruciate ligament in that fight and is out for the long term.
Aspen Ladd
By the age of 25, Aspen Ladd almost made it to a title fight. She probably would have had time to fight for the belt if not for last summer’s loss to Jermaine De Randamie. The American was knocked out in 16 seconds.
Many fans have rushed to write Ladd off, but she’s still aiming for the top of the division, where Amanda Nunez reigns supreme. The American defeated Russia’s Yana Kunitskaya in December, and now Aspen is number three at flyweight and ranks tenth overall in the UFC women’s rankings.
