Well, another decade of mixed martial arts action is in the books.
The 2010s featured the emergence of superstars such as Jon Jones, Conor McGregor, and Ronda Rousey. For the first time in UFC history, a simultaneous double champion was crowned in McGregor. And then it happened again (Daniel Cormier, and again (Amanda Nunes, and again (Henry Cejudo).
The next decade is almost guaranteed to provide us with the next generation of UFC, Bellator, and PFL champions. But who are the likely candidates to become future stars?
From hot UFC and Bellator prospects, to fighters on the regional scene, to athletes yet to compete in MMA, the up-and-comer harvest is plentiful. Who could be the next McGregor? The next Israel Adesanya? The next Zhang Weili?
Let’s take a look into MMA Junkie’s crystal ball and see who could cross the threshold into stardom over the span of the next decade.
Two parameters were set for this list:
- Fighters must be younger than age 30.
- Fighters have yet to hold a major organization’s title.
Fighters who fit the criteria but have seemingly already achieved stardom were not considered.
Without further ado …
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Maycee Barber
Record: 8-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC
Age: 21
Weight class: Flyweight
Height: 5’5″
Birthplace: Greeley, Colo.
Next Fight: Jan. 18 vs. Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 246 in Las Vegas
Nicknamed “The Future,” Maycee Barber is just that. The strawweight has proven her worth in a short period of time, competing for LFA and on Dana White’s Contender Series prior to her UFC debut. Three fights into her promotional tenure, Barber sports a 100 percent finishing rate. In her most recent outing in October, Barber blitzed and TKO’d fellow top prospect Gillian Robertson. The win moved Barber one step closer to her publicly set goal of becoming the youngest UFC champion ever. She’ll look to continue her climb when she takes on her highest-ranked opponent to date, Roxanne Modafferi, at UFC 246 on Jan. 18.
Paulo Costa
Record: 13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC
Age: 28
Weight class: Middleweight
Height: 6’1″
Birthplace: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Next Fight: TBA
It almost seems like a misprint that Paulo Costa can qualify for this list – but he does. It’s easy to forget his age and relatively brief UFC tenure when looking at his accomplishments. A physical specimen, the Brazilian middleweight Costa has quickly risen through the ranks en route to title contention. Costa went the distance for the first time in his career in August. In doing so, he defeated his most notable opponent to date, two-time title challenger Yoel Romero. The victory presumably has set Costa up for a title shot against champion Israel Adesanya. However, a shoulder injury has delayed “Borrachinha’s” return – but the rivalry with Adesanya is continuing to build in the meantime.
Mike Davis
Record: 8-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC
Age: 27
Weight class: Lightweight
Height: 6’0″
Birthplace: South Cairo, N.Y.
Next Fight: TBA
With an 80 percent winning percentage, Mike Davis doesn’t have a bad record by any means. But still, it isn’t representative of the skills he possesses. The Florida-based lightweight has only lost two top-tier talents in Sodiq Yusuff and Gilbert Burns. With crisp boxing and a strong ground game, Davis is a scary matchup for any member of the UFC’s 155-pound division. Just imagine how good he could become. The man hasn’t even hit the dozen-fight mark of his pro MMA career. In his most recent bout, Davis administered one of the year’s biggest beatdowns, pummeling Thomas Gifford at UFC on ESPN+ 19 in October.
Ciryl Gane
Record: 6-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC
Age: 29
Weight class: Heavyweight
Height: 6’5″
Birthplace: France
Next Fight: TBA
It’s been a long time since MMA has seen a heavyweight prospect with the upside of Ciryl Gane. Working under esteemed MMA coach Fernand Lopez, France’s Gane has served as a main training partner for Francis Ngannou. Now, it’s his time. Possessing many of the same skills as Ngannou, Gane also brings some differences to the table. His athleticism and quickness is unusual for a heavyweight. Possessing a strong kickboxing background, Gane has shown he’s evolved past being a one-dimensional competitor. In two out of his three UFC outings, Gane has won by submission.
Christian Edwards
Record: 2-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA
Age: 21
Weight class: Light heavyweight
Height: 6’2″
Birthplace: Oklahoma
Next Fight: TBA
At 21, Christian Edwards’ potential ceiling hasn’t even been scraped. As highly touted a fighter as they come on the amateur scene, Edwards elected to sign a multi-fight deal with Bellator upon turning pro. The move will undoubtedly allow Edwards a hand-crafted route to reaching his max potential. Like A.J. McKee, Ed Ruth, and others who signed with a 0-0 record, Edwards will likely face a slow burn. But after his most recent outing at Bellator 233, a 16-second head kick victory, Edwards might be facing tougher opposition quicker than expected. His Jackson Wink MMA coaches and teammates certainly seem to think he’s ready.
Nasrat Haqparast
Record: 11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC
Age: 24
Weight class: Lightweight
Height: 5’10”
Birthplace: Germany
Next Fight: Jan. 18 vs. Drew Dober at UFC 246 in Las Vegas
When Nasrat Haqparast signed with the UFC, some questioned what his ability to hang at the highest level. However, neither his record on paper, nor the skill level of his opponents, was reflective of his pure skills. Crisp boxing, hard punches, and the ability to finish the fight at any time — Haparast possess all of the tools. Training under Firas Zahabi at Montreal’s Tristar has only helped improve his already sharp tools. On Jan. 18, Haqparast will have the opportunity to potentially earn a top-15 matchup should he defeat Drew Dober.
Valerie Loureda
Record: 2-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA
Age: 21
Weight class: Flyweight
Height: 5’4″
Birthplace: Miami, Fla.
Next Fight: TBA
Just two fights into her pro MMA career, Valerie Loureda’s star power has already started to shine. Bringing a strong taekwondo background with her each times she steps in the cage, Loureda has been able to stir up much attention outside of the cage, as well. Her social media presence is strong, with approximately 178,700 followers between her Instagram and Twitter accounts. But don’t get it twisted, Loureda can fight. While still in the early development stages of her career, Loureda has passed both of her Bellator tests with relative ease.
Zabit Magomedsharipov
Record: 18-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC
Age: 28
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 6’1″
Birthplace: Russia
Next Fight: TBA
It’s crazy to think Zabit Magomedsharipov is two years shy of 30. The flashy Russian striker has already captivated MMA fans around the world on the biggest stage. With wins over fellow contenders Jeremy Stephens and Calvin Kattar, Magomedsharipov is closer than ever to getting his first crack at UFC gold. The 6-foot-1 featherweight presents a unique stylistic matchup. Whether it be newly crowned UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, Chan Sung Jung, Yair Rodriguez, or someone else, expect Magomedsharipov to be booked for a major fight soon.
Islam Makhachev
Record: 18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC
Age: 28
Weight class: Lightweight
Height: 5’10”
Birthplace: Dagestan, Russia
Next Fight: TBA
Islam Makhachev is one of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s main training partners and for good reason. Watching the two lightweights compete, they share many similarities. Bringing a strong Dagestani wrestling game to the table, Makhachev has also shown off his slick striking throughout his career. Just rewatch his quick knockout of Gleison Tibau at UFC 220 – the Russian lightweight hits hard. Hopefully 2020 brings Makhachev a step up in competition, because he seemingly deserves it. He’s won six straight against unranked opponents. It’s time for him to take his game to the next level.
A.J. McKee
Record: 16-0 MMA, 16-0 BMMA
Age: 24
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’10”
Birthplace: Long Beach, Calif.
Next Fight: TBA
Slowly but surely, A.J. McKee is becoming the face of Bellator MMA. His versatile skillset inside the cage, matched with his boldness and confidence outside of it is unusual. If you need an example of Bellator’s ability to build prospects into stars, look no further than McKee. It’s been a slow burn at times, but McKee is finally competing with the big boys. Currently in the midst of the Bellator featherweight grand prix, McKee has handled Derek Campos and Georgi Karakhanyan and is inching closer to a grudge match with rival and champion Patricio Freire.
Geoff Neal
Record: 13-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC
Age: 29
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Welterweight
Next Fight: TBA
With a superstar team at Fortis MMA backing him, Geoff Neal has emerged as the UFC’s dark horse at 170 pounds. Signed following a victorious performance on DWCS, Neal has proven to be a true talent in his short promotional tenure. If viewers weren’t sold after his brutal headkick knockout of Frank Camacho or his ground-and-pound finish of Niko Price, his most recent outing likely did the trick. Taking on Mike Perry at UFC 245, Neal only needed 90 seconds to add another win to his record.
Bo Nickal
Record: 0-0 MMA
Age: 23
Weight class: TBA
Height: 6’1″
Birthplace: Rifle, Colo.
Next Fight: TBA
Yes, Bo Nickal hasn’t had an MMA fight yet, but that doesn’t mean fight fans shouldn’t be excited. Any time an elite-level wrestler of Nickal’s caliber decides to strap on a pair of gloves, it’s worth following along. Nickal is no different. A three-time NCAA wrestling champion and a three-time Big Ten Champion at Penn State University, Nickal recently revealed his plans to delve into the world of MMA. Having signed with First Round Management, Nickal has penciled in long-term plans to compete in MMA after a run in the Olympics.
Sean O’Malley
Record: 10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC
Age: 25
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Helena, Mont.
Next Fight: Feb. 8 vs. Jose Quinonez at UFC 247 in Houston
Sean O'Malley hasn’t even had three fights under the UFC banner, but he’s slowly becoming one of the most recognizable characters in the sport. His uniqueness both inside and outside the cage paired with his age made him a shoe-in for this list. While he hasn’t managed to make the walk to the cage since March 2018, O’Malley’s absence may have escalated his popularity. Anticipation has been continually building for his return. Whether you love him, hate him, or feel indifferent, it’s probably you want to see him compete. That’s the bottom line. On Feb. 8, the time will finally come for O’Malley to show off what he’s been working on for the past 23 months.
Yair Rodriguez
Record: 13-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC
Age: 27
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico
Next Fight: TBA
Excitement. Evolution. Versatility. Yair Rodriguez exemplifies it all. Only 27, Rodriguez has already proven he’s one of the best 145-pounders in the world. It only seems natural that with another win, he’ll be getting his crack at title gold. Representing a nation that doesn’t have a ton of native sons and daughters at the championship level, Rodriguez could become the first Mexico-born UFC champion in the promotion’s history. His win over Jeremy Stephens in October elevated him one step closer to that goal.
Max Rohskopf
Record: 4-0 MMA
Age: 25
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 6’0″
Birthplace: Killbuck, Ohio
Next Fight: TBA
It’s unlikely everyone reading this list knows who Max Rohskopf is. But you will, soon enough. The 25-year-old fighter is one of the hottest 170-pound prospects in the world. He’s only had four fights, but his roots in combat sports extends past is pro career. An NCAA wrestler at North Carolina, Rohskopf entered MMA with a strong grappling background. The Ohioan has only had four MMA bouts, largely due to the fact he’s been having trouble finding opponents. From the small sample size, it’s easy to tell he’s something special. He’s finished all four of his opponents by submission and has never seen a third round. Most recently, the Xtreme Couture product submitted DWCS alumnus Zach Zane in 61 seconds.
Cory Sandhagen
Record: 12-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC
Age: 27
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Aurora, Colo.
Next Fight: TBA
Cory Sandhagen flew under the radar at one point in time, but he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves. A master of technical violence, Sandhagen has notched wins over name opponents like Raphael Assuncao and John Lineker. While he was the odd man out at the top of the 135-pound division as 2019 came to a close, Sandhagen is likely on tap for a major matchup in early 2020. His length will be an awkward puzzle for any opponent to figure out. After all, none have been able to yet. If Sandhagen continues along his trajectory, it’s more than possible he could clinch the 135-pound title in the 20s.
Edmen Shahbazyan
Record: 11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC
Age: 22
Weight class: Middleweight
Height: 6’2″
Birthplace: Glendale, Calif.
Next Fight: TBA
The top of the UFC’s 185-pound division is filled with big names such as champ Israel Adesanya, former champ Robert Whittaker, and fan-favorite Yoel Romero. But when it comes to the next generation, there aren’t a ton of fighters who stick out of the crowd. Enter Edmen Shahbazyan. The Edmund Taverdyan and Ronda Rousey product has been nothing short of anomaly at 185 pounds, especially when considering his age. Entering the UFC at 20 years old, Shahbazyan has made grown men look silly. Taking a big step up in competition in his most recent outing at UFC 244, Shahbazyan seized the moment with a head-kick knockout of Brad Tavares. This kid is scary good – and he’s only 11 fights into his pro MMA career.
Tatiana Suarez
Record: 8-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC
Age: 29
Weight class: Strawweight
Height: 5’5″
Birthplace: Covina, Calif.
Next Fight: TBA
With Zhang Weili stealing both the spotlight and the UFC women’s strawweight title away from former champ Jessica Andrade, it’s possible you’ve forgotten Tatiana Suarez is a talented, promising rising star at 115 pounds. The strawweight winner on season 23 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Suarez rose straight to the top of the division with wins over Viviane Pereira, Alexa Grasso, Carla Esparza, and Nina Ansaroff. With a heavy top game and multi-faceted attack, Suarez is still near the top of the division despite her absence. Once her neck issue gets cleared up, expect Suarez to threaten whoever holds the UFC’s 115-pound title belt.
Petr Yan
Record: 14-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC
Age: 26
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’7″
Birthplace: Russia
Next Fight: TBA
Petr Yan is the perfect mix of just about everything you want to see in a future star. He’s violent, yet finesse. He’s a brawler, yet technical. He’s not fluent in English, but has still been able to successfully promote himself to American audiences. And when it comes to the UFC bantamweight title picture, he’s right there. Yan had high-level experience in the Russian big leagues and he’s only expanded on that since signing with the UFC. Most recently, Yan dismantled a legend and UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber with relative ease. Now Yan has his sights set on Olympic medalist and UFC champ Henry Cejudo – a fight which could cement Yan’s star status should he win.
Sodiq Yusuff
Record: 10-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC
Age: 26
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’9″
Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria
Next Fight: Jan. 18 vs. Andre Fili at UFC 246 in Las Vegas
One of the most exciting prospects at 145 pounds – or heck, even in all of MMA regardless of weight class – Sodiq Yusuff is appointment viewing. Part of the recent surge of African fighters into high-level MMA, Yusuff continues to gain popularity with each outing. Power, speed, and technique – Sodiq has a lot going for him. Four fights into his UFC career, Yusuff is already on the doorstep of the top 15. Should he beat Andre Fili at UFC 246, “Super” could elevate himself into the top 10. If he does, a subsequent push toward gold would be next.
Check out the honorable mentions list on the next page.
Honorable Mentions
Sean Brady
Record: 11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC
Age: 27
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 5’10”
Birthplace: Fox Chase, Pennsylvania
Next Fight: Feb. 29 vs. Ismail Naurdiev at UFC TBA in Norfolk, Va.
Shane Burgos
Record: 13-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC
Age: 28
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Bronx, New York
Next Fight: TBA
Tracy Cortez
Record: 7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC
Age: 26
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’5″
Birthplace: Phoenix, Ariz.
Next Fight: TBA
Randy Costa
Record: 5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC
Age: 25
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’9″
Birthplace: Taunton, Mass.
Next Fight: TBA
Joey Davis
Record: 7-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA
Age: 26
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Compton, Calif.
Next Fight: TBA
Grant Dawson
Record: 14-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC
Age: 25
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’10”
Birthplace: Stromsburg, Neb.
Next Fight: Jan. 18 vs. Chas Skelly at UFC 246 in Las Vegas
Aviv Gozali
Record: 4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA
Age: 19
Weight class: Lightweight
Height: 5’10”
Birthplace: Israel
Next Fight: TBA
Chase Hooper
Record: 9-0-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC
Age: 20
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 6’1″
Birthplace: Enumclaw, Wash.
Next Fight: TBA
Dan Ige
Record: 12-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC
Age: 28
Weight class: Featherweight
Height: 5’7″
Birthplace: Hawaii
Next Fight: Feb. 8 vs. Mirsad Bektic at UFC 247 in Houston
Uros Jurisic
Record: 10-0 MMA
Age: 27
Weight class: Welterweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Slovenia
Next Fight: TBA
Patrick Mix
Record: 12-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA
Age: 26
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Buffalo, N.Y.
Next Fight: Dec. 31 vs. Yuki Motoya at RIZIN 20 in Saitama, Japan
Killys Mota
Record: 12-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA
Age: 29
Weight class: Lightweight
Height: 5’11”
Birthplace: Registro, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Next Fight: TBA
Amanda Ribas
Record: 8-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC
Age: 26
Weight class: Strawweight
Height: 5’4″
Birthplace: Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Next Fight: March 14 vs. Paige VanZant at UFC TBA in Brasilia, Brazil
Jack Shore
Record: 12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC
Age: 24
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’9″
Birthplace: Wales
Next Fight: TBA
Puna Soriano
Record: 7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC
Age: 27
Weight class: Middleweight
Height: 6’0″
Birthplace: Hawaii
Next Fight: TBA
