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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Nolan King

Young Blood: The 17 youngest fighters on the current UFC roster

When Dana White offered Raul Rosas Jr. a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, he made history.

Rosas’ signing is impending, which will make him the youngest fighter in UFC history at just 17. He is also the only teenager on the roster and one of only 17 fighters 23 years old or younger.

Thirteen of said fighters have already made their promotional debuts, while Rosas and three other recent signees eagerly await their first UFC walks.

Scroll through the list below to see the 17 youngest fighters in the UFC.

17
Viktoriya Dudakova

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 30: Viktoriia Dudakova of Russia prepares to fight Maria Silva of Brazil in a strawweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six, week six at UFC APEX on August 30, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Age: 23 years, 7 months, 26 days

Record: 6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC

Next fight: TBA

16
Yazmin Jauregui

Aug 13, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Yazmin Jauregui (red gloves) fights against Iasmin Lucindo (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Pechanga Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Age: 23 years, 6 months, 24 days

Record: 9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC

Next fight: TBA

15
Francis Marshall

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 02: Francis Marshall prepares to fight Connor Matthews in a featherweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six, week two at UFC APEX on August 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Age: 23 years, 6 months, 12 days

Record: 6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC

Next fight: Dec. 3 at UFC Fight Night vs. Marcelo Rojo (16-8 MMA, 0-2 UFC)

14
Brady Hiestand

Ricky Turcios vs. Brady Hiestand

Age: 23 years, 4 months, 22 days

Record: 5-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC

Next fight: Nov. 19 at UFC Fight Night vs. Fernie Garcia (10-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)

13
Erin Blanchfield

Erin Blanchfield

Age: 23 years, 4 months, 17 days

Record: 9-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC

Next fight: Nov. 12 at UFC 281 vs. Molly McCann (13-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC

12
Michael Morales

Jul 30, 2022; Dallas, TX, USA; Michael Morales (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Adam Fugitt (not pictured) in a welterweight bout during UFC 277 at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Age: 23 years, 2 months, 28 days

Record: 14-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC

Next fight: TBA

11
Daniel Zellhuber

Daniel Zellhuber

Age: 23 years, 2 months, 14 days

Record: 12-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC

Next fight: TBA

10
Cory McKenna

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 11: Cory McKenna celebrates after her victory over Vanessa Demopoulos in a strawweight fight during week two of Dana White’s Contender Series season four at UFC APEX on August 11, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/DWCS LLC/Zuffa LLC)

Age: 23 years, 2 months, 10 days

Record: 7-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC

Next fight: TBA

9
Chase Hooper

Chase Hooper

Age: 23 years, 0 months, 8 days

Record: 11-2-1 MMA, 3-2 UFC

Next fight: Oct. 29 at UFC Fight Night vs. Steve Garcia (12-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC)

8
Nurullo Aliev

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 20: Nurullo Aliev of Tajikistan prepares to fight Josh Wick in a lightweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six week nine at UFC APEX on September 20, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Age: 22 years, 11 months, 5 days

Record: 7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC

Next fight: TBA

7
Hayisaer Maheshate

Age: 22 years, 9 months, 20 days

Record: 9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC

Next fight: TBA

6
Tatsuro Taira

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 14: (R-L) Tatsuro Taira of Japan punches Carlos Candelario in a flyweight fight at UFC APEX on May 14, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Age: 22 years, 7 months, 25 days

Record: 11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC

Next fight: Oct. 15 at UFC Fight Night 212 vs. C.J. Vergara (10-3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)

5
Muhammad Mokaev

Jul 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Muhammad Mokaev (red gloves) during his fight against Charles Johnson (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

Age: 22 years, 1 month, 22 days

Record: 7-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC

Next fight: Oct. 22 at UFC 280 vs. Malcolm Gordon (14-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC)

4
Yusaku Kinoshita

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 30: Yusaku Kinoshita of Japan reacts after his knockout victory over Jose Henrique of Brazil in a welterweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six, week six at UFC APEX on August 30, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Age: 22 years, 1 month, 0 days

Record: 6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC

Next fight: TBA

3
Cameron Saaiman

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 23: Cameron Saaiman of South Africa prepares to fight Joshua Wang-Kim in a bantamweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six, week five at UFC APEX on August 23, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Age: 21 years, 9 months, 1 day

Record: 6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC

Next fight: TBA

2
Iasmin Lucindo

Aug 13, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Yazmin Jauregui (red gloves) fights against Iasmin Lucindo (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Pechanga Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Age: 20 years, 8 months, 13 days

Record: 13-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC

Next fight: TBA

1
Raul Rosas Jr.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 20: (R-L) Raul Rosas Jr. punches Mando Gutierrez in a bantamweight fight during Dana White’s Contender Series season six week nine at UFC APEX on September 20, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Age: 17 years, 11 months, 13 days

Record: 6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC

Next fight: TBA

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