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If you’re a fan of mixed martial arts, you already know the biggest stage of MMA is the UFC, because this is truly where the greatest fighters face their utmost adversaries. Fighting in 14 weight classes, and 4 women’s weight classes, UFC’s roster is full of huge fighting talents. So, it’s no wonder that UFC events are always occasions to be celebrated.
Fans of the sport go wild during the big events, and punters go overboard on various betting sites like betjack.com trying their hardest to come up with the right predictions. However, not every fight demands the same amount of attention. Some showcase fights between prospects that thrive toward greatness, some matches soon get forgotten and buried under the passage of time. Great fighters are what the attention of the fans circle around.
Today, we’re looking at 5 such fighters that every MMA fan should keep their eyes on, because some of them promise some unforgettable fights, and some are destined for greatness.
Jon Jones
This list would not have been complete without Jon Jones in the first place. He who, time and again, proved himself to be a legend of this sport. He came into the scene like an avalanche, and in 2011 he became the youngest champion in UFC history by defeating then light heavyweight champion Maurício “Shogun” Rua. After that, title matches are all Bones Jones ever knew. He defended his title in the weight class 13 times in a row.
While these matches were big title fights for his opponents, for him, they were all just another day inside the octagon. Fighting Jones inside the ring was a nightmare for any fighter, and the reason was his diverse strikes and relentless attacking spree.
Now that Jones is back in the UFC landscape, it will be interesting to see this undefeated fighter taking on the heavyweight division. And it’s such a disappointment for the fans that they can not see Jones go against the current heavyweight champion–Francis Ngannou, as UFC released him last month in a controversial deal.
Jones first match against Ciryl Gane is scheduled on March 5th and winning it will earn him the UFC heavyweight title; another feather to add in his cap. Let’s see what the future holds for this insanely skillful and intelligent fighter.
Khamzat Chimaev
Another young prospect in this list, Khamzat is a cousin of the great Khabib Nurmagomedov himself. He sports grappling skills seemingly inherent in Nurmagomedov cousins, which makes it incredibly hard for any fighter to beat him on the canvas. And the resemblance of his grappling techniques with Khabib’s is hard to not see.
To pair with that, Khamzat has some dangerous striking abilities as well, and he uses his freestyle wrestling skills well to force his opponents onto the canvas, then pound them to submission. 6 of his 12 wins came from KOs and TKOs, while 5 of them were from submission.
With no losses in his UFC career yet, it will be interesting to see if he gets a title shot at the welterweight championship in the near future.
Alexander Volkanovski
Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC number one pound for pound fighter, and the reigning featherweight champion is a beast inside the octagon. His fearless and intimidating air, paired with excellent agility for the thick and stocky build makes him a challenger to be feared.
This was evident in his fight against Islam Makhachev in February 2023, where the lightweight champion who seemed impossible to topple from his reign had to struggle relentlessly in order to keep his title.
Though Volkanovski couldn’t get the lightweight title to become a rare fighter to hold the championships of two different weight classes, he still proved his worth to anyone who understands MMA.
Despite his massive disadvantage in weight, height, reach and pretty much any physical aspects, he still made Makhachev work hard till the end of every round. And, for many, this match calls for a rematch in the very near future.
Whether the rematch happens or not, it will be interesting anyway to see how Alexander Volkanovski defends his featherweight title against challengers.
Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria’s UFC career is as decorated as a lightweight division fighter’s career can be. His 13-0-0 record speaks very little of the accomplishments he has already seen, because many of those wins came against acknowledged fighters like Bryce Mitchell, Jai Herbert, and Ryan Hall among others.
He won 4 of his 5 UFC promotional fights by finishing, and as he moved up from featherweight to lightweight, he showed no signs of struggle against fighters from a higher weight class.
Another successful year is in store for this well-rounded fighter. His chances of jumping the ranks and possibly winning a shot at the title seem quite high, since most of his upcoming matches will be against fighters of higher rankings. Only time will tell us what the future holds for this explosive attacking machine. This year is sure to be interesting for fans looking up to Ilia Topuria.
Raul Rosas Jr
This young talent had his debut at the age of 17, and his insane grappling skills on the octagon floor instantly took on the attention of MMA gurus everywhere. This is evident as 5 of his 7 wins are from submissions and there’s no losses to date. Raul’s jiu-jitsu skills paired with a relentless fighting attitude, going all out on any fighter he faces, makes him a tough opponent for fighters of any experience and skill level.
This is how, with only 18 years of age, this teenage prodigy has become an enigma in the eyes of the MMA fans and gurus alike. With multiple fights scheduled this year, Raul Rosas Jr’s path towards greatness is something you don’t want to miss out on as a fan of MMA.
