As a handful of MMA legends start to float towards the tail finish of their careers, the following wave of UFC prospects are already snapping at their heels, keen to interrupt by and problem the large canine of their divisions.
Let’s check out a few of the most fun fighters able to crack the highest ten of their respective weight lessons in 2025.
5 UFC Prospects Set To Breakthrough In 2025
First of the Prospects: Joshua Van, Flyweight
With the UFC’s flyweight division in determined want of some freshening up, the newfound presence of Joshua Van (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) on the tail-end of the rankings makes for fascinating studying.
The 22-year-old Myanmar-born prospect completed 2024 in spectacular trend, selecting up his third victory of the yr (out of 4 fights) over Cody Durden at UFC 310, a end result which helped him crack the highest 15 at 125 lbs.
Having solely debuted contained in the Octagon in mid-2023, “The Fearless” has already gained a status as one of the spectacular strikers within the division. His technical prowess, his environment friendly boxing and his methodical method throughout fights have drawn comparisons with a younger Petr Yan, and with dominant flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja having successfully cleaned out the division over the course of 2024, it’s doubtless that one or two spectacular wins over the appropriate opponents may leapfrog Van into the higher echelons of the divisional rankings.
Prospect No. 2: Joel Alvarez, Light-weight/Welterweight
One other fighter who completed the yr impressively, Joel Alvarez (22-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) decimated Drakkar Klose with a spectacular flying knee within the opening spherical of their conflict at UFC Tampa earlier this month.
“El Fenomeno” hinted on the post-fight press convention that he’s virtually actually completed making the lower to 155 lbs and as an alternative sees his future within the welterweight division. “It might be (my final light-weight struggle), but when there’s going to be a UFC Spain, that might be my final dance at 155″ he informed reporters through an interpreter.
Alvarez has completed all seven of his UFC wins inside the gap, with solely Damir Ismagulov in 2019 and Armen Tsarukyan in 2022 managing to discover a technique to beat the Spaniard.
At 6’3” and with a 77-inch attain, Alvarez actually has the body and the knockout energy to compete at welterweight, and the considered him going through names like Carlos Prates, Vicente Luque or Michael “Venom” Web page to compete for a spot within the rankings at 170 lbs is actually an attractive one.
Payton Talbott, Bantamweight
The identify of Payton Talbott (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) is the primary one out of quite a lot of followers’ mouths when the subject of ‘sizzling prospects’ comes up. The 26-year-old has had a whirlwind introduction to life within the UFC ever since his Octagon debut in November 2023.
Having damaged into the large leagues by the use of a choice win on Dana White’s Contender Sequence, the Las Vegas native has since racked up a hat-trick of conclusive finishes over Nick Aguirre, Cameron Saaiman and Yanis Ghemmouri.
Talbott possesses the kind of energy that helps him stand out within the decrease weight lessons amongst his fellow prospects. He has an uncanny capacity to time his strikes completely, stopping his opponents of their tracks.
This was very evident in his win over Cameron Saaiman, as he repeatedly walked the South African onto heavy punches earlier than placing him away within the second spherical.
A step up in competitors is required and can certainly are available in 2025. Talbott might be in motion towards Raoni Barcelos at UFC 311 on January 18th and will he do to the Brazilian what he has managed to do to everybody else he has confronted contained in the Octagon thus far, the hype surrounding him will go into overdrive.
Michael Morales, Welterweight
Michael Morales (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) has appeared nothing wanting sensational since making his first stroll to the Octagon at UFC 270 virtually two years in the past. The 25-year-old Ecuadorian has discovered his means into the welterweight rankings due to wins over Trevin Giles, Adam Fugitt, Max Griffin, Jake Matthews and Neil Magny.
The win over Magny has earned him a spot within the rankings and with that comes stiffer competitors going ahead. In three latest instances (Ian Garry, Shavkat Rakhmonov and Carlos Prates) the UFC has handed Neil Magny and Geoff Neal to their sizzling welterweight prospects in fast succession, so it’s doubtless Morales might face “Handz of Metal” subsequent outing. He’s a simple choose on our checklist of UFC prospects for 2025.
Oumar Sy, Mild Heavyweight
France’s Oumar Sy (11-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has had a promising opening six months underneath the UFC banner. The KSW veteran made mild work of Tuco Tokkos in his Octagon debut final summer season, taking the Brit down with ease and making use of his patented rear bare choke end.
The 29-year-old Frenchman banked three beneficial rounds in a choice win over Da Woon Jung in September, and in a division loaded with veterans on the downturn of their careers (Volkan Oezdemir, Anthony Smith and Dominick Reyes populate the sunshine heavyweight rankings), the appropriate matchmaking and a slice of excellent fortune may see Sy emerge as a contender at 205 lbs sooner moderately than later, ok for our checklist of prime UFC prospects.
