Top MMA Prospects
For more than three decades, Mixed Martial Arts has been a steadily rising sport, with ebbs and flows as particular characters have come and gone. In 2025, we have already seen new talent rise to success. These guys aren’t just fighters; they’re here to change the divisions, bring down the veterans, and excite the fans around the world. The next layer of MMA appears to be perhaps more diverse and interesting than ever before, combining in its composition fierce knockout artists and deft submission technicians.
New UFC Fighters to Keep an Eye on Next Year
Ikram Aliskerov
Some new ones have begun to speak very loudly about their place among the best in the world amidst the packed ranks of the UFC. Like, say, Russia’s Ikram Aliskerov, a sambo world champion four times over—many may be muttering his name in connection to a future middleweight title shot not for any concrete reason other than a nasty business in ending fights quickly. The buzz around him lately has made him richly rewarding for highlight-reel violence fans; each fight is now must-watch TV for those people, almost like a fishin frenzy game where excitement spikes with every spin.
Jacqueline Cavalcanti
The other day it became unforgettable for Czech Republic’s Lucie Pudilova, today it is Portugal’s Jacqueline Cavalcanti who emerges as a force to be reckoned with in the women’s bantamweight division. She’s got very technical striking and suffocating grappling and presently enjoys a five-fight win streak in the UFC which propelled her to the top 15.
Oban Elliott
Oban Elliott too who christens himself ‘The Welsh Gangster’; not too inappropriate considering his utter fearlessness in the cage and a growing compilation of spectacular knockouts.
Jasmine “Juicy” Jasudavicius
Meanwhile, Jasmine Jasudavicius had a nice little streak going by running off wins inside the distance. With Andrade and Lee, the young finisher spoiled fans with a shutout of a Paige VanZant-oscillating between patience and urgency for the finish line. But raw power turned heads when Lone’er Kavanagh stormed onto the UFC scene via the Contender Series, unleashing a deafening buzz saw of a knockout that makes even the quietest names impossible to ignore.
International and Regional Fighters Making Waves
Mesquita
Outside of the UFC, determined prospects from all over the map are making their way. Mesquita, for example, has seven IBJJF World titles to her name and an ADCC gold — clear proof of her grappling pedigree. She’s also choked all comers since moving to MMA, showing a seamless switch from mat to cage.
Aieza Bertolso and Vinicius Pires
Aieza Bertolso and Vinicius Pires are still those young fiery fighters lighting up the regional circuits. Only 23 years old, Bertolso combines relentless ground-and-pound with lightning-quick submissions, while Pires has made a name dominating the Brazilian bantamweight circuit en route to a near-perfect record.
Phumi Nkuta
Additionally, Phumi Nkuta, an unblemished US flyweight hopeful whom many believe is among the best outside the big leagues. Fans are attracted to him due to his survival capabilities and tendency to notch late-fight finishes.
Losene Keita
There’s Europe’s Losene Keita, another one in the mix; he managed to clean out two weight classes in Oktagon MMA, which could make him a major threat, and it’s his potential to carry that knockout power through featherweight and lightweight divisions that is a tantalizing angle on the international stage.
Skills You’ll Need and Some Challenges You Might Face
It’s not just the difference in their physiological traits but their brains and mental flexibility. Consider a fighter like a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and a CFFC Championship pedigree–that indicates how far such a strong grappling base can open doors in the UFC’s overloaded Strawweight division. All prospects at some point must face that fire of stiffer competition; while their skills may look fabulous across regional or mid-tier competition, they will soon be tackling top ten mainstays who find a way to capitalize on even the tiniest mistake.
Talent alone isn’t enough; it’s an important reminder to guarantee success. Injuries, inconsistency, and stylistic bad matchups can derail what looks like a great career so quickly. Is this prospect mentally ready for the sort of scrutiny that comes with the sport and the need to produce every time one gets into the octagon? Nobody knows; therein lies part of the excitement in following their journey.
Ultimately
By 2025, keep these on your radar if you’re an MMA fan. Aliskerov may be the sambo champ, Kavanagh the striker, and Mesquita the grappling wizard; each prospect’s story and skill set is uniquely compelling and capable of shuffling the deck in their respective pools of talent. Successes and failures will walk with these players, bringing us as fans back to what is so great about combat sports: the chance, the choice, and the chance that tomorrow’s champion is forged in the fire of today’s battles.
