Top 10 MMA Prospects to Watch in 2025
Who Are the Best of the Best in MMA in 2025?
Cagefighting is more popular than ever. As a result, we’re seeing new MMA prospects explode onto the scene.
There are thousands of them all over the world, shedding blood, sweat and tears in obscure organisations, all of them hoping to make it big one day.
UAE Warriors reigning champ Amru Magomedov. Image credits: ArabsMMA
Since the UFC is the biggest league of them all, and because it has a crippling monopoly, it is the dream destination for every combatant all around the world.
But only the most elite and marketable gladiators can make it to Uncle Dana’s organisation. Here are 10 of them, in no particular order.
1. Marko Bojkovic
Known as the “skull crusher”
He has a record of eight wins
His wrestling abilities complement his striking to create a fierce contender
You know a fighter is no joke when they call him the “skull crusher.” Meet Marko Bojkovic, one of the most complete youngsters in MMA today. He’s the last 23-year-old you’d want to exchange hands with - he hits like a truck and counters like a sniper, utilising a variety of moves in his arsenal.
While he’s great on his feet, Marko’s wrestling abilities complement his striking. He can use offensive grappling to take you down, and then punish you with vicious ground-and-pound.
Add to this his showmanship, trash-talking and massive following on social media, and you’ve got the ideal MMA prospect for 2025. A star in Croatia’s FNC, he has a record of eight wins and a single loss, which came in May 2025.
Marko would feel right at home in the UFC’s lightweight division!
2. Amru Magomedov
Magomedov weighs 155 pounds
He is an exceptional grappler and submission artist
He has been endorsed by Khabib and Bellator champ Usman
Amru Magomedov is the reigning 155-pound champion at UAE Warriors, the biggest MMA organisation in the Middle East. Amru is Khabib Nurmagomedov’s latest success story, following in the footsteps of his other protégés, Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov.
A product of the sambo system, it’s no surprise that the 26-year-old is an exceptional grappler and submission artist. Try to pressure him with strikes, and you'd better hope he doesn’t get too close to you and put you in a clinch, stretching you out.
Note that Amru is quite versatile, using techniques such as body kicks to weaken his opponents and then going in for the kill. He’s currently undefeated with eight wins, six of which are first-round stoppages – and he’s not even a striker.
He has been heavily endorsed by Khabib and Bellator champ Usman, with the latter claiming that Amru often bests him during practice. It’s just a matter of time until this Dagestani sensation makes it to and in the UFC.
3. Luke Riley
Luke Riley is the top MMA prospect out of Great Britain
Almost 75% of his wins have come from TKO/KO
He has been compared to Paddy Pimblett
26-year-old Luke Riley trains at Next Generation MMA - a fitting name, since he’s the best MMA prospect out of Great Britain. A Cage Warriors star, Riley was supposed to feature at the last Contender Series but couldn’t due to visa troubles.
Maybe the American Embassy flagged his fists as lethal weapons! Undefeated with an 11-0 record, Riley is a no-BS knockout artist, with almost 75% of his wins coming via TKO/KO.
He likes to rearrange his opponents’ faces with amazing combinations, and he doesn’t mind defending their takedowns one bit. Riley has been compared to teammate Paddy Pimblett, but he’s much more likeable, and would be a fine addition to the UFC’s lightweight division.
4. Abdulrakhman Yakhyaev
Yakhyaev has a grappling background
He is undefeated with a record of 6-0
He is on the UFC radar
Abdulrakhman Yakhyaev is the light-heavyweight champion in Ares FC, France’s top MMA battleground. The Chechen wrecking ball comes from a grappling background and prefers overwhelming his opponents with a barrage of strikes.
He then tries to take the fight to the ground. Once it hits the mat, it’s over. Yakhyaev is a submission specialist, winning half his fights via a variety of different chokes. At just 24 years of age, he stands undefeated with a 6-0 record, looking to make it a perfect seven in August.
The best part? As a champion in Ares FC, he’s already on the UFC radar thanks to Fight Pass. He’s making intercontinental noise.
5. Marcos Degli
Degli is an exciting flyweight prospect
He has a 13-3 record
He is an interim champion in the LFA
If Marcos Degli could be described in one word, it would be “exciting.” While the flyweights in most promotions often fly under the radar, Degli detonates every time the cage door is shut.
From a powerful standup for sending his opponents to the shadow realm to unleashing hell on them after taking them down, everything he does is entertaining.
If he’s not finishing them with ground-and-pound, he’ll utilise one of several chokes to put them to sleep. Either way, the fight is likely to end in the first round. Currently aged 25, Degli began his career with two losses but quickly amassed a 13-3 record.
Losses are a part of the game and are expected when you’re not competing against meat factory workers. Already an interim champion in the LFA, we expect to see him in the bigger leagues soon.
6. Islam Omarov
Omarov is undefeated with 16 wins
He’s known for his takedowns
He is the featherweight champion for ACA
Islam Omarov is your typical Dagestani wrestling aficionado who will grapple with anything that moves. His record is proof of that, as he’s undefeated with 16 wins, half of which are via submission.
As soon as that bell rings, he’ll try his best to shoot for a takedown, follow up with some ground-and-pound, and attempt to get his opponent into a choke.
If that doesn’t work, he’s got enough striking prowess and gas in his tank to drag the bout to a decision win. Basically, it’s his tried and tested approach that got Khabib Nurmagomedov through the top-ranked lightweights in the UFC.
Currently, the 28-year-old is the featherweight champion for ACA, the top MMA promotion in the Caucasus mountains. He has already defended his belt twice in dominant fashion and could head to the big leagues in no time.
7. Marcio Barbosa
Barbosa has a record of 16-2
He’s known for winning in the first round via KO
He has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Another Brazilian LFA prospect is Marcio Barbosa, a talent who will soon get his big break on Dana White’s Contender Series. Barbosa has a record of 16 wins and 2 losses. 15 of those wins have come in the first round. 12 of them (or 80%) are via knockout.
This shows that the featherweight blue chipper hits hard, but not without precision. Barbosa is a brawling machine willing to take punishment to dish out even more.
If he can’t punch his way to a win, his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt will get the job done. He's just as ruthless from the top position and can/will choke you out if need be.
Even if Barbosa doesn’t get in through the Contender Series, he’s one of the few MMA prospects exciting enough to be offered a UFC contract. After all, the company is always on the lookout for its next Jose Aldo.
8. Payton Talbott
He has a record of 10-1
70% of Talbott’s wins have come via TKO
He has earned two PoTNs in just five matches
26-year-old hotshot Payton Talbott is already living the dream as he’s racked up five matches in the UFC during the past two years. However, since he’s young and yet to face a ranked opponent, he still counts as a prospect.
Talbott has a record of 10-1, with 70% of his wins coming via TKO. Not surprising since he’s a big bantamweight who uses his range to overwhelm his opponents with strikes.
His impressive striking has earned him two PoTNs in just five matches. One of them was given for demolishing Yanis Ghemmouri. It was the third fastest in the history of the 135-pound division at just 19 seconds.
Talbott recently bounced back from his only loss, to Raoni Barcelos, in which the veteran beat him on points. His next matchup is sure to get him into the rankings.
Looking for more? Check out our list of the greatest female MMA fighters of all time!
9. George Mangos
Mangos could soon be the youngest UFC champion in history
He has a record of 7-0
He achieved back-to-back knockouts in his last two fights
In August, George Mangos is all set to compete on Contender Series, and he has the chance to become one of the youngest UFC fighters in 2025 (aged 21). Born in New Zealand but representing Australia, this featherweight stands undefeated with a record of 7-0, thanks to an elite BJJ game.
Mangos has won two-thirds of his fights via a variety of different submissions. Criticised previously for his lack of striking skills, he has improved considerably in this regard, achieving back-to-back knockouts in his last two fights.
Both were for the 145-pound title in Hex Fight Series, the premier MMA promotion Down Under, which Mangos still holds. A fast learner, Mangos could do the unthinkable and beat Jon Jones’ record as the youngest champion in UFC history. He’s got two years for a shot at history!
10. Asaf Chopurov
He has a record of 7-0
He won more than 30 times as an amateur
He currently competes for UAE Warriors
MMA fighters are the most dangerous unarmed human beings on earth, but still, none of them have been called the “Honey Badger.”
That nickname has been reserved for Asaf Chopurov, which is a testament to how vicious he can be inside the cage. At just 23 years of age, Chopurov has a gleaming record of 7-0, and more than 30 wins and multiple championships as an amateur.
Despite a background in Sambo, Chopurov isn’t about that “lay-and-pray” lifestyle. He is a stellar boxer who uses rangy attacks and slick footwork to trap his opponents.
Once he takes them down, he’ll either finish them with GNP or, if they’re lucky, they’ll be doing their post-bout interview after waking up from a rear-naked choke. Chopurov currently competes for UAE Warriors in their 135-pound division. It’s only a matter of time until his entertaining style catches the UFC’s attention.
Honourable Mention: Daniyar Toychubek uulu
125-pounder Daniyar is known for his exhilarating kickboxing style, which has earned him a 10-0 record in Russia.
At just 23 years of age, he has built quite a reputation for himself as a rearranger of his opponents’ faces. Daniyar tore through ACA’s regional flyweight division and now seeks to rule the Kyrgyz independent circuit.
Featured image credits: RDX Sports Blog
