A “breakout” can mean different things to different people. It can mean a flare-up of a skin irritation, for example. It can mean an escape en masse of prisoners from prison. But it’s not going to mean those things today.
Today, right here, in an MMA context, it means taking the next step in your career. But what does that mean? Well, it differs.
In the following slideshow, we’re going to attempt something dangerous: We’re going to attempt to apply the term “breakout” to more than one situation. But though situations may vary, all 10 of the people here are poised for a breakout in their MMA careers, and that’s why they’re here.
Today, we’re looking at fighters who hail from Europe (Russia included this time). Are these all talented competitors? Yes. Check that box. Are they all at the same level in their careers? No.
Some are already in the UFC. Some are not. Some are deep prospects. Others are well-known to many fans. But they have this in common: They all appear ready to take a big leap forward on their respective professional trajectories.
For some, that could mean a call from the major leagues. For others, it could mean a fight for the major league title.
Does this all make sense? Great. Here goes. These are ranked based on who stands to make the biggest leap. Again, this is not a list of the best European fighters. It’s those who are most well-positioned for a breakout. All right. Let’s go.