The constant, relentless grind of the UFC and Bellator eats up dozens of new fighters every year. One hundred three new contestants debuted in the UFC in 2015, less than half of the 230 who made their first appearance in 2014.
Prospects are part of the natural flow of life in the MMA ecosystem, the lifeblood of a constantly shifting sport—or in a less kind metaphor, more grist for the bloody mill. Not all prospects are created equal, though. The vast majority of those new debutants won’t reach the lofty peaks of a title or even the elite of their divisions.
Here at The Beaten Path, my colleague Scott Harris and I will bring you those young fighters who are most worthy of your notice and time. Three hundred thirty-three new UFC fighters and dozens more in Bellator and World Series of Fighting in the last two years are just too many to keep track of, so let us do the hard work for you.
What are we looking for? First, no UFC fighters. Second, nobody whose pro career has already lasted more than six years will be considered. While there are exceptions, most future elite fighters will already have made it to a major promotion by that point.
Contestants in Bellator, World Series of Fighting and One Championship are eligible unless they’ve held a title in one of those organizations. Fighters over 30 won’t be considered unless they have a world-class background in another combat sport, like Holly Holm in boxing or Daniel Cormier in wrestling.
Let’s take a look at MMA’s future greats.