Best Rising Stars In UFC Who We Will Be Hearing About In 2023
Every year, many prospects find their way to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, either through different promotions or being scouted by none other than Dana White to the company.
This way, the UFC has found so much talent over the years, with many fighters making an immediate impact and convincing fans that they are ready to rule.
2022 was an incredible year, with many newcomers joining and others like Jeremy Stephens leaving. Stephens, though is one of the best UFC athletes from Iowa, as you can see here: https://clutchbuzz.clutchbet.com/iowa-sports/ufc-fighters-from-iowa/
Nonetheless, this hasn’t also been an easy path for many who landed with high expectations, like Michael Chandler or Justin Gaethje, but the UFC has also seen new talents that didn’t blow their chance and made the most out of it. Conor McGregor, Francis Ngannou, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira, and more fighters took their opportunities and became huge names in the game.
This won’t stop happening and 2023 appears to have many surprises for fans and fighters who are ready to show that they belong on the big stage. Today, we’ll take a look at 3 UFC rising stars that will be making a lot of noise next year.
Raul Rosas Jr.
It’s not a coincidence that Raul Rosas Jr. became the youngest fighter in UFC history, as he has the skills and talent to become a big name in the company. However, at just 18, he’s nowhere near his peak, which makes him even more dangerous. If Rosas can develop his talent, he can become a pretty big deal in the company.
Not so long ago, he challenged Aljamain Sterling, even claiming that he could beat the current UFC Bantamweight champion. Rosas has a lot of confidence in himself, and it’s clear that he’ll keep getting better this year. Will he have the chance to fight for a championship? Only time will tell.
Paddy Pimblett
Ok, we’ve been hearing about Paddy Pimblett this entire year, but this man is getting better with every fight. He likes to talk his talk and put up a show for fans, just like Conor McGregor did, but when things get real, Paddy gets serious about what’s really important.
He’s a complete entertainer who doesn’t hesitate to go after the people he wants to beat. This upcoming year, he could have the chance to play for the lightweight championship, but that won’t be an easy job. This category is arguably the best in the UFC, and its champion is looking unstoppable right now. Pimblett has the capacity to do big things in the company, but he’ll have to prove his value against the top dogs before facing Islam Makhachev.
Magomed Ankalaev
Just like Pimblett, Magomed Ankalaev has been making noise during the entire 2022. He even got a chance to challenge Jan Błachowicz for the light-heavyweight championship. This fight ended in a split draw that raised many eyebrows. These two would clash again next year to define the undisputed champion, or to see who goes Jiří Procházka if he intends to recover his championship.
Ankalaev has been criticized for his fighting style, but that’s not something that bothers him. Just like other champions, he’s ready to prove doubters wrong, keep getting wins and enjoy his time in the octagon. We’ll surely keep hearing about this man in 2023, as he has the condition and skills to take over the light-heavyweight division.
The UFC is full of young talents who show up every year trying to leave a mark in MMA history. Only a handful of them have been able to do it, and these three are ready to do the same and become the face of the company.
