The excitement in the UFC is increasing, with an influx of up-and-coming fighters, established veterans aiming for title contention, and recent champions solidifying their place in the sport.
Without any doubt, there is a lot to look forward to in 2023 as a new wave of contenders surge up the rankings, while familiar faces are poised for their long-awaited return to the octagon, adding to the fervor for fans and their potential UFC betting prospects.
With this in mind, we have compiled a rundown of the top five fighters that you should keep an eye on.
Islam Makhachev
- Record: 23-1
- Age: 31
- Division: Lightweight
With eleven consecutive victories in the highly competitive lightweight division, Islam Makhachev has been a force to be reckoned with. The Dagestani has not suffered a loss since 2016 and is following a similar path as his close friend and teammate, Khabib Nurmagomedov, who also had to navigate through eleven fights to earn a shot at the title. It appears that Makhachev is on the verge of his golden opportunity and is expected to follow in Nurmagomedov’s footsteps in becoming a UFC champion.
According to UFC odds on Bodog, Islam entered the octagon as the favored fighter in his highly anticipated 284 bout against the second-ranked Alexander Volkanovski on Saturday. In a packed RAC Arena, the 31-year-old successfully defended his lightweight championship title, emerging victorious through a unanimous decision. As he awaits his next opponent, it is highly probable that he will face off against the winner of the Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush lightweight bout at UFC 288, set to take place in May 2023.
Khamzat Chimaev
- Record: 12-0
- Age: 28
- Division: Middleweight and Welterweight
Khamzat Chimaev is one of the hottest and dominant fighters in the UFC today, who now has a ten-fight winning streak, all of which are by stoppages. The 28-year-old fighter has not only dismantled his opponents, but has done so in a manner that is almost unprecedented, receiving only a single strike in all four of his UFC bouts and delivering a total of 112 strikes in return. What is more exciting is Khamzat competes in both the Middleweight and Welterweight weight classes.
Chimaev’s versatility of fighting is both freestyle wrestling and MMA fighting style. Given his remarkable performances, Chimaev has rightfully earned recognition as one of the UFC’s most formidable competitors, but his potential doesn’t stop there.
At the age of 18, the Russian relocated to Sweden, where he began wrestling and went on to win four gold medals at the Swedish Nationals. If that’s not enough, the fighter also holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, further demonstrating his versatile skill set. Borz is undoubtedly one of the most promising rising stars in the MMA world, with many wondering if his potential could earn him a spot among the UFC’s greatest of all time.
Paddy Pimblett
- Record: 3-0
- Age: 21
- Division: Lightweight
Cage Warriors Featherweight may have produced the next big thing in MMA in Paddy Pimblett. After capturing the 145-pound title in Cage Warriors and defending it twice, Pimblett finally made his UFC debut in September 2021. He impressively stopped Luigi Vendramini in the first round of their lightweight clash.
The British fighter had already caught the attention of UFC after his success in Cage Warriors. He later moved up to the lightweight division but fell short in his attempt to win the vacant title and suffered a loss to Soren Bak.
After securing victories over Decky Dalton and Davide Martinez in 2022, Paddy Pimblett cemented his place on the UFC roster. With a well-rounded skill set and a vibrant personality outside the cage, Pimblett quickly became a fighter to watch out for. He is set to return to the Octagon in December 2023, where he is scheduled to face Jared Gordon.
Mackenzie Dern
- Record: 12-3
- Age: 29
- Division: Strawweight
For many MMA fans, there’s nothing quite like watching talented women dominate in the sport. Mackenzie Dern is one such fighter, who has been making waves since starting her journey at the young age of 14. With over 100 professional grappling matches under her belt, the fighter is widely considered one of the best female grapplers in the mixed martial artist world.
Competing in the strawweight division, Mackenzie currently ranks 6th among female fighters. In addition to her success in MMA, she is also an accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, with numerous accolades to her name, including the former world No. 1 ranking in the sport.
Yaroslav Amosov
- Record: 26-0
- Age: 29
- Division: Welterweight
Amosov is one of the top fighters in the world and is someone to watch over the next year. As of now, he holds the longest active unbeaten streak in all of MMA, having won his first 26 professional fights. He is just three victories away from surpassing the record for the most consecutive wins held by retired MMA star Khabib Nurmagomedov, which stands at 29.
Yaroslav has been absent from the ring since winning the title, as he returned to Ukraine to fight amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. However, he is set to return to the BELLATOR cage and face interim title holder Logan Storley (14-1) in a rematch scheduled for February 25 in Dublin. It is clear that we can expect to see a lot more from the Ukrainian in 2023.