What a year 2024 has been for MMA’s breakout stars.
Some rose from obscurity to world titles, while others rose through the divisions so quickly that they left behind nothing but cigarette smoke. One piece channeled the legendary mic masculinity of the great Chael Sonnen, while another brought such a unique energy that it made us longtime viewers feel their age.
For years, people couldn’t understand how the UFC could remain relevant without famous names. When Quinton “Rampage” Jackson knocked out Chuck Liddell in 2007, it seemed like the company would be in decline due to the decline of the mohawked sports megastar. The same thing was said a decade later when Conor McGregor left the sport for a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather.
Breakout fighters show us that there is no end to the conveyor belt of talent that captures the attention of the public. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, young whippersnappers appear out of nowhere and remind you why we love this sport so much.
Without further ado, here are the Uncrowned MMA fighters who will break out in 2024.
1. Carlos Prates
The man they call “Nightmare” turned out to be just that guy for every welterweight unfortunate enough to cross his path in 2024.
Carlos Prates had four knockouts in four fights and earned Performance of the Night bonuses for each fight inside the Octagon. The Brazilian’s muscular physique and brutal stopping power have led some to compare him to light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, and if he stays in form in the new year, he could rival him for gold. It won’t be long before we see him wearing it around his waist. Countryside.
The fact that Prathes openly talks about smoking cigarettes only adds to the legends that are circulating around him. After stopping Li Jinliang in Perth, one of the big takeaways from the post-match press conference was that Australia were incredibly disappointed in the price they put on the nail in the coffin.
Smoker or not, he’s coming through the weight class at 170 pounds, making him one of the most exciting fighters to watch in 2025.
2. Diego Lopez
I still remember when Diego López first appeared on our radar in 2023, accepting a short-notice fight with the ever-immovable Movsar Evloev. As time goes on, RoboGym products have earned our respect and it feels like it’s continuing well beyond him, who suffered his only loss in the UFC that night. He became one of the most beloved fighters.
Lopez had a great 2024, starting with an appearance at UFC 300. Sodiq Yousaf felt like he got a big boost from his win over Pat Sabatini, but it took Lopez less than 90 seconds to put him away.
It’s always been hard for Dan Ige to steal the headlines since he showed up to fight at UFC 303 with three hours’ notice. However, his victory over perennial favorite Brian Ortega should open him up for a title shot in 2025. It would definitely be one of the most fan-friendly bouts of the year if he were to face the might of featherweight champion Ilya Topria.
3. Dakota Dicheva
Remember what I said about Chuck Liddell in the introduction? Well, when Kayla Harrison parted ways with PFL in January, a lot of people had similar feelings about PFL. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that.
Then along came Dakota Dicheva.
The Manchester striker has enjoyed a few showcase matches in the PFL dating back to 2022, but it is believed he would run into some problems in the global tournament format, and as such it is believed he would run into some problems in the global tournament format, which is why he is the best the promotion can offer at weight 125lbs. You will be forced to fight.
Wrong.
Ditcheva’s four-fight, four-stop campaign has earned her the right to join the female fighter of the year nominations. And while it’s true that it’s rare for someone to be considered a fighter of the year candidate and be considered a breakout star, rare can be a great thing.
The strength of his schedule and the emphatic nature of his wins (nothing more impressive than stopping former UFC title challenger Tyra Santos) make Dicheva one of the sport’s hottest prospects heading into 2025. It is.
4. Sharapuddin Magomedov
In my opinion, ‘Shala Barrett’ is the closest thing to a Russian prospect we’ve seen since the arrival of Khamzat Chimaev in 2020. Sure, he may not have the same ceiling as Chimaev, but we believe he will eventually. He’ll be fighting for UFC gold in 2025, but he’s every bit as intriguing.
Like Chimaev, he only has one functioning eye, giving him the look of a James Bond movie villain. Add to that the fact that he doesn’t seem to have any legitimate interest in wrestling once the cage door is locked behind him, and he’s breaking the mold for the grapple-savvy product from Dagestan.
Magomedov had three wins in 2024, but earned the biscuit in his last fight against decorated Muay Thai fighter Armen Petrosyan. His double spinning backfist knockout is a spectacle that will live long in the memories of martial arts fans, and with a dance booked with fellow spectacle striker Michael “Venom” Page on February 1st, we’re close. I might end up picking my jaw off the floor again. .
5. Paul Hughes
When Paul Hughes was awarded the status of MMA’s hottest free agent after finishing his contract with Cage Warriors in April, there was no shortage of “Who is that guy” memes. When he and Ian Machado-Galley were in European promotions, there was an ongoing debate in Ireland about who was the country’s most talented player.
In 2024, Hughes reminded us why.
He had just defeated Bobby King in his PFL/Bellator debut, but in the weeks leading up to his matchup with former champion AJ McKee, the word “too soon” became overused. But Hughes showed off his poetry against the Saudis, displaying not only his strong hands but also his excellent wrestling defense. Having turned down the UFC’s offer to join the PFL ranks, I couldn’t help but be impressed by his bold declaration.
The reward for his victory over McKee comes in the form of a January 25 showdown with Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov in Dubai. If he raises his hand, the promotion will be fulfilled and the championship prophecy will come true.
Honorable mention:
michael morales
jean silva
Peyton Talbot
Orban Elliott
charles johnson
