5 UFC Prospects Ready to Dominate
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The UFC is known to feature the world’s top mix martial artists. Newcomers must prove themselves as they aim to climb the rankings in pursuit of a world title.
Rising prospects look to capitalize on each and every opportunity presented. Fighters can stand out from the pack with golden performances. This could be through an eye-catching win streak. Alternatively, a flashy fight style can make them distinct.
Today, the UFC has a few faces ready to breakout and stamp themselves as major contenders. Read about the five eye-catching UFC prospects that are more than ready to take the next big step:
Ateba Gautier (Middleweight)
Ateba Gautier may just be the scariest rising prospect inside the UFC. Fighting out of Doula, Cameroon, the monstrous 23-year-old middleweight has put the division on notice. Gautier holds an impressive record of 8-1 as professional, currently riding a seven-fight win streak.
What makes the Cameroonian standout is his emphatic fight style that promises highlight reel knockouts. Gautier has finished his last seven opponents, six of those being first round stoppages. He spent six fights on the regional scene, facing a lower level of competition during this time. Eventually, he scored a shot on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2024.
Gautier is now 2-0 since joining the UFC, earning performance of the night bonuses with each victory. The combined attributes of unreal punching power, sheer strength, and remarkable physical frame make him a nightmare for any middleweight. The sky is the limit for the Cameroonian knockout artist. He now looks ahead to his highly-anticipated bout against Ozzy Diaz at UFC 320 in October.
Kevin Vallejos (Featherweight)
Kevin Vallejos is undoubtedly the most intriguing prospect rising in the featherweight division. Fighting out of Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Vallejos holds a remarkable professional record of 16-1. The 23-year-old Argentinian has caught the eyes of many UFC fans. His flashy and slick boxing skills are displayed inside the octagon.
Vallejos came into the UFC with a sensational resume, going 4-0 on the amateur scene, with all victories being stoppages. He then turned pro and quickly rose to 11-0, nine of those wins coming inside the distance. Come September 2023, Vallejos would earn a shot on Dana White’s Contender Series. Unfortunately for him, he was given the daunting task of fighting Jean Silva. He would go on to lose this fight via unanimous decision.
Vallejos responded to his first loss ever in the right fashion. He went on to rack up back-to-back stoppage victories, earning another shot on Dana White’s Contender Series. Vallejos went on to score a first-round knockout and punch his ticket. Since joining the UFC, he has gone 2-0 and looked impressing doing so.
Azamat Bekoev (Middleweight)
Azamat Bekoev has wasted no time in becoming a beloved faced on the UFC’s middleweight roster. Fighting out of Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia–Alania, Russia, the experienced 29-year-old now sits an elite record of 20-3. Bekoev is known for his fight finishing tendencies, but his activity on social media enhances his popularity. The fresh Russian face is not far off from becoming a household fan-favorite.
Bekoev came into the UFC with a wealth of experience gathered under legitimate promotions like ACA. He faced tough competition and endured razor-thin split decision losses during his time with promotion. This experience has sharpened Bekoev’s skills. After his most recent loss in September 2021, he went on a six-fight win streak. This impressive performance led to him being signed by the UFC.
Bekoev made his UFC debut against Zachary Reese at UFC 311 where he successfully scored a first-round stoppage. He followed that up with another first-round stoppage, battering Ultimate Fighter winner Ryan Loder back in May. Bekoev is scheduled to face former GLORY kickboxer Yousri Belgaroui on October 18.
Alden Coria (Flyweight)
Alden Coria (11-3-0, 1NC) is considered a top prospect in the flyweight division. He demonstrated his skill with an extremely polished third-round stoppage over Alessandro Costa at UFC Noche. Fighting out of Texas, United States, the 27-year-old has a knack for avoiding the judges’ scorecards. Fans are sure to keep an eye out for him after his home run debut performance.
He went 5-0 on the amateur scene and eventually turned pro in 2018. His valuable time fighting for promotions like LFA and Fury FC prepared him well, as he faced a good level of competition, gaining useful experience for his inevitable future in the UFC.
His most recent loss came in January 2024. He secured consecutive stoppage wins after, positioning him for a Fury FC title shot. Coria scored a first-round knockout over Paris Moran, the reigning champion at the time. However, the fight eventually overturned to a no-contest. This happened after Coria’s urine samples came back positive for marijuana.
This performance should have earned him a UFC contract but the technicalities behind the no-contest thwarted those plans. Coria kept his chin up and would score a knockout victory four months later, earning him a shot.
Alexia Thainara (Strawweight)
Alexia Thainara is easily one of the brightest prospects in all of women’s MMA. Fighting out of Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil, the 27-year-old Thainara sits at a record of 12-1. Her length and sharp grappling skills make her a promising rising prospect in the strawweight division.
Thainara started her professional career in June 2018, quickly rising to a record of 2-0. Then, she suffered her first and only defeat against Fighting Nerds member Bruna Brasil in November 2019. The Brazilian chose to not waiver after experiencing adversity as she proceeded to go on an eight fight win streak. This string of wins was significant enough to catch the eye of the UFC.
Thainara went on to defeat then undefeated prospect Rose Conceicao via unanimous decision on the Contender Series in September 2024. She impressed enough to earn a UFC contract. Now, Thainara faces proven UFC veteran Loma Lookboonmee on September 27.
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