Reviewing the last 10 UFC debutants
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Ever since the pandemic, we’ve seen an influx of UFC debuts due to short notice opportunities. As of recent though, the organization has made some signings without fighters needing just days to make weight. With more high profile singings, and so many new fighters making their debuts, we decided to put together a list of the last ten debutants.
Read about the last ten fighters to debut recently, and their potential under the brightest lights possible…
Muhammad Mokaev
Weightclass: Flyweight
UFC debut: March. 19th/UFC London
Result: Muhammad Mokaev def. Cody Durden via Submission (Guillotine), Round 1, 0:58
Improved record to 6-0 (1 NC)
Mokaev came into the UFC with a lot of hype. He was a four-time IMMAF champion and went 23-0 as an amateur. Cody Durden was the one welcoming him to the UFC but he was the one that got welcomed to the higher level. It was a flying switch-knee followed up with a guillotine for the quick finish. If there were any questions about Mokaev coming into the UFC a lot of doubters were at least silenced. Mokaev being so experienced beyond a pro, being so young, and well-rounded the sky is the limit.
Potential: Champion
AJ Fletcher
Weightclass: Welterweight
UFC debut: March. 12th/UFC Vegas 50
Result: Matt Semelsberger def. AJ Fletcher via Decision (Unanimous)
Record dropped to 9-1
Fletcher was thrown right at tough competition against a tough dude in Semelsberger. It was going good for Fletcher as he dominated round one. He did lose a lot of steam and Semelsberger took over in rounds two and three. It should be noted Semelsberger was lucky to escape that round one, especially battling threw some tight guillotines. Even in defeat, I was really impressed with Fletcher. If he can fight with the same energy as he does in round one he’s gonna be a force. Fletcher is still only 25 too so time is on his side. He does have a small frame but makes up for it with strong wrestling, power, and explosiveness. Fletcher will do very well in the UFC as the years go.
Potential: Right outside the Top 15
Javid Basharat
Weightclass: Bantamweight
UFC debut: March. 12th/UFC Vegas 50
Result: Javid Basharat def. Trevin Jones by Decision (Unanimous)
Improved record to 12-0
Basharat came into his debut after one of the best performances on the contender series last season. They awarded him with a dangerous fight with Jones. A fight Basharat cruised all three rounds dictating the pace. Jones did have his moments but Basharat was levels above him. The thing is as Basharat showed a lot in that fight he has a wide range of skills. There hasn’t been any glaring holes seen of him other than his chin is up and hands down. With that said, if he can take shots from Jones he can from about anyone else. Basharat is a special talent that is well-equipped no matter where the fight takes him.
Potential: Top 15
Azamat Murzakanov
Weightclass: Light-Heavyweight
UFC debut: March. 12th/UFC Vegas 50
Result: Azamat Murzakanov def. Tafon Nchukwi by Knockout (Knee), Round 3, 0:44
Improved record to 11-0
Murzakanov didn’t perform as I expected. It may have been that Nchukwi fought much better than I expected. Murzakanov was down two rounds before he got the dramatic knockout seconds into the final round. This fight showed Murzakanov is better suited at middleweight fighting guys more his size and less explosive. He wasn’t as fast, accurate, aggressive, and failed on getting the takedowns. Still, Murzakanov is very dangerous even when down bad on the scorecards. As he fights up the ranks though he’s gonna be fighting more dangerous guys. At 205 I don’t like it but 185 he has a chance.
Potential: Middle of the Pack
Armen Petrosyan
Weightclass: Middleweight
UFC debut: Febeuary 26th/UFC Vegas 49
Result: Armen Petrosyan def. Gregory Rodrigues by Decision (Split)
Improved record to 7-1
Petrosyan beat a solid guy in Rodrigues. I and many others thought if Rodrigues got the fight down it was over. To the surprise of most Petrosyan survived the grappling and submission attempts. On the feet, he landed the more impactful shots and was busier. No doubt Petrosyan is very good on the feet but it’s his takedown defense that’s his issue. The story of him so far is getting taken down, getting back up, and then getting the knockout. It’s hard not to imagine a primary wrestler not having their way with Petrosyan.
Potential: Lower Mid-tier
Ramona Pascual
Weightclass: Featherweight
UFC debut: Febeuary 26th/UFC Vegas 49
Result: Josiane Nunes def. Ramona Pascual by Decision (Unanimous)
Record falls to 6-3
Pascual isn’t someone I expected much from coming into the UFC but she did better than I thought initially. She has good size, tough as nails, and her wrestling is a little better than what I saw on tape. It was a surprise she survived this fight because she took a lot of damage. Nunes is no joke and Pascual held up round by round. She still has many holes and the biggest problem is there is no ceiling in the featherweight division.
Potential: More success outside UFC
Carlos Hernandez
Weightclass: Flyweight
UFC debut: Febeuary 26th/UFC Vegas 49
Result: Carlos Hernandez def. Victor Altamirano by Decision (Split)
Record improves to 8-1
I thought Hernandez was gonna with this fight more clearly but instead, he edged out a split decision. He had a clear wrestling advantage but hardly used it. He was slightly the more active fighter over Altamirano. If Hernandez fights like this going forward he will struggle because stylistically this should’ve been his easiest fight. I feel even watching him before coming to the UFC that he’s much better than what he showed in that fight. All eight wins are in a row so he has a lot of momentum.
Potential: Middle of the Division
Victor Altamirano
Weightclass: Flyweight
UFC debut: Febeuary 26th/UFC Vegas 49
Result: Carlos Hernandez def. Victor Altamirano by Decision (Split)
Record falls to 10-2
There was an argument Altamirano won the fight against Altamirano. Altamirano did throw more but the judges probably saw a bit more aggression from Hernandez. I’m not a fan on the style of Altamirano. He likes to use a lot of kicks but it’s just to touch em. He keeps his hands low and as he has a decent ground game he’ll accept being on his back. I’d say he is very talented everywhere but it always looks like he’s sparring while in the cage. Altamirano is getting up there in age too at 31 so it’s gonna be tough for him.
Potential: Bottom of the Division
Nikolas Motta
Weightclass: Lightweight
UFC debut: Febeuary 19th/UFC Vegas 48
Result: Jim Miller def. Nikolas Motta by Knockout (Right hand and punches), Round 2, 1:58
Record falls to 12-4
Motta finally made his UFC debut after winning his contract on the contender series in 2020. He was given a hardball fighting legend Jim Miller. It went horribly for Motta too getting knocked out in the second. Motta just looked as he didn’t deserve to be in there. Maybe it’s because he’s best built for 145 or maybe the layoff. Outside of power, it’s hard to know what Motto will bring to the table, especially in the UFC.
Potential: Low-tier
Chad Anheliger
Weightclass: Bantamweight
UFC debut: Febeuary 19th/UFC Vegas 48
Result: Chad Anheliger def. Jesse Strader by Knockout (Left Hook), Round 3, 3:33
Record Improves to 12-5
I wasn’t a fan of Anheliger getting a contract on the contender series last season. The more I think about it I don’t mind. He is tough, will fight for your money as some say, and at his age of 35, it’s now or never. He also made it known he deserved it knocking out Strader in highlight-reel fashion. Someone that started out at 2-5 he’s come a long way. Still, at his age, he’s reached his peak and what he has now isn’t threatening as he fights better competition.
Potential: Testing the Younger Guys
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