ESPN’s listing of the highest 25 MMA fighters below 25 years outdated has been headlined by 4 totally different fighters the previous 4 years: Music Yadong in 2021, Usman Nurmagomedov in 2022, Erin Blanchfield in 2023 and, most lately, Tatsuro Taira. Every of these fighters has seen success of their respective promotion, competing among the many greatest fighters their division has to supply. However one has reached the top on this sport.
Solely PFL light-weight Nurmagomedov has been a champion in a serious MMA promotion. He held the Bellator light-weight title from November 2022 till September 2024.
Whereas not one of the different fighters have challenged for a title to this point of their UFC careers, all three lately dropped fights that may have boosted them into the championship image. Even with the losses, every seems positioned to make one other run on the prime of their respective divisions sooner or later, so we’re outlining their paths from closest to furthest away from a title problem.
Erin Blanchfield (13-2), girls’s flyweight
Wins away from a title: Two or fewer
Subsequent struggle: Could 31 vs. Maycee Barber
The present panorama: After shedding to Manon Fiorot in a No. 1 contender struggle final March, Blanchfield bounced again with a unanimous determination victory over former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in November. That win put Blanchfield again into the title image.
Following Fiorot’s loss to the champion, Valentina Shevchenko, at UFC 315 final month, the one fighter forward of Blanchfield in ESPN’s divisional rankings is third-ranked Natalia Silva, who now seems to be the highest contender after dominating former champ Alexa Grasso at UFC 315.
Blanchfield’s place within the division’s prime two fighters could be cemented with a win over Barber, but it surely would not assure her a title shot. It might as an alternative create a pair of potential eventualities.
1. If Silva will get the subsequent title shot, Blanchfield could be subsequent in line to problem the winner of that struggle. Blanchfield might sit and look forward to her alternative to compete for the championship, or she might look to avenge her loss to Fiorot.
2. The UFC might go a distinct — extra possible — course and make a champion versus champion struggle between Shevchenko and strawweight titleholder Zhang Weili. That match would open the door for a No. 1 contender or interim title struggle between Blanchfield and Silva.
Blanchfield’s path to the belt: If I had been Blanchfield, I might need Silva to lose to Shevchenko in her subsequent title protection, as a result of Shevchenko is a greater matchup for Blanchfield. Silva would possible be favored closely over Blanchfield, as a result of Silva’s putting is lightyears forward and he or she has elite takedown protection to go along with a black belt in jiu-jitsu. Blanchfield would wish to get the struggle to the bottom and preserve it there to have any likelihood to win.
Tatsuro Taira (16-1), males’s flyweight
Wins away from a title: Three or extra
Subsequent struggle: Aug. 2 vs. Amir Albazi
The present panorama: Like Blanchfield, Taira was most likely one win away from competing for a championship final 12 months. However a break up determination loss to Brandon Royval derailed his hopes of a title shot.
Taira wants a win over Albazi this summer time to get again within the win column and re-enter the title image. Albazi is the right matchup for Taira stylistically and is ranked forward of him within the UFC’s rankings.
Taira’s path to the belt: With a win over Albazi, particularly if he can get a end, Taira might then name for a struggle with somebody reminiscent of former champion Brandon Moreno or former Bellator champion Kyoji Horiguchi. Contemplating Alexandre Pantoja is about to defend his title towards Kai Kara-France and Royval is dealing with Manel Kape on that very same UFC 317 card, a win over Albazi most likely would not propel Taira to a title shot.
For Taira, it will not make a distinction whether or not Kara-France or Pantoja wins at UFC 317, however the loser of Royval versus Kape might be an choice. With Moreno anticipated to be booked for a struggle at UFC 320 in September, Taira might tackle Horiguchi or Kape, if he loses to Royval. Horiguchi is without doubt one of the greatest flyweights on the planet and an enormous identify to get on the résumé — though Taira could be a betting underdog towards him. In opposition to Kape, nonetheless, he would have a grappling benefit.
Music Yadong (22-8-1), males’s bantamweight
What number of wins away from a title: 4 or extra
Subsequent struggle: TBD
The present panorama: Music has been up and down since shedding to Cory Sandhagen in September 2022, however he did bounce again from a loss to Petr Yan with a unanimous determination win over Henry Cejudo in February. The win was controversial due to eye pokes, however that should not change his standing within the division as a result of he dominated that struggle.
Music’s path to the belt: As ESPN’s No. 7-ranked bantamweight who has suffered losses to fighters ranked above him, there isn’t any direct path to a title struggle for Music. Nevertheless, Umar Nurmagomedov’s loss to the champion, Merab Dvalishvili, at UFC 311, makes Nurmagomedov an choice. Nurmagomedov’s grappling and strain could be a problem for Music, however a loss would not set again Music a lot on this stacked division.
Contemplating Sandhagen is coming off one of the best win of his profession over Deiveson Figueiredo and Yan has gained back-to-back fights, together with towards Music at UFC 299 final March, Sandhagen and Yan will possible sq. off in a rematch to determine a prime contender. That would depart Music seeking to struggle Nurmagomedov or an up-and-comer reminiscent of Marcus McGhee. Preventing — and beating — Nurmagomedov could be the quickest path to competing for a championship, however the extra possible struggle is towards McGhee. If Music had been to struggle McGhee, a dominant win would possibly get him a top-ranked opponent, however he would nonetheless be two or three wins away from a title shot.
