One of the best years in UFC history, Dana White refused to stop the UFC events and we got to see new stars like Khamzat Chimaev, Ciryl Gane, Islam Makhachev in 2021.
2022 will see new stars and fighters arise such as …
Arman Tsarukyan
Since his UFC debut against Islam Makhachev I have been always looking up his upcoming fights. Toughest fight for Islam was against Arman.
Arman is #13 Lightweight in the world, Wouldn’t be surprised if he is ranked in the top five. Most Lightweights are going to have trouble preventing takedowns as grappling is his bread and butter.
Besides being a a dominant wrestler is he an all around talent. Striking isn’t a weakness for him as he has 47% Striking Accuracy.
Right now training at Tiger Muay Thai and is only getting better.
Future matchups against Gregor Gillespie Former Division One All-American wrestler Edinboro Fighting Scots. Wrestled against Jordon Borroughs and Michael Chandler.
Facing former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael Dos Anjos, Last fight was against Paul Felder and he won Fight of the Night Bonus.
Alex Pereira
Glory Kickboxing Middleweight Champion and Glory Kickboxing Light Heavyweight Champion is one of the biggest UFC signings in recent years. Everyone hyped for one of the best kickboxers in the world entering the UFC world.
No question the best kickboxer in the UFC right now. Defeated Izzy in Glory of Heroes Kickboxing match.
4-1 MMA record right now only one UFC fight by of course knockout.
Glover Texeira discovered the fountain of youth winning the Light Heavyweight title and Alex Periera contributed to his run as there training partners together at Texeira MMA & Fitness.
“And he’s a hard worker, man. The guy is very disciplined, very hard worker, very humble to learn, and to open his eyes and to open his eyes and learn from everybody. And I believe that he’s gonna be champion. I believe that if he put his mind to it like he is doing right now—and he’s very smart. He gets thing very quick. And for sure, we’ll see him hopefully fighting Adesanya. So we don’t know who’s gonna be at the top by the time he get there, two years or a year from now, who knows, but definitely, he’s gonna be champion. I believe 100%” Glover Teixeira
https://www.mmanews.com/2021/11/glover-teixeira-gushes-over-alex-pereira/
UFC paying Alex six figures to become a UFC Middleweight contender and a challenge to Israel Adesanya because most of the fights been boring and Alex Pereira wouldn’t fear Izzy’s striking.
Watch for the right matchups against Brad Tavares, Nassourdine Imavov, Marc-André Barriault. Won’t challenge him wrestling wise in the next few fights than gradually face Darren Till, Jared Cannonier in a few more fights.
Middleweight Title Contender year in 2022.
Manel Kape
Former Rizin Bantamweight Champion, A List celebrity back in Japan is finally coming into his own with back to back first round KO wins.
Biggest problem with Kape was being afraid to actually throw but finally confident fighting on the UFC stage.
Ranked #14th UFC Flyweight right now but I wouldn’t be surprised if he challenges for the UFC Flyweight title in 2022.
“I came here to be a champion. I will be a champion next year, if God permits that. I’m the best flyweight in world. I will work hard for it. I know that I am. I did the easy work, easy money.
https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3158508/ufc-manel-kape-declares-ill-be-world-champion
My opinion is Kape is easily top five Flyweight in the world. Athleticism wise he’s up there with Deiveson Figueredo.
Take advantage of his explosiveness in his fights can expect a quick run for the title I don’t see many flyweights beating him.
Training at AKA Thailand but under the American Kickboxing Academy system by allowed to travel to San Jose.
Arnold Allen
Crafty British Featherweight flying under the radar right now. Expect a few more fights and he can challenge for the UFC Featherweight title. All-Around featherweight training at Tristar Gym.
Impressive win against Featherweight prospect Sodiq Yusuff. Dominated a older Gilbert Melendez.
Withdrawn fights against Jeremy Stephens, Josh Emmett that could’ve helped rise in the featherweight rankings. Fought for a featherweight title at this point.
“The division is so good,” Allen said. “There’s so many people coming through, and the Top 3, Top 5 guys are well-established. It is what it is. As long as you can keep training, keep pushing forward and getting the fights against these big names, top names and proving you deserve to be up there with the top guys, then it’s all good.”
https://www.ufc.com/news/arnold-allen-finally-got-his-breakout-moment-featherweight
He’s so underrated because of bad luck he’s a dark horse of dark horses and I hope he really breaks out in 2022.
Broke his hand during the Sodiq Yusuff fight and healing his hand with the help of Anthony Joshua’s hand doctor. Hopefully healthy ready good as new for 2022.
Looking for a return in 2022 against the fan favorite Korean Zombie.
“A few people suggested ‘Zombie’ and I really like the idea of that fight,” Allen said. “I grew up being a massive fan of ‘Korean Zombie,’ so it would be really cool to fight someone that. And I think that’s the kind of fight, he’s going to stand, he’s called the ‘Zombie’ for a reason — he stands and trades — so I think it’d be a good fight for me to sort of show what I can do.”
https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/11/21/22788341/arnold-allen-explains-latest-layoff-lack-of-ufc-hype-im-the-only-one-to-blame
Shavkat Rakhmonov
Caucuses region is doing going to dominate the MMA scene, The superior technical ability and the hard work ethic stands out from every one else.
Displaying masterful performances against a respected Cowboy Oliviera, Michel Prazeres.
14-0 record not even ranked right now but guarantee this Kazakhstan nightmare will be a ranked Welterweight in 2022 no doubt in my mind.
Fighting welterweights like Santiago Ponzibbio, Geoff Neal, Li Jinglaing in one more fight after facing off against Carlston Harris.
“I want to continue my winning streak, keep going and keep making my fans happy. UFC is not giving me easy opponents since my first fight. This was my second fight, another tough opponent, so I believe I’m ready for someone in the top 15, top 10. I’m not fighting debutants from my first fight. If everything goes well, I just want someone from the top 15.”
https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/shavkat-rakhmonov-plans-patience-future-callout-ranked-name-ufc-fight-night-190-video
Umar Nurmagomedov
Cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Umar Nurmagomedov is part of the next MMA dynasty.
Umar Nurmagomedov before signing with UFC was the Gorilla Fighting Championship Bantamweight Champion as Khabib was always in his corner as he always believed in him.
Umar of course is a talented wrestler but an even better striker focusing on his kickboxing. Complete opposite of Khabib and Islam.
Anticipated matchup against Cage Warriors Bantamweight Champion Jack Shore is no longer which is disappointing.
I hope Umar fights three times because I think with more training Umar can challenge for a UFC Bantamweight title in a few years.
“I’ve been saying it, in five or six fights, I expect him to be fighting for a title, and I believe we’re seeing a new champion, 100 percent,” Mendez told MMA Junkie. “He still has some improvements to make, but he’s going to make them. And yeah, you will be seeing him with the strap in five or six fights from now.”
https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/javier-mendez-umar-nurmagomedov-ufc-champion-in-two-or-three-years
Few fights I can see happen in 2022 is fighting Sean O’Malley, Nathaniel Wood, Casey Kenney.
Tom Aspinall
New blood in the Heavyweight division finally with Ciryl Gane, Chris Daukaus, Alexander Romanov, Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall.
Aspinall #10th UFC Heavyweight right now is on a 4 fight winning streak, All fights won by knockout.
Moves quickly for a Heavyweight instead of the boring heavyweights that are dead after round one. One of the best hands as a Heavyweight that sparred with Tyson Fury before.
Jumped on the scene in 2021 and will become a title challenger in 2022.
“What’s the damn rush? What’s the rush in this thing?” Aspinall said. “I’m 28. Heavyweights go to the early 40s. I’m want to stick around. I’m not trying to be a flash in the pan. I’m not trying to be a hype job as we say in the U.K. I want to earn my way up. I want to take out these guys out and get the experience on the way and do my thing and enjoy myself and make money and improve as I’m going.
Aspinall wants to have a slow rise to the top unless the UFC renegotiate his contract, He wouldn’t mind fighting the lower level fighters and getting easy wins. Including having a 50k bonus.
First fight in 2022 is against Shamil Abdurakhimov #8th Heavyweight in the world looking forward to this fight and seeing where Aspinall goes after this.
Billy's MMA Blog 