All eyes on Khamzat Chimaev, Sean O Malley, Islam Makhachev, Jiri Prochazka, Alex Pereira, Shavkat Rakhmonov, Tom Aspinall but there’s so many young talented fighters signed from the Contender Series, Recently signed fighters or quietly winning.
Jake Hadley
NEVER made his UFC debut but I’m EXTREMELY excited for Jake Hadley’s UFC debut he defeated a very talented Mitch Raposo who fought on the last Ultimate Fighter.
Jake displaying a high level performance of striking that lead to a second round rear naked choke.
Hadley reminds me of TJ Dillashaw a lot and I’m looking forward to his UFC debut against Allan Nascimento at UFC Fight Night London on March 19th.
“I just have a gut feeling that this kid has something special and I broke all my own rules and didn’t listen to what they said, so hopefully I’m right on this and this kid doesn’t make a d–khead out of me,” White said.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10014752-ufcs-white-on-jake-hadley-hopefullythis-kid-doesnt-make-a-d–khead-out-me
Muhammad Mokaev
Dagestan prodigy who immigrated to England to seek a better life and now is one of biggest prospects going in a long time.
Combined record of 29-0 winning the IMMAF Bantamweight Champion, IMMAF Junior Bantamweight Championship and winning Brave CF fights against SBG Ireland product Blaine O’Driscoll, Abdul Hussein #1 Nordic Bantamweight prospect,
Now ready to watch Mokaev regional success translate to the UFC against first opponent Cody Durden at UFC Fight Night London.
I’m really excited, but this is not my final destination,” Mokaev told MMA Junkie on signing with the UFC. “This is part of my journey to become the greatest so my dream is to become the youngest UFC champion. I’m excited but at the same time, it’s not my final destination.” Mokaev
https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/11/ufc-news-top-five-and-be-a-contender-for-the-title-fight-ufcs-newest-flyweight-muhammad-mokaev-lays-out-his-goals-for-2022
UFC marketing team is going to promote this 22 year old kid to the moon as he’s the future generation of MMA.
2022 is the year for Muhammad Mokaev, All of Dagestan and England will be cheering for him. This kid is the real deal.
Mason Jones
At the time became the second two time Cage Warriors champion winning the Lightweight and Welterweight title.
UFC debut was a fight of the night clash against Mike Davis that he lost but it was a great showing of striking inside range.
Next fight was bad luck with an accidental eye poke against Alan Patrick. First UFC win was against a top ten Lightweight prospect David Onama.
Forget 2021 and look forward to 2022 as he can make a run for the top 15. Making the Wales nation proud as Mason is the best fighter coming out of Wales.
“My goal over the next few years is to get to the top of that lightweight division and eventually get the belt wrapped around my waist, but I know it’s a case of doing that one fight at a time.”
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/mason-dragon-jones-ufc-mma-22052704
Hopefully flying down to Sacramento training at Team Alpha Male must help.
“I think I’m more than good enough to go to the top. And I always see myself as the best fighter in the world. All that’s left to do is to prove that I am the best.”
https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-khabib-literally-i-want-do-mason-jones-wants-emulate-ufc-legend-s-career
Jones has all the intangibles to be a great Lightweight fighter, See if everything aligns mentally and physically for him in 2022.
Mariya Agapova
After a disappointing loss to Shana Dobson she came back better than ever against Sabina Mazo, First time in Agapova she was the underdog and made a lot of bettors happy.
I was really high on Sabina Mazo, Comes from Kings MMA, trains with Cris Cyborg and is a Muay Thai Champion in Colombia.
Agapova finally decided to rest and recover, Loss to Dobson was because of being exhausted.
“I just was having a lot of troubles in my life that I didn’t decide, I just took a new fight and I should take my time,” Agapova told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 194 media day. “I should’ve rest, I should’ve fix my life before coming back to a new fight. But I think that fight was too fast and I tried to jump high as possible, but I f*cked up.”
https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/10/ufc-fight-night-194-mariya-agapova-fcked-up-in-taking-shana-dobson-bout-details-struggles-prior-to-upset-loss
Next fight is against Maryna Moroz and there having twitter beef back and forth so that’s gonna be an interesting three round fight.
Valentina Shevchenko must keep her eye on Mariya Agapova as she can make a run for the top 15 in 2022.
Said Nurmagomedov
Said Nurmagomedov will HAVE a breakout year first fight of 2022 is against Cody Stamann a very good fighter former Grand Valley State Wrestler. Said most likely will win but Cody always brings his best.
Gonna be an interesting fight to watch for sure.
Said can definitely make a run for the top 15-top ten in 2022 matchups against Ricky Simon, MMA Veteran Raphael Assuncao. He has a difficult fighting style to go against, Addition to having a good reach for a Bantamweight.
Defeated some tough fighters like Abdul Rakhman Dudaev, Justin Scoggins and Ricardo Ramos. Plenty more of talented fighters to face in the future.
Billy's MMA Blog 