The Most Promising Figures in the UFC

There’s never a dull year in the UFC. In 2022, the likes of Israel Adesanya and Michael Chandler emerged as real contenders. Meanwhile, up-and-coming talent like Chidi Njokuani and André Fialho have made their debuts in the past 12 months. However, it was established names like Brandon Royval, Jake Collier, and Calvin Kattar who dominated the main events. But these high-profile fighters face stiff competition from the next generation of UFC prospects. Below, we spotlight five of the most promising fighters to keep an eye on in 2023 and beyond.

Ian Machado Garry

Irish-born Ian Garry isn’t a complete unknown, having signed with the UFC back in 2021. However, the 25-year-old has put in a very solid 12 months, defeating the likes of Gabriel Green, Darian Weeks, and Song Kenan. Recently, Garry defeated welterweight juggernaut Neil Magny.

Yazmin Jauregui

There are a lot of female UFC fighters deserving of a mention in this list, although very few come close to matching the success of Amanda Nunes. As the defending champion of both the bantamweight and featherweight categories, there aren’t many UFC pros giving Nunes sleepless nights. One fighter who might steal some of her thunder in the future is Yazmin Jauregui. However, it’s Chinese fighter Zhang Weili that should really be keeping an eye on Jauregui if she intends on holding onto her strawweight champion title.

Jack Della Maddalena

2022 was a standout year for many UFC fighters, but it’s been a particularly good one for Jack Della Maddelena. Many pundits have singled him out as one of the best prospects to emerge from the welterweight division in recent years. However, the past couple of months have been marred by matchup cancellations. With the Australian-born fighter keen to climb the ranks, let’s hope he has an easier time of locking down events in the future.

Paul Rosas Jr.

At the age of 17, Paul Rosas Jr. became the youngest ever person to sign with the UFC. There was a lot of hype around Rosas ahead of his debut. To his credit, he hasn’t failed to disappoint, with only the occasional loss tainting his record. Nonetheless, we’re dealing with a fighter who’s not afraid to admit defeat and head concentrate on training when he needs to. While his dreams of retiring undefeated are dead in the water, he could still emerge as a leading light of the UFC.

Gabriel Bonfim

While Paul Rosas Jr. had to say goodbye to the idea of retiring undefeated, one fighter who might yet secure that record is Gabriel Bonfim. The Brazilian welterweight remains one of the UFC’s most exciting prospects and he’s almost certain to be named division champion soon.

Can You Bet on UFC in 2023?

If you’re looking to throw your support behind one of the up-and-comers spotlighted above, it’s time to explore the world of UFC betting. You can place a head-to-head bet and pick the winner of the fight, that’s the most common way to bet in this sport. Although, if live betting sounds too much like hard work, head to an online casino platform instead. Alongside hundreds of 18+ online games like poker, blackjack, and roulette, you can try your luck with UFC and fighter-themed slot machines. Ideal if you’re looking for jackpot-sized sums, but only want to make a modest wager. 

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