The Topuria brothers promote a UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
As happens every year, 2025 presented MMA fans with fighters unknown to the general public and promising talents. Since many professionals stood out and didn't feel the pressure of debuting for major organizations, the team at SUPER FIGHTS He listed the five biggest revelations in the sport this season.
The voting process was as follows: each team member created an individual top 5, knowing that first place would be worth 5 points, second place 4 points, and so on. With all votes tallied, the points were added up to determine the final top 5. SUPER FIGHTS. Let's get to the list!
See too
Honorable mentions SUPER FIGHTS
Before we move on to the Top 5, it's important to highlight other promising MMA fighters who shone in 2025 but didn't receive enough votes to make the final list of top up-and-coming talents. These include: Bia Mosque, Ethyn Ewing e Mario Pinto.
Bia is a jiu-jitsu legend, undefeated in MMA, was the LFA bantamweight champion (up to 61,2 kg), and made a dominant entrance into the UFC. In the company's featherweight division (up to 65,8 kg), Ewing surprised everyone. Malcolm Wellmaker And even though he accepted the fight with only two days' notice, he made weight and ended his opponent's undefeated streak. Meanwhile, knockout artist Pinto is gaining ground in the heavyweight division (up to 120,2 kg) and is getting closer to entering the rankings.
5) Aleksandre Topuria (8 points)
Topuria backstage at the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC
Elder brother of Ilia Topuria, Alexander Topuria He's already making waves in the UFC. The 29-year-old Georgian dominated Colby Thicknesse and defeated Bekzat Almakhan in a true battle.
In his fights, 'El Conquistador' displayed a high level of striking and grappling, just like his brother. Ilia even predicted that Aleksandre would be successful in the UFC and bet that he would soon become the bantamweight champion (up to 61,2 kg).
4) Alexia Thainara (10 points)
In straw weight (up to 52,2 kg), Alexia ThainaraThe 29-year-old fighter performed so well in her first year in the UFC that she has already entered the top 15 of the competitive division. The Brazilian went to England and submitted the veteran. Molly McCann, the home athlete, in the first round and, in his second appearance in the octagon, once again impressed by controlling Loma LookboonmeeNow, 'Burguesinha' dreams of even greater success with the company.
3) Ateba Gautier (23 points)
Gautier smiles during training. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/atebagautierofficiel
Pay attention to this fighter. Ateba GautierThe 23-year-old fighter stood out so much in his first season in the UFC that he gained tremendous popularity. Competing in the middleweight division (up to 83,9 kg), the Cameroonian impressed by delivering brutal and devastating knockouts to opponents. Jose Medina, Robert Valentine e Treston Vines.
The powerful African's performances in the octagon were so convincing that many fans consider him a kind of 'new' fighter. Francis NgannouAnd it didn't stop there. Joe Rogan is also delighted with the athlete and gave him tremendous praise.
“Gautier is terrifying as hell. He weighs 84 kilos, is 1,93 meters tall, has the physique of a Greek god, and destroys everyone. Everyone gets wrecked by him. Terrifying power, super speed, excellent technique, everything. He's really good. Very strong too, huge for the category, and with incredible striking. This guy is the future.”
2) Quillan Salkilld (26 points)
Salkilld focused before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Despite his young age, Quillan SalkilldThe 25-year-old displayed a confidence worthy of top-level fighters and MMA veterans. The Australian defeated Yanal Ashmouz by knockout. Anshul Jubli e Nasrat Haqparast In a brutal and rapid manner.
Because of his track record, the athlete came to be seen as one of the most promising young athletes in the sport and, more than that, a real threat to the top lightweight fighters (up to 70,3 kg). In fact, Salkilld, a striking specialist, came close to being among the elite of the division and guaranteed he was prepared to deal with the big names in it.
1) Kevin Vallejos (31 points)
Vallejos celebrates victory in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC
Ateba Gautier e Quillan Salkilld They tried hard, but they couldn't unseat Kevin Vallejos from the position of being the great revelation of 2025 in MMA. The 24-year-old Argentinian had no problem against Danny Silva, knocked out seung woo choi in the first round and, in the biggest fight of his career, he also impressed against Giga Chikadze.
Confident in the octagon, the athlete knocked out the veteran with a spinning elbow. With that, the Argentinian left behind his status as a promising athlete and became a reality, definitively entering the top 15 of the featherweight division (up to 65,8 kg). Rival of Jean SilvaVallejos has already warned that he's not yet at his peak and assured that he still has a lot to offer in the UFC. With an aggressive style and showing improvement with each fight, the trend is that the athlete will win over the public and become one of the fans' favorites.
You need login To comment.