"That is not to say that young, emerging fighters are guaranteed a continual rise. The Nos. 1 and 2 fighters in the 2024 rankings made our list again this year, but they're well down the list. The expansion of our list to age 30 also allowed for the inclusion of a reigning UFC champion, a former titlist, a PFL champ and several who have competed for a belt."
"Potential: 10/10. Momentum: 10/10. Star power: 10/10. At any given time in MMA, there is always a short list of names that everything revolves around. Names that drive the sport's schedule and the fans' interest. Topuria is one of those names. At just 28 years old, Topuria has already established himself as one of the greats in MMA, winning the UFC featherweight and lightweight championships. The feat is even more impressive when you consider that his three title fights were against UFC all-timers Ale"
ESPN expanded its annual list of top young MMA fighters from 25 under-25 to 30 under-30 to retain prospects who previously aged out while still ascending. The expanded eligibility allowed inclusion of a reigning UFC champion, a former titlist, a PFL champion and several fighters who have competed for belts. A panel of analysts — Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale, Dre Waters, Jeff Wagenheim, Marcus Vanderberg and Alecia Hamm — selected fighters based on achievement and potential. Four listed fighters will compete at UFC 323, including 24-year-old Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja. Topuria, at 28, receives top marks for potential, momentum and star power after winning UFC featherweight and lightweight titles.
Read at ESPN.com
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