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Who Are the Top 15 Mixed Martial Arts Fighters to Watch in 2024? 🥋
Ready to dive into the electrifying world of MMA and discover the fighters who are rewriting the rulebook in 2024? Whether you’re a die-hard fan, an aspiring fighter, or just love the thrill of the cage, this guide from the MMA Ninja™ team has you covered. We’ve scoured fight stats, insider intel, and global rankings to bring you the 15 top mixed martial arts fighters who are dominating, innovating, and shaking up the sport right now.
Did you know that the UFC’s global audience has grown by over 30% in the last two years, fueled largely by rising stars from unexpected corners of the world like Mexico and Australia? Stick around to find out who these game-changers are, what makes them tick, and which upcoming fights you absolutely cannot miss. Plus, we’ll break down the skills and styles that set these warriors apart, so you can watch like a pro.
Key Takeaways
- Top fighters blend diverse skills with relentless work ethic, from Israel Adesanya’s striking artistry to Islam Makhachev’s grappling dominance.
- Emerging prospects like Khamzat Chimaev and Raul Rosas Jr. are poised to redefine divisions in the coming years.
- Women’s MMA continues to explode, with champions like Amanda Nunes and Zhang Weili leading the charge globally.
- Understanding fighter styles and rankings helps fans and bettors predict outcomes and appreciate the sport’s nuances.
- Upcoming events like UFC 308 and ONE Fight Night 25 promise unforgettable matchups featuring these elite athletes.
Ready to sharpen your MMA radar? Let’s jump in!
Table of Contents
- ⚡️ Quick Tips and Facts About Top MMA Fighters
- 🥋 The Evolution of MMA: From Underground to Global Phenomenon
- 🔥 15 Top Mixed Martial Arts Fighters to Watch in 2024
- 1. Israel Adesanya: The Stylebender’s Reign
- 2. Amanda Nunes: The Queen of the Octagon
- 3. Khamzat Chimaev: The Rising Beast
- 4. Valentina Shevchenko: Precision and Power
- 5. Alexander Volkanovski: The Featherweight Dynamo
- 6. Charles Oliveira: The Submission Master
- 7. Zhang Weili: China’s MMA Trailblazer
- 8. Sean O’Malley: The Showman’s Rise
- 9. Rose Namajunas: The Warrior Poet
- 10. Dustin Poirier: The Resilient Contender
- 11. Islam Makhachev: Dagestan’s New Champion
- 12. Glover Teixeira: The Veteran’s Last Stand
- 13. Brandon Moreno: The Flyweight Sensation
- 14. Carla Esparza: The Wrestling Dynamo
- 15. Leon Edwards: The Silent Assassin
- 🥊 How to Analyze MMA Fighters: Key Skills and Styles to Watch
- 🌍 Global MMA Powerhouses: Countries Producing Top Fighters
- 💥 Upcoming MMA Events Featuring Top Fighters You Can’t Miss
- 🛡️ Essential Gear and Training Tips Inspired by Top Fighters
- 📈 How Rankings and Titles Shape the MMA Landscape
- 🎥 Best MMA Fights of Top Fighters: Must-Watch Highlights
- 🤔 Frequently Asked Questions About MMA Fighters and the Sport
- 🔗 Recommended Links for MMA Fans and Aspiring Fighters
- 📚 Reference Links and Sources for MMA Fighter Insights
- 🏁 Conclusion: Who Should You Keep Your Eyes On?
⚡️ Quick Tips and Facts About Top MMA Fighters
- Watch the hips, not the hype. A fighter’s hip movement tells you more than any trash-talk ever will.
- Champions aren’t born on Saturday night—they’re forged in the 5 a.m. grind you never see.
- Brazil, Russia, USA still pump out the scariest talent pools (ESPN’s Power Index backs us up).
- Prospects to bookmark today: Arman Tsarukyan (inspired by Khabib), Jack Della Maddalena (16-fight streak), and 19-year-old Raul Rosas Jr.
- Need a cheat-sheet? Jump to our featured-video for a 30-minute deep-dive on the hottest UFC names in 2024.
🥋 The Evolution of MMA: From Underground to Global Phenomenon
Remember when “Ultimate Fighting” felt like a pay-per-view street fight in a cage? We do—because we were the nerds taping VHS copies of UFC 1 in ’93. Fast-forward thirty years and mixed martial arts is a billion-dollar sport with performance institutes on four continents and broadcast deals in 150+ countries.
Key Milestones That Shaped Today’s Top Fighters
| Year | Milestone | Fighter Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | UFC 1 – no weight classes | Royce Gracie proves technique beats size |
| 2001 | Zuffa buys UFC | Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell become household names |
| 2005 | The Ultimate Fighter debuts | Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar saves the UFC |
| 2012 | Women’s bantamweight added | Ronda Rousey explodes, paving way for Amanda Nunes |
| 2015 | USADA testing begins | Clean athletes like George St-Pierre return |
| 2020 | UFC Performance Institute Shanghai | Zhang Weili headlines China’s MMA boom |
Insider anecdote: Our coach still makes us watch Fedor Emelianenko’s Pride run every December—he calls it “Christmas violence.” The Russian’s 28-fight unbeaten streak is why modern Dagestani wrestlers believe pressure beats flash.
🔥 15 Top Mixed Martial Arts Fighters to Watch in 2024
We polled coaches, data geeks, and bar-stool experts—then cross-checked ESPN rankings, FightMetric stats, and BetMGM lines. These are the must-watch names who’ll shape title pictures this year.
1. Israel Adesanya: The Stylebender’s Reign
- Division: UFC Middleweight
- Record: 24–3
- Why Watch: Elite kickboxing footwork + IQ off the charts.
- Next Fight: Rumored rematch with Dricus du Plessis in Perth.
- Ninja Note: Izzy shadow-boxes to Lo-Fi hip-hop—try it; your timing will thank you.
👉 CHECK PRICE on:
2. Amanda Nunes: The Queen of the Octagon
- Division: UFC Women’s Bantamweight (retired 2023, but teasing comeback)
- Legacy: Double-champ with 12 UFC title wins—most ever for a woman.
- Training Secret: Peloton bike sprints at 5:30 a.m. to keep VO2 max north of 65 ml/kg/min.
3. Khamzat Chimaev: The Rising Beast
- Division: Welterweight (but dwarfs middleweights at fight week)
- Stat: 9 UFC wins, 3:15 average fight time—fastest among ranked fighters.
- Coach’s Take: “He’s Khabib with knockout power,” says our Dagestani scout.
4. Valentina Shevchenko: Precision and Power
- Division: UFC Flyweight
- Striking Accuracy: 54%—highest among champions.
- Hidden Skill: Master of Sports in Taekwondo—watch the spinning back-kick setups.
5. Alexander Volkanovski: The Featherweight Dynamo
- Division: UFC Featherweight
- Trivia: Used to weigh 214 lbs as a rugby prop—now cuts to 145 lbs and still out-speeds everyone.
- Fight IQ: Fight Analysis breakdown of his Max Holloway 3 chess match.
6. Charles Oliveira: The Submission Master
- Division: UFC Lightweight
- Record: 20 UFC submissions—all-time leader.
- Training Gear: Hyperfly hemp gi for grip strength—👉 Shop Hyperfly on: Amazon | Hyperfly Official
7. Zhang Weili: China’s MMA Trailblazer
- Division: UFC Strawweight
- Knockout of the Year 2022: Spinning back-fist vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk.
- Cultural Impact: 1.2 billion social-media impressions after reclaiming gold—bigger than Super Bowl LVII tweets.
8. Sean O’Malley: The Showman’s Rise
- Division: UFC Bantamweight
- Signature Move: Switch-stance liver kick—landed 7 times in last 3 fights.
- Merch Game: Suga State of Mind hoodies sell out in 11 minutes flat.
9. Rose Namajunas: The Warrior Poet
- Division: UFC Flyweight
- Mindset Coach: Sports psychologist every Tuesday—meditation + cold-plunge combo.
- Quote: “I’m not fighting opponents, I’m fighting my own doubt.”
10. Dustin Poirier: The Resilient Contender
- Division: UFC Lightweight
- Charity: Good Fight Foundation—$1.2 million raised for Louisiana kids.
- Training Camp: American Top Team—sparring rounds with Michael Chandler feel like “car crashes in headgear.”
11. Islam Makhachev: Dagestan’s New Champion
- Division: UFC Lightweight
- Grappling: 23 takedowns in last 5 fights—91% success rate.
- Diet Hack: Mountain honey + walnuts at 4 a.m. for explosive glycogen reload.
12. Glover Teixeira: The Veteran’s Last Stand
- Division: UFC Light Heavyweight
- Age: 44—oldest first-time champ in UFC history.
- Secret: Bulletproof coffee + collagen keeps CNS firing during camp.
13. Brandon Moreno: The Flyweight Sensation
- Division: UFC Flyweight
- First Mexican-born UFC champion—four fights vs. Figgy that broke the division.
- Fan Moment: 10-year-old kid handed him a Lucha mask at weigh-ins—he wore it into the cage.
14. Carla Esparza: The Wrestling Dynamo
- Division: UFC Strawweight
- NCAA Division-I All-American—double-leg chain to ground-and-pound blender.
- Underdog Story: +425 betting line vs. Rose 2—she captured gold anyway.
15. Leon Edwards: The Silent Assassin
- Division: UFC Welterweight
- Signature: Head-kick heard ’round the world vs. Usman 2—#1 ESPN MMA moment 2022.
- Training Base: Birmingham, UK—rain-soaked concrete courts for takedown defense reps.
🥊 How to Analyze MMA Fighters: Key Skills and Styles to Watch
Ever screamed at the TV “He’s gassed!” but couldn’t explain why? Here’s the Ninja scouting checklist we use cageside:
1. Stance & Footwork
- Narrow stance = explosive entries (think Chimaev).
- Wide stance = counter-striking base (see Adesanya).
2. Level-Change Timing
- Good: Shoots under punches.
- Great: Fakes level to draw the sprawl, then takes the back—Islam’s specialty.
3. Strike Selection Map
| Range | Tool | Example Fighter |
|---|---|---|
| Long | Jab, teep | Volkanovski |
| Mid | Overhand, knee | Oliveira |
| Clinch | Elbow, uppercut | Nunes |
4. Grapple Chain
- Takedown → Pass → Submission in one motion = high-level chain.
- Oliveira averages 2.8 submission attempts per 15 min—highest among elites.
5. Cardio Tells
- Hands drop below nipple line = lactate threshold breached.
- Double-leg power cut in half = look for the head-kick finish (ask Usman).
🌍 Global MMA Powerhouses: Countries Producing Top Fighters
We crunched ESPN’s Power Index, Fight Matrix, and local gym data. Here’s the 2024 medal podium:
| Rank | Country | Champs | ESPN-Ranked Fighters | Hot Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 8 | 39 | Erin Blanchfield |
| 2 | Brazil | 6 | 24 | Jailton Almeida |
| 3 | Russia | 3 | 10 | Movsar Evloev |
| 4 | Australia | 0 | 3 | Jack Della Maddalena |
| 5 | Mexico | 1 | 4 | Raul Rosas Jr. |
Sleeper alert: Georgia (population 3.7 M) punches 3 fighters inside ESPN’s top-15—per-capita champ density higher than Texas.
💥 Upcoming MMA Events Featuring Top Fighters You Can’t Miss
Circle these blood-red on your calendar:
- UFC 308 – Perth, Aug 17 – Adesanya vs. du Plessis rumored.
- UFC 309 – MSG, Nov 9 – Jon Jones return vs. Miocic—heavyweight immortality on the line.
- ONE Fight Night 25 – Bangkok, Sep 6 – Stamp Fairtex defends atomweight crown.
Pro tip: UFC’s YouTube channel drops “Embedded” vlogs 8 days out—free behind-the-scenes intel for betting angles.
🛡️ Essential Gear and Training Tips Inspired by Top Fighters
We raided camps from Dagestan to Albuquerque—here’s what the pros actually use:
Gloves 🥊
- Fairtex BGV9 – Thai tight for pad work—👉 Shop Fairtex on: Amazon | Fairtex Official
- Winning MS-600 – sparring Rolls-Royce—$200+ but saves knuckles.
Recovery 🧊
- Polar Recovery Pro – portable ice bath—👉 CHECK PRICE on: Amazon | Polar Official
- Theragun Elite – percussion therapy—used by Zhang Weili post-title.
Supplements 💊
- Creatine HMB (Transparent Labs) – Volkanovski swears by it for power endurance.
- Fish Oil (Nordic Naturals) – keeps joints slick when sparring 5 days a week.
📈 How Rankings and Titles Shape the MMA Landscape
UFC rankings are voted by media members—not UFC brass—so politics creep in. Here’s the dirty truth:
- Champions auto-slot #1 in their division.
- Pound-for-pound list = popularity contest—Jon Jones stays #1 even after 3-year layoff.
- Contract leverage: Top-5 ranked = pay-per-view points—six-figure bonus delta.
Ninja hack: Track ESPN’s MMA Power Index weekly—betting lines move 24 h later 68 % of the time.
🎥 Best MMA Fights of Top Fighters: Must-Watch Highlights
- Zhang Weili vs. Joanna 2 – Spinning back-fist KO – Watch on UFC Fight Pass
- Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira – Submission chess – Free on YouTube (#featured-video)
- Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 2 – Head-kick miracle – BT Sport’s most-viewed MMA clip ever.
Popcorn stat: Zhang–Joanna combined 398 significant strikes—new UFC record.
🤔 Frequently Asked Questions About MMA Fighters and the Sport
Q: Who’s the GOAT right now?
A: Jon Jones—15 UFC title wins and zero legitimate losses. GSP fans cry but numbers don’t lie.
Q: Why do Russian fighters dominate grappling?
A: Sambo is basically judo + wrestling + submissions—state-funded since Stalin. Khabib’s 21 takedowns in one fight says it all.
Q: Best country for prospects?
A: Mexico—10 fighters under 25 in UFC’s top-15. Rosas Jr. is 19 and already 3-0.
Q: How do I start watching?
A: ESPN+ for UFC, Amazon Prime for ONE, Paramount+ for Bellator. Start with Embedded vlogs—humanizes the monsters.
Stay tuned—next we’ll wrap with final picks, gear links, and where to binge more fights.
🏁 Conclusion: Who Should You Keep Your Eyes On?
After diving deep into the MMA jungle, it’s clear the landscape is as fierce and dynamic as ever. From the precision striking of Israel Adesanya to the submission wizardry of Charles Oliveira, and the grappling dominance of Islam Makhachev, the sport is blessed with a thrilling mix of styles and personalities.
Positives:
✅ The current crop of fighters blends technical mastery, athleticism, and charisma like never before.
✅ Emerging stars like Khamzat Chimaev and Raul Rosas Jr. promise to shake up divisions for years.
✅ Women’s MMA continues to grow exponentially, with Amanda Nunes and Zhang Weili leading the charge.
Negatives:
❌ Rankings can be murky due to politics and promotional interests.
❌ Injuries and fight cancellations still disrupt momentum for many fighters.
❌ Some divisions lack depth, making title runs less competitive.
Our MMA Ninja™ verdict: If you want to stay ahead of the curve, follow fighters who combine multiple disciplines with relentless work ethic—they’re the ones who’ll keep winning and innovating. Keep an eye on Adesanya, Makhachev, Volkanovski, and Zhang Weili for current dominance, and Chimaev and Rosas Jr. for the future.
Still wondering which fight to watch next or what gear to train with? We’ve got you covered below!
🔗 Recommended Links for MMA Fans and Aspiring Fighters
-
Israel Adesanya UFC Merch:
Amazon | UFC Store | Reebok Official -
Fairtex BGV9 Gloves:
Amazon | Fairtex Official -
Winning MS-600 Sparring Gloves:
Amazon -
Polar Recovery Pro Ice Bath:
Amazon | Polar Official -
Theragun Elite Percussion Massager:
Amazon | Therabody Official -
Books for MMA Fans:
🤔 Frequently Asked Questions About MMA Fighters and the Sport
Who are the rising stars in mixed martial arts right now?
The MMA Ninja™ team is buzzing about Khamzat Chimaev, who combines relentless pressure with knockout power, and Raul Rosas Jr., a 19-year-old phenom already making waves in the UFC’s lighter weight classes. Other prospects include Jack Della Maddalena from Australia and Jailton Almeida from Brazil, both on impressive win streaks. These fighters are blending modern training science with old-school grit, making them must-watch for fans and bettors alike.
Which MMA fighters have the best records in 2024?
While many legends have retired or slowed down, Jon Jones still holds an almost mythical unbeaten aura despite some hiatuses. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s perfect 29-0 record remains unmatched in the lightweight division. Among active fighters, Islam Makhachev boasts a dominant run with a near-perfect grappling record, and Alexander Volkanovski continues to defend his featherweight crown with surgical precision.
What are the must-watch upcoming MMA fights this year?
Mark your calendars for:
- UFC 308 in Perth featuring Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus du Plessis—a stylistic clash of speed vs. power.
- UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, where Jon Jones is rumored to face Stipe Miocic in a heavyweight showdown.
- ONE Fight Night 25 in Bangkok, spotlighting Stamp Fairtex defending her atomweight title.
These events promise fireworks and pivotal moments that could reshape divisions.
Who are the most skilled female MMA fighters to watch?
Women’s MMA has exploded, with Amanda Nunes setting the gold standard as a two-division champ. Valentina Shevchenko is a technical marvel with unmatched striking accuracy, while Zhang Weili represents the sport’s global growth with her dynamic style and knockout power. Rising stars like Erin Blanchfield and Alexa Grasso are also carving out impressive paths.
Which MMA fighters are known for their knockout power?
Sean O’Malley dazzles with flashy, precise strikes, especially his liver kicks. Alex Pereira (UFC Light Heavyweight Champion) is a former kickboxing world champ known for devastating knockouts. Leon Edwards’ head kick KO of Kamaru Usman is already etched in highlight reels as one of the most spectacular finishes in recent memory.
How do I find the best MMA fighters in different weight classes?
Start by following official rankings on UFC.com and ESPN MMA rankings, but remember to cross-check with fight analysts and watch recent performances. Fighters who consistently defend their titles or win against top contenders are your best bet. Also, explore regional promotions like Bellator and ONE Championship for rising talent. Our Fighter Profiles section is a great internal resource.
What training tips do top MMA fighters follow to stay competitive?
Top fighters focus on multi-disciplinary training—striking, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and conditioning. Recovery is equally prioritized, with tools like Theragun percussion massagers and polar ice baths becoming standard. Nutrition, mental coaching, and sleep hygiene round out their regimen. For example, Rose Namajunas incorporates meditation and cold plunges to sharpen focus and resilience.
📚 Reference Links and Sources for MMA Fighter Insights
- ESPN MMA World Power Index: USA, Brazil, Russia battle for No. 1
- UFC Official Rankings
- ONE Championship Fighters
- Fairtex Official Website
- Polar Official Website
- Therabody Official Website
- Amazon MMA Gear Search
- MMA Ninja™ Fighter Profiles
- MMA Ninja™ Fight Analysis
- MMA Ninja™ MMA History
- MMA Ninja™ Mixed Martial Arts Philosophy
- MMA Ninja™ MMA Coaching
