MMA Futures was built on the idea that the best stories in mixed‑martial arts aren’t always being told from inside the UFC’s octagon. It’s why I spend way too much time watching streaming cards from Bangkok, Budapest and Bismarck – if there’s an up‑and‑coming fighter on the card, odds are I’ve seen it. This weekly rundown highlights ten elite fighters not on the UFC roster and gives a little shine to one standout. Rankings are subjective and I’m not trying to crown a pound‑for‑pound GOAT; rather, this is about spotlighting names that casual fans might not know yet.
🔥 Fighter of the Week: Yaroslav Amosov
The Ukrainian sambo machine is the epitome of relentless consistency. Yaroslav Amosov went 25–0 before capturing the Bellator welterweight title in 2021 by out‑wrestling Douglas Lima[1]. He defended the belt in 2023 while literally fighting between patrols in the defence of Ukraine, then suffered his first loss at the end of 2023. Although he announced free‑agency in September 2024, he remains a four‑time world sambo champion and was ranked as high as seventh in the world welterweight rankings[2]. Amosov has since tested free agency but rumours point toward another major promotion this autumn. Watching him adapt his suffocating top game against different styles each week has been a joy, and he’s the type of fighter UFC matchmakers should be texting daily.
🏆 The rest of the top ten
| Fighter | Promotion / Accomplishments | Why they matter |
|---|---|---|
| Anatoly Malykhin | ONE Championship – first athlete to hold titles in three different divisions simultaneously[3]; current light‑heavyweight and middleweight champion scheduled for a heavyweight rematch in November 2025[4]. | Malykhin’s undefeated run through heavyweight, light‑heavyweight and middleweight culminated in a historic triple‑champion status[3]. Even after losing the heavyweight belt via split decision in 2024[4], he still looks like the most dangerous big man outside the UFC. |
| Usman Nurmagomedov | PFL Lightweight – undefeated record (19–0) and last Bellator lightweight champion[5]. | Khabib’s cousin has the Dagestani blueprint down to a science. He won the Bellator belt in 2022 and has defended it in PFL’s Champions Series[5]. A 2025 rematch with Alexandr Shabliy or Paul Hughes could elevate him from phenom to superstar. |
| A.J. McKee | PFL Featherweight/Lightweight – former Bellator featherweight champion[6]. | McKee won the Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix in spectacular fashion and later moved to lightweight. Now fighting under the PFL/Bellator banner[6], he still throws every strike like it’s his highlight reel. |
| Roberto Soldić | ONE Championship – former two‑time KSW welterweight and one‑time middleweight champion[7]. | The Croatian “Robocop” vacated his KSW titles to chase bigger challenges and is now knocking people silly in ONE’s welterweight division[7]. Expect a world‑title run sooner than later. |
| Stamp Fairtex | ONE Championship – former ONE women’s atomweight MMA champ and the promotion’s first three‑sport world champion[8]. | Stamp is a walking highlight. She owns ONE Muay Thai, kickboxing and MMA belts[8] and dances after every finish. The 27‑year‑old Thai star could headline a U.S. card tomorrow. |
| Adriano Moraes | ONE Championship – former three‑time ONE flyweight world champion and currently ranked #1 flyweight contender[9]. | The Brazilian grappling ace handed Demetrious Johnson his first knockout loss and has captured the flyweight belt three times[9]. His rubber‑match call‑outs keep ONE’s flyweight division compelling. |
| Chingiz Allazov | ONE Kickboxing – former ONE featherweight kickboxing world champion and 2021 Grand Prix winner[10]; ranked #1 pound‑for‑pound kickboxer by several outlets[11]. | He isn’t an MMA fighter (yet), but his striking is world‑class. Allazov’s thunderous kicks and combos made him the top pound‑for‑pound kickboxer from 2023‑2025[11]. |
| Dakota Ditcheva | PFL – undefeated flyweight star (15‑0), 2024 PFL women’s flyweight world champion[12][13]. | The British Muay Thai prodigy tore through PFL Europe and then won the 2024 global tournament, becoming the youngest PFL champ ever[13]. She’s finished most of her opponents with body shots and walks out with a double English‑Bulgarian flag. |
| Roberta / Wildcard Slot | This spot is reserved for whichever regional standout forced us to hit replay last weekend – could be a KSW double‑champ like Salahdine Parnasse or a new PFL tournament winner. | MMA is a moving target – by the time this goes up, someone else might have punched their way onto the list. Hit us up on social if there’s a name we should be watching. |
These lists will change weekly – that’s the fun part. Check back next week for a brand‑new top ten and another deep dive on a fighter you need to know.
