ESPN list Top 25 MMA fighters under 25 years of age In the last four years, four different fighters have been made in the headlines: Geet Yadong In 2021, Usman Nurmagomedov In 2022, Erin blanchfield In 2023 and, most recently, Tatsuro TairaEach of those fighters has seen success in their respective promotion, which compete their division among the best fighters. But one has reached the summit in this game.

Only PFL Lightweight Nooramgomedov has been a champion in a major MMA promotion. He held the Belter Lightweight title from November 2022 to September 2024.

While none of the other fighters have challenged for a title in their UFC career so far, the trio had recently fallen quarrels that promoted them in the championship photo. Even with disadvantages, at each point at each point, it is deployed to score another run at the top of your respective divisions, so we are outlined from the closest to the closest to a title challenge.

Erin Blancfield (13-2), Women’s Flyweight

Win away from a title: Two or less
Next Battle: 31 May vs. Messi Barber

Current landscape: After losing Manon Forot Last March in the number 1 contender in the fight, Blancfield bounces back with a unanimous decision on former strawweight champion Rose namazunas in November. The victory put Blancfield back into the title picture.

After the loss of the champion to the champion, Valentina shavechenkoUFC 315 last month, only fighter before Blancfield Divisional ranking of ESPN Is in third place Natalia SilvaWhich now appears to be the top contender after dominating the pre -shampoo Alexa grasso UFC 315.

The location of the blanchfield in the top two fighters of the division will be cemented with a win over the barber, but it will not guarantee it a title shot. Instead it will create a pair of potential scenarios.

1. If Silva gets the next title shot, the blanchfield will be in the next queue to challenge the winner of that fight. Blancfield can sit and wait for his opportunity to compete for the championship, or he can see Fiorot to avenge his loss.

2. UFC a different – more likely – can fight a champion vs. champion between direction and shavechenko and strawweight title Zhang ValleyThe match will open the door for the number 1 contender or interim title fight between Blancfield and Silva.

Blancfield route to belt: If I had a blanchfield, I want Silva to lose to Shevchenko in defense of his next title, as Shewchhenco is a better matchup for Blancfield. Silva will probably be very much preferred on blanchfield, as the striking of Silva is light forward and has an elite takedown defense to go with a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. Blancfield will need to keep it to bring the fight to the ground and give it a chance to win it.

Tatsuro Taira (16-1), Male Flyweight

Win away from a title: Three or more
Next Battle: August 2 vs. Rich albazi

Current landscape: Like Blancfield, Taira was probably a win from competition for a championship last year. But a divided decision loss Brandon roywal A title shot removed its expectations.

Tyra needs to win over Albazi in this summer so that the victory can return to the column and re -enter the title picture. Albazi is the perfect matchup for Taira and is in front of him in the UFC rankings.

Taira Way for Belt: With a win over Albazi, especially if he could end, then Taira can call for a fight with someone like former champion Brandon Moreno Or former Belter Champion Kyoji HoriguchiConsidering Alexandre pantoja Ready to defend your title against Kai Kara-France And is facing royal Maneel Cap On the same UFC 317 card, a win over Albazi will probably not inspire Taira to a title shot.

For Taira, it will not matter whether Kara-France or Pantza wins on UFC 317, but may be an alternative to Royal vs. Cap. With the hope of booking Moreno for a fight in UFC 320 in September, Taira can take on Horiguchi or Cap, if he loses to royal. Horiguchi is one of the best flyweight in the world and is a big name to visit the resume – although Taira will be a betting Dalit against him. Against Kap, however, he will have a big benefit.

Song Yadong (22-8-1), Male Banomweight

How many wins from a title: Four or more
Next Battle: TBD

Current landscape: Has been up and down since losing the song Corey Sandhagen In September 2022, but he bounced back to loss Petra vehicle Unanimously win with victory Henry Sedo in February. The victory was controversial due to I Pox, but it should not change its standing in partition as he dominated that fight.

The path of the song for the belt: ESPN’s number 7-ranked Banomweight, which has damaged the ranked fighters over it, is not a straightforward way for the song for the song. However, Omar NurmagomedovDamage to the champion, Merb bicolyIn the UFC 311, Nurmagomedov makes a choice. Nurmagomedov’s thunder and pressure will be a challenge for the song, but a disadvantage will not far behind the song in this stacked division.

Keeping Sandhagan in mind, coming out of the best victory of his career Diveson And the vehicle has won back-to-back fights, with the UFC against Song in the last March, Sandhagen and Yan will offer the square off in a rematch to set up a top claimant. It will leave the song to fight Nurmagomedov or like an up-end-coma Marcus McGiFighting – and beating – Nurumgomedov will be the fastest way to compete for a championship, but more likely the fight is against the fight Mache. If the song was to fight Mache, a major win he could find a top -ranked opponent, but he would still be away from two or three win from a title shot.