As the year comes to a close we are going to take a look at five UFC fighters you should watch out for in 2024. In this list are five individuals who are not currently ranked in the top ten but have championship potential at their weight class. While these entries may not be household names yet, they soon will be.
Bo Nickal (5-0)
One of the hottest prospects in all of professional sports is Bo Nickal. The American-born wrestler was a standout collegiately at Penn State winning three National Championships and three Big Ten Titles. Bo started his career in 2022 and has gone (5-0) in his short time in MMA. Nickal is one of the most credentialed wrestlers the UFC has seen and is following in the footsteps of All-Time greats Daniel Cormier and Henry Cejudo. Training at American Top Team, Nickal spars with some of the best fighters in the world. In Nickal’s last win over Val Woodburn, he was the largest betting favorite (-3000) in UFC History.
Nickal has all the potential in the world. For a lifelong grappler, Nickal is a very impressive striker who seems to keep improving with each performance. Recently, UFC president Dana White announced that Nickal will face Cody Brundage at the promotion’s 300th event in 2024.
Joe Pyfer (12-2)
Joe “Bodybagz” Pyfer has been on a tear since his contract-winning performance on Dana White’s Contender Series. Pyfer debuted against Alen Amedovski winning by knockout in the first round. In his next two fights, Pyfer finished UFC veterans Gerald Meerschaert (KO/TKO) and Abdul Razak Alhassan (Submission). Pyfer is a physical force in the Middleweight division and seems to be a very well-rounded prospect. Pyfer is a plus athlete whose natural strength and coordination make him an interesting prospect at 185 pounds.
Outside the UFC Pyfer stays active, competing in Jiu-Jitsu competitions for Fury Pro Grappling. Pyfer will face his first real step up in competition against perennial contender Jack Hermanson in February. Hermanson is a tricky veteran who has an underrated Jiu-Jitsu game. We will see more of what Pyfer has to offer on the feet in this 2024 matchup.
Benoit Saint-Denis (13-1)
Benoit Saint-Denis is one of the toughest fighters in the sport and is certainly someone to watch in 2024. The former French special forces officer is no stranger to combat. The European grappling champion debuted in the UFC against dangerous Brazilian Elizeu Zaleski Dos Santos up a weight class from where he normally competes. Dos Santos is a tremendous fighter who knocked out current Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland earlier in his career. Saint Denis’s willingness to face such a tough opponent on short notice impressed many fight fans immediately.
Since Saint-Denis has returned to 155 pounds he’s won fight fights in a row by finish. “The God of War” is Saint Denis’s nickname and accurately describes his violent style. On the ground, Benoit has shown the ability to finish fights with submissions and ground and pound. Saint-Denis is one of the most aggressive fighters on the roster and is very fun to watch. At UFC 295 Saint-Denis showed improvements in his striking knocking out New York brawler Matt Frevola with a Head Kick. This is definitely a fighter to watch out for in the Lightweight division.
Tatsuro Taira (15-0)
The country of Japan has never had a UFC Champion. That could change very soon thanks to 23-year-old standout Tatsuro Taira. The talented Flyweight prospect dominated in the promotion SHOOTO before joining the UFC in 2022. Taira burst on the scene with five straight victories in the UFC, two of which came by armbar. At 125 pounds there are not many grapplers with the technique of Taira. While Tatsuro does have five wins in the promotion, he has yet to face a ranked fighter.
At one time the country of Japan was an MMA powerhouse with the Pride Fighting Championships, as they were in complete control of the martial arts landscape. Since the sale of Pride to the UFC, not many Japanese fighters have found success inside the promotion. If Taira can rise to the top of the Flyweight division he will become an International superstar.
Vitor Petrino (10-0)
Light Heavyweight powerhouse Vitor Petrino has looked nothing short of spectacular in his three fights with the UFC. Petrino fought in respected organizations like UAE Warriors before joining the promotion and impressed UFC president Dana White on the Contender Series. On his three-fight winning streak, Petrino has defeated Anton Tukalj, Marcin Prachino, and Modestas Bukauskas. Of Petrino’s ten professional wins seven have come by knockout.
Petrino knocked out Bukaukas in November of this year and will certainly have a fight booked soon in 2024. At 26 years old, the 6’2 Petrino is one of the brightest prospects to watch at 205 pounds. With Champions hurt and longtime contenders close to retirement, Petrino is a fresh face in division filled with hungry prospects.
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