The UFC is one of the best MMA promotions around the world and it currently has 600+ athletes under contract, all of whom compete regularly. Every athlete started competing at different ages in the promotion. The MMA world has seen fighters who have peaked in their 30s. However, guaranteeing the future of a promotion and the sport in general requires a young roster, so it’s no surprise that the UFC’s roster is full of fighters competing in their 20s. In this article, we will have a look at the 10 youngest fighters on the UFC’s roster right now.
10) Nurullo Aliev – (23 years old)
The 23-year-old Nurullo Aliev is the first UFC fighter from his native Tajikistan. He is currently on an undefeated streak in both the amateur and professional MMA circuit. With a stunning record of seven wins, Aliev got the opportunity to showcase his skills in Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022. The “Tajik Eagle” sent Josh Wick with a punishing ground and pound, earning a first-round TKO victory. This was enough for White to offer him a contract. Aliev continued his winning streak by defeating Rafael Alves at UFC Fight Night 220.
9) Yusaku Kinoshita – (23 years old)
Kinoshita hails from Japan and has compiled a 5-1 record in his home country. Interestingly, his only loss from that record came due to grabbing the fence during his bout against Ryuichiro Sumimura at the Premier RIZIN Trigger event. He defeated Jose Henrique Souza at Dana White’s Contender Series and secured his contract with the promotion. With five of his six wins coming in the first round, the Japanese entered the UFC Octagon with a lot of promise. However, so far, he has found himself on the losing end against Adam Fugit and Billy Goff.
8) Muhammad Mokaev – (23 years old)
Mokaev began his professional MMA career in 2020 at BRAVE CF. He has displayed his incredible fighting skills on both the amateur and professional circuit, winning all 23 of his bouts and even capturing the IMMAF world title twice. The Russian entered the UFC in 2022 and is undefeated here as well. He has defeated seven of his opponents by knockout or submission.
7) Felipe Dos Santos – (23 years old)
The Brazilian earned his place in the UFC by defeating seven of his opponents, including Hugo Paiva, at LFA 146. Felipe suffered his first defeat when he lost to Manel Kape via unanimous decision at UFC 293. He made a comeback by defeating Victor Altamirano at the UFC Mexico City event. Till now, he has amassed a record of 8-1 on the professional circuit.
6) Cameron Saaiman – (23 years old)
Saaiman began his MMA career in the regional EFC promotion. He defeated four of his five opponents there. In his fifth professional fight, the South African got a unanimous decision victory over Sindile Manengela and the vacant bantamweight title. His incredible performances led him into the Octagon. Saaiman knocked out Josh Wang-Kim during the 2022 Dana White’s Contender Series. He won his next three fights consecutively and then lost to Christian Rodriguez last year. Most recently, he was TKO’d by Peyton Talbot at UFC Vegas 89.
5) Joshua Van – (22 years old)
Joshua Van was a mainstay and champion of Fury FC until signing a contract with the UFC last year. Van entered the Octagon at the UFC on ABC 5 and got a unanimous decision victory over a much more experienced fighter, Zhalgas Zhumagulov. After that, he won his next two fights, defeating Kevin Borjas at UFC 295 and Felipe Bunes at UFC Fight Night 234.
4) Tereza Bleda – (22 years old)
Bleda started competing in amateur MMA at the age of 16. She recorded a steller nine-fight sweep of the amateur circuit. Some of her amateur bouts took place in the OKTAGON: Underground series of events. Tereza made her professional MMA debut in 2020. In 2022, she fought in Dana White’s Contender Series and defeated Nayara Maia via unanimous decision, which gave her the UFC contract. She got TKO’d in her promotional debut against Natalia Silva, but bounced back after defeating Gabriella Fernandes.
3) Iasmin Lucindo – (22 years old)
Lucindo made her professional debut in MMA in 2017 at the age of 15. Since then, she has been an incredible performer and moved from the Brazilian regional circuit to the UFC. Iasmin made her debut at the UFC on ESPN 41 with a loss against Yazmin Jauregui. She made a comeback by defeating Brogan Walker and Poliana Viana. Her most recent win came against Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
2) Francisco Prado – (21 years old)
Prado has been undefeated in his home country, Argentina. He amassed a great eleven-fight winning streak and captured a lightweight title in his last fight before signing with the UFC. However, he lost to Jamie Mularkey in his debut fight at UFC 284. After this, he recorded a TKO victory over Aziter at UFC on ESPN 49. In his most recent fight, Prado lost to Daniel Zellhuber at UFC Mexico City.
1) Raul Rosas Jr – (19 years old)
Raul Rosas made his professional MMA debut in 2021 at the age of 17. After only two amateur wins and two grappling bouts, Rosas began his campaign to dominate the MMA world. After five consecutive wins inside the UWC cage, he got a chance to fight in Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022. He dominated Mando Gutierrez in the entire fight and was given the UFC contract. “El Nino Problema” made his professional debut at UFC 282, where he defeated Jay Perrin. His only loss came at the hands of Christain Rodriguez at UFC 287.
Also Read: Dana White open to crossover with WWE now that Vince is out
