With the 'new Ngannou' and Topuria's protector, SUPER LUTAS selects the biggest MMA revelations of 2025.

The Topuria brothers promote a UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

As happens every year, 2025 presented MMA fans with fighters unknown to the general public and promising talents. Since many professionals stood out and didn't feel the pressure of debuting for major organizations, the team at SUPER FIGHTS He listed the five biggest revelations in the sport this season.

The voting process was as follows: each team member created an individual top 5, knowing that first place would be worth 5 points, second place 4 points, and so on. With all votes tallied, the points were added up to determine the final top 5. SUPER FIGHTS. Let's get to the list!

See too

Only violent battles! With a tie for the lead, SUPER LUTAS selects the best fights of 2025; see the list.

Makhachev or Joshua Van? SUPER LUTAS chooses the best fighters of 2025; check out the list.

Hello, Poatan! SUPER LUTAS selects the best fighter performances of 2025; see the list.

Honorable mentions SUPER FIGHTS

Before we move on to the Top 5, it's important to highlight other promising MMA fighters who shone in 2025 but didn't receive enough votes to make the final list of top up-and-coming fighters. These include: Bia Mesquita, Ethyn Ewing, and Mario Pinto.

Bia is a jiu-jitsu legend, undefeated in MMA, was the LFA bantamweight champion (up to 61,2 kg), and made a dominant entrance into the UFC. In the UFC's featherweight division (up to 65,8 kg), Ewing surprised Malcolm Wellmaker, even accepting the fight with only two days' notice, making weight and ending his undefeated streak. Meanwhile, knockout artist Pinto is gaining ground in the heavyweight division (up to 120,2 kg) and is nearing a ranking spot.

5) Aleksandre Topuria (8 points)

Topuria backstage at the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC

Ilia Topuria's older brother, Aleksandre Topuria, is already making waves in the UFC. The 29-year-old Georgian dominated Colby Thicknesse and defeated Bekzat Almakhan in a true battle.

In his fights, 'El Conquistador' displayed a high level of striking and grappling, just like his brother. Ilia even predicted that Aleksandre would be successful in the UFC and bet that he would soon become the bantamweight champion (up to 61,2 kg).

4) Alexia Thainara (10 points)

Alexia Thainara celebrates her UFC victory. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

In the strawweight division (up to 52,2 kg), 29-year-old Alexia Thainara performed so well in her first year in the UFC that she has already entered the top 15 of the competitive category. The Brazilian went to England and submitted veteran Molly McCann, a home athlete, in the first round and, in her second appearance in the octagon, she again impressed by controlling Loma Lookboonmee. Now, 'Burguesinha' dreams of even greater achievements in the company.

3) Ateba Gautier (23 points)

Gautier smiles during training. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/atebagautierofficiel

Pay attention to this fighter. Ateba Gautier, 23 years old, stood out so much in his first season in the UFC that he gained tremendous popularity. Competing in the middleweight division (up to 83,9 kg), the Cameroonian impressed by delivering brutal and devastating knockouts to Jose Medina, Robert Valentin, and Treston Vines.

The powerful African's performances in the octagon have been so convincing that many fans consider him a kind of 'new Francis Ngannou'. And it didn't stop there. Joe Rogan is also delighted with the athlete and gave him tremendous praise.

“Gautier is terrifying as hell. He weighs 84 kilos, is 1,93 meters tall, has the physique of a Greek god, and destroys everyone. Everyone gets wrecked by him. Terrifying power, super speed, excellent technique, everything. He's really good. Very strong too, huge for the category, and with incredible striking. This guy is the future.”

2) Quillan Salkilld (26 points)

Salkilld focused before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

Despite his young age, 25-year-old Quillan Salkilld displayed a confidence worthy of top-level fighters and MMA veterans. The Australian defeated Yanal Ashmouz and knocked out Anshul Jubli and Nasrat Haqparast in a brutal and quick manner.

Because of his track record, the athlete came to be seen as one of the most promising young athletes in the sport and, more than that, a real threat to the top lightweight fighters (up to 70,3 kg). In fact, Salkilld, a striking specialist, came close to being among the elite of the division and guaranteed he was prepared to deal with the big names in it.

1) Kevin Vallejos (31 points)

Vallejos celebrates victory in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC

Ateba Gautier and Quillan Salkilld tried hard, but couldn't dethrone Kevin Vallejos as the rising star of 2025 in MMA. The 24-year-old Argentinian had no trouble against Danny Silva, knocking out Seung Woo Choi in the first round, and in the biggest fight of his career, also impressed against Giga Chikadze.

Confident in the octagon, the athlete knocked out the veteran with a spinning elbow. With that, the Argentinian left behind his status as a promising athlete and became a reality, definitively entering the top 15 of the featherweight division (up to 65,8 kg). A rival of Jean Silva, Vallejos has already stated that he is not yet at his peak and guaranteed that he still has much to offer in the UFC. With an aggressive style and showing improvement with each fight, the trend is that the athlete will win over the public and become a fan favorite.