Prospect Of The Year â LowKickMMA 2020 Awards
Dec 28, 2020
With all the uncertainty in 2020, fighters have been given more opportunities than ever before. Last-minute calls have led to huge upsets and the emergence of MMA stars many didn’t know existed. We asked our writers which prospect has impressed them the most in 2020. Of course, Khamzat Chimaev was the popular answer and he claims the title of LowKickMMA‘s 2020 prospect of the year.
Jordan Ellis: Khamzat Chimaev ( 9-0 MMA 3-0 UFC)
I found this one really tough to pick but ultimately went for Khamzat Chimaev due to his ridiculously fast rise in 2020. In the Octagon heâs looked perfect. His level of opposition hasnât been the best but that hasnât been due to a lack of desire for big fights from the Swedish prospect By the end of January he could be ranked in the top five at welterweight in just his second fight at the weight class. It really has been the most incredible year and 2021 will prove if he
Welcome to year eight of the annual “Prospects the UFC Should Sign” series, in which we’ll examine five MMA prospects per division the UFC should sign in the upcoming year.
This series started during my time as a writer for Bleacher Report, continued through my tenures at Today’s Knockout and FanSided, and now it stays alive another year here at Combat Press.
Let’s examine the bantamweight division, a weight class that is loaded with good, young talent. It is rapidly becoming one of the most entertaining divisions in the UFC.
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In picking these prospects, I’ll try my hardest to stay away from fighters who are currently in top organizations, such as Bellator or the Professional Fighters League, but a couple may pop up. In the past, I’ve had some great picks on the list and some that haven’t worked out. Below are the previous year’s selections, followed by the five men the UFC should offer roster spots to in the coming year.