Who do you guys think will be the 3 breakout stars of the UFC in 2018 ?

[Armitage Shanks]

Might be a bit early, but Eric Silva.

Eric Silva is great, no doubt, but o think it is a bit early. If we’re being realistic, next year is going to be the Artem Lobov era I feel.

 

[JayJayMMA]

My 3 breakout fighters would exclude anyone that could headline a card already or have a title fight immediately so I wouldn't include Ngannou, Rose, etc.

Darren Till
Brian Ortega
and as an out there one, Hakeem Dawodu could be a sleeper hit.

 

[Mondo Freaks]

Jack Hermansson
Gregor Gillespie
Ray Borg

 

[Lyoto Jackson]

All 3 of those guys broke out in 2017

For me, Zabit, Mairbek Taisumov, and Curtis Blaydes

I'm amazed that Curtis Blaydes isn't already a star simply based on his name.

 

[Lyoto Jackson]

Till
Diakiese
Blaydes
Might Mouse

 

[burningspear]

Stipe gets his props.

 

[El Fernas]

O'Malley.

 

[jm814]

Do not understand this hype for covington apart from his shit talk. Watching him fight his striking looks incredibly sloppy. Good wrestling but i don't think he's anywhere near causing woodley trouble. He just seemed to be a poor matchup for maia. Maia had barely thrown a strike in like 3 fights and colbys wrestling made the takedown not possible

 

[WalkenWouldOwn]

People are literally mentioning champions and #1 contenders as breakout candidates?

 

[Malvo]

Oh man, had me laughing out loud at the office.

You're not going to be laughing when he runs through your favorite welterweights one day. He's a young lion now but just wait until he goes from prospect to contender.
It'll be like a tidal wave. All I can say is, hang on!

 

[burningspear]

People are literally mentioning champions and #1 contenders as breakout candidates?

You could interpret it as break out stars within MMA or as in entering the mainstream?

 

[dildos]

ortega, bobby knucklez, ngannou.

 

[Relentless chase]

If you had to choose 3 guys who you could see making a big impact in the UFC in 2018 what 3 would you pick ?

Here's mine -



Francis N'gannou

Colby Covington

Kevin Lee

In order
1. Francis Ngannou
2. Darren Till
3. Paul Felder

 

[Arkham's Notorious Geyser]

Depending on if they win, Saturdays card has two potential break out stars in Marlon Moraes and Brian Ortega. Overall I would say Kevin Lee, Mike Perry(should he also get past Ponzi), Francis N'Gannou, Brian Ortega, Volkan Oezedmir and Marlon Moraes.

But if it had to be 3, I would go with

Lee
N'Gannou
Ortega,

 

[whaleshark]

Platinum Mike
Dark Platinum
And the Irish Platinum Dragon

 

[beefcake180]

I wouldn't call them stars yet. If N'gannou wins the title and KO's Stipe then we are on a different level altogether. Same for Colby if he deals with Tyron.

"Breakout" implies to me they had a moment which took their popularity to the next level which all 3 did this year.

Lee headlined 2 events including a ppv and had a press conference brawl

Ngannou is the most talked about fighter in the UFC not named Conor right now

And Colby just laid a whooping on a perennial title contender and then cut the promo of the year

I believe all 3 broke out this year.

 

[beefcake180]

People are literally mentioning champions and #1 contenders as breakout candidates?

Really dont think people understand what breakout means

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

Francis Ngannou
Tyson Pedro
Arjan Singh Bhullar

 

[Sage NorthGOAT]

Ngannou, Till, O'Maley, Platinum, and hopefully a 145 version of Lando

 

[GrantB13]

Can people just think for themselves and not make Covington a star? Why do idiot mainstream gomers always have to make celebrities out of people everyone thinks is a douche?

"Oh! I've heard that name before! That must mean he's a star!" No thought into it.