5 UFC fighters who could enjoy a breakout 2022

With 2021 now over for the UFC and 2022 almost upon us, the promotion will put on its first event of the New Year on January 15th. With the New Year approaching, which UFC fighters are likely to enjoy a breakout 2022? Considering the promotion's huge roster, there are many candidates.

The year saw the likes of Jiri Prochazka, Islam Makhachev and Giga Chikadze all rise into UFC title contention. Although it’s difficult to predict who could follow them next year, there are a few strong contenders.

On that note, here are five UFC fighters who could enjoy a breakout year in 2022:

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#5. Mateusz Gamrot – UFC lightweight contender

Mateusz Gamrot could rise into contention for the UFC lightweight title in 2022.

Mateusz Gamrot is now ranked as the #12 lightweight in the UFC following his recent victory over Diego Ferreira. Considering the same, it's safe to say the Polish fighter is already on the verge of a breakout.

‘Gamer’ reeled off three wins in a row in 2021. He stopped Scott Holtzman, Jeremy Stephens and Ferreira to take his UFC record to 3-1. One more win would probably take him into genuine title contention at 155 lbs.

Gamrot, a former KSW lightweight champion, is a massively dangerous fighter in all aspects. He has shown off the skills in his arsenal across his last four UFC bouts.

His win over Holtzman showed that he’s got excellent striking skills and brutal knockout power. Meanwhile, his win over Stephens demonstrated his submission skills. While he lost to Guram Kutateladze, that fight showed that he can also wrestle and scramble with the best of them.

'Gamer''s recent victory over Ferreira may have ended strangely. However, it showed that he can chain all those skills together and seamlessly transition from one portion of a fight to another.

Some of the fighters ranked above him at 155 lbs – Tony Ferguson, Dan Hooker and Rafael Dos Anjos – are getting no younger and looking vulnerable. Considering the same, there’s definitely a chance for ‘Gamer’ to beat a big name next time out, making 2022 a seemingly breakout year for him.

#4. Manel Kape – UFC flyweight contender

Manel Kape has the striking ability to become a genuine UFC star in 2022.

Manel Kape, a former bantamweight champion with Japan’s Rizin promotion, earned a lot of hype before his UFC debut in February. However, early on at least, it looked like he wouldn’t quite reach his potential inside the octagon.

Kape was well beaten by high-level flyweight contender Alexandre Pantoja in his first UFC outing. He then fell to a second defeat against Matheus Nicolau a month later, which put his future with the promotion in serious doubt.

However, since then, Kape has looked absolutely fabulous. He has used his blistering striking style to take out both Ode Osbourne and Zhalgas Zhumagulov in devastating fashion.

His win over Osbourne, in particular, was amazing. Kape knocked out the veteran with a savage flying knee in the first round, demonstrating some serious athleticism in the process.

Kape clearly has the style and charisma to break out as a genuine star for the UFC in 2022. However, there are, admittedly, a couple of question marks around him.

Firstly, he has missed the 125 lbs flyweight limit in one of his four fights. That is a hurdle he should be able to overcome, but it's worth keeping a close eye on going forward. Secondly, while he looked excellent in his win over Zhumagulov, questions remain regarding his wrestling defense.

However, with arguably the most explosive striking game in the flyweight division, Kape is clearly a threat to anyone. If he were he to be matched with a highly ranked foe like Alex Perez or Brandon Royval, he'll fancy his chances of winning.

If he does that, Cape could become a genuine contender for the UFC flyweight title next year.

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#3. Bruno Silva – UFC middleweight contender

Bruno Silva picked up three UFC wins in violent fashion in 2021.

Initially supposed to debut with the UFC in 2020, a USADA suspension sidelined Bruno Silva till June this year. That meant very few fans were excited about his first octagon appearance.

However, it’s probably fair to say that UFC fans know exactly who ‘Blindado’ is now. The Brazilian has quickly established himself as one of the middleweight division’s most explosive prospects. In fact, you could easily argue that Silva was quietly the most successful UFC debutant of 2021.

‘Blindado’ won his first three fights in the octagon this year. Most impressively, he defeated all three opponents – Wellington Turman, Andrew Sanchez and Jordan Wright – by either KO or TKO.

His wins over Turman and Wright were hugely impressive in their sheer violence. However, his win over TUF 23 winner Sanchez, arguably, stood out the most.

That’s because Silva appeared to lose the fight through the first two rounds. Sanchez used his wrestling game and strength in the clinch to largely nullify Silva's striking power.

However, ‘Blindado’ was able to turn things around in the third round. He blitzed a tired Sanchez with brutal punches until the latter could take it no more. This comeback was a message to any future opponent that one simply cannot count Silva out at any time.

Right now, ‘Blindado’ remains unranked in the UFC’s middleweight division. However, with a fight against kickboxing legend Alex Pereira planned for early 2022, a win could see him emerge as a star. If the Brazilian can repeat his 2021 form going into next year, he could definitely enjoy a breakout year.

#2. Casey O’Neill – UFC flyweight contender

Casey O'Neill could become a threat to UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko in 2022.

The UFC’s flyweight division is notoriously thin. Add to that the fact that champion Valentina Shevchenko is constantly knocking off top challengers. That means any fighter on a winning streak could break out as a contender.

The likes of Maycee Barber and Alexa Grasso have stuttered somewhat. However, Casey O’Neill might well have the skills to rise up as not only as a genuine threat to Shevchenko’s throne, but also as a UFC star in her own right.

The Scotland-born Australian-based fighter is one of the youngest flyweights on the UFC’s roster at the age of 24. Based on what we’ve seen of her thus far, her ability in the octagon easily belies her young age.

On her UFC debut, she easily overcame veteran Shana Dobson on the ground. Meanwhile, in her second fight, she left Lara Procopio unconscious following a rear naked choke.

The most impressive showing ‘King Casey’ has had thus far, though, came in her most recent fight. She utterly destroyed Antonina Shevchenko – the older sister of the champion – by second round TKO. In the process, she won her first performance bonus.

That win surely sent a message to the champion. If O’Neill can defeat former title challenger Roxanne Modafferi in February, it’s likely the UFC could give her a major push as a breakout star. She might be fighting for the title later in 2022.

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#1. Magomed Ankalaev – UFC light heavyweight contender

Magomed Ankalaev could become the UFC's latest Russian superstar in 2022.

The year 2020 saw the retirement of the UFC’s biggest star from Russia, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Since then, the promotion seems to have been searching for someone to step into that void.

Both Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev have come forward as possible replacements for ‘The Eagle’. However, another Dagestani-based fighter might well break out as a genuine star in 2022.

Quite how Magomed Ankalaev isn’t gaining more hype from UFC fans already is a major question mark. The light heavyweight contender picked up two more wins in 2021 to take his overall UFC record to 7-1. He now sits at #6 in the UFC’s rankings.

However, it still feels like he’s flying under the radar, with the likes of Jiri Prochazka and Aleksandar Rakic gaining more traction in terms of a potential title shot than him.

In reality, that is pretty absurd. Ankalaev has shown deadly skills in all areas thus far into his UFC tenure. He is arguably the best wrestler in the division, and has also displayed brutally heavy strikes.

The Dagestani could start 2022 in explosive fashion. That's because he’s currently pegged to face Thiago Santos in the headliner of a UFC Fight Night event in March.

If he wins that, it would be the biggest victory of his UFC career to date, and move him into title contention. In fact, based on what we’ve seen of him thus far, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ankalaev end the year with the UFC light heavyweight title around his waist.