5 UFC fighters who could enjoy a breakout 2022

#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.