10 European Fighters Ready to Break Out

A "breakout" can mean different things to different people. It can mean a flare-up of a skin irritation, for example. It can mean an escape en masse of prisoners from prison. But it's not going to mean those things today.

Today, right here, in an MMA context, it means taking the next step in your career. But what does that mean? Well, it differs.

In the following slideshow, we're going to attempt something dangerous: We're going to attempt to apply the term "breakout" to more than one situation. But though situations may vary, all 10 of the people here are poised for a breakout in their MMA careers, and that's why they're here.

Today, we're looking at fighters who hail from Europe (Russia included this time). Are these all talented competitors? Yes. Check that box. Are they all at the same level in their careers? No.

Some are already in the UFC. Some are not. Some are deep prospects. Others are well-known to many fans. But they have this in common: They all appear ready to take a big leap forward on their respective professional trajectories.

For some, that could mean a call from the major leagues. For others, it could mean a fight for the major league title. 

Does this all make sense? Great. Here goes. These are ranked based on who stands to make the biggest leap. Again, this is not a list of the best European fighters. It's those who are most well-positioned for a breakout. All right. Let's go.

10. Nicolas Dalby

Division: Welterweight
Record: 12-0
Country of origin: Denmark

So you like the knockouts, do you? Look at this. Poor Sergei Churilov wobbles and keels over like the underboss of some old Nintendo side-scroller.

That was nothing new for Dalby, who has four wins that way, not to mention three by submission. What did make this bout unusual was that it was his Cage Warriors debut, and it snared him the respected British promotion's welterweight title.

After some delays beyond his control, Dalby defends the strap for the first time on Nov. 15. If he can extend his streak just a little longer, one has to think a win, combined with an electric style predicated by a very strong kicking game, will earn him some close monitoring.

9. Nick Hein

Markus Schreiber/Associated Press

Division: Lightweight
Record: 11-1
Country of origin: Germany

Was his unanimous-decision defeat of Drew Dober enough to land him on main cards? No. But it was enough to showcase his dynamic judo game in a back-and-forth bout that stole the undercard at UFC Fight Night 41.

The 30-year-old will have a tougher test in November when he faces fellow undefeated newcomer James Vick.

8. Zubaira Tukhugov

ANDERS WIKLUND/Associated Press

Division: Featherweight 
Record: 17-3
Country of origin: Russia (Chechnya)

He's only 23, but he's already 2-0 in the UFC. He also has an eight-fight winning streak on the stove.

Just last weekend, he locked his radar onto Ernest Chavez and used a head-turning power-striking game to lay out the Californian.

His debut might have been even more impressive, when he calmly unfurled an array of spinning stuff on Douglas Silva de Andrade, beating back the more highly heralded prospect in front of a hostile Brazilian crowd.

Looks like I have another complicated name to memorize.

7. Marat Gafurov

Division: Featherweight
Record: 9-0
Country of origin: Russia

M-1's former featherweight champion has been on prospect radars for some time. His career hit a lull earlier this year when he signed with Asian promotion One FC but was subsequently prevented by contract issues from joining the promotion.

That's behind him now, and the 29-year-old will debut later in October against Rob Lisita. A rapid climb up the ladder could be in the offing for the outstanding Dagestani grappler. He's one of the less-heralded prospects to emerge from that region in recent years, but that could change in short order.

6. Ruslan Magomedov

Division: Heavyweight
Record: 12-1
Country of origin: Russia (Dagestan)

Ruslan Magomedov might be just what the heavyweight division ordered.

At 27, he's potentially a breath of fresh air for an old, stale, thin division. He's not going to light the world on fire with his style—it's definitely more of a countering game—but he hits hard and is certainly competent in all phases, though grappling on the ground seems to be his relative weak point.

Regardless, he's probably past the prospect stage of his career. With a victory now in the UFC, a new training home at Jackson-Winkeljohn and career wins over names like Tim Sylvia and Ricco Rodriguez—not to mention that ultra-hip Dagestani home address—Magomedov seems poised to launch up to the next level. We'll see what he can do Nov. 22 against the undefeated Josh Copeland.

5. Toni Tauru

Division: Bantamweight
Record: 10-1-1
Country of origin: Finland

Not many people have heard of Toni Tauru. And that includes the people who regularly follow the international shows. 

But don't forget: This is a list of those ready to break out, not a list of the best. Tauru could be set for a major blast forward

He entered plenty of new radars in September when he upset dynamic striker Cory Tait to take the vacant Cage Warriors bantamweight belt. And it wasn't just what he did; it was how he did it. Expected to have a grappling edge, Tauru worked Capcom over on the feet as well, beating him to every jab and generally roughing him up.

Tauru is now the champ, and the 29-year-old may have a lot in store for him. Nothing is official, but up next is probably Brett Johns, who was the champ until Cage Warriors stripped him of the belt after Johns missed weight. Johns is likable enough, but his grind-heavy style doesn't endear him to fans or opponents. 

Tauru is more exciting in every phase. If he can get past Johns, there will be a wealth of other fun potential matchups, including with guys like James Brum, James Pennington and others.

The Finn appears to have the talent to quickly shoot from relative zero to European MMA hero. He certainly has all the logistics lined up.

4. Jan Blachowicz

Division: Light heavyweight
Record: 18-3
Country of origin: Poland

Coming into his UFC debut earlier in October, the only real question was "What took them so long?"

Jan Blachowicz was a slight underdog to wrestler Ilir Latifi in Sweden, but you wouldn't have known that from what actually unfolded. Blachowicz blew Latifi apart on the feet, most notably with a crushing body kick that signaled the beginning of the first-round TKO ending. 

And if that wasn't enough, his aw-shucks, post-fight interview cinched the deal with viewers.

The Pole isn't going to overwhelm anyone with size or athleticism. He's just really, really good at MMA. The former KSW champion was fighting UFC-level talent long before he actually set foot in the Octagon, and he still hasn't lost in more than three years.

The 31-year-old is primed and ready and then some. It's just a matter of the UFC buckling him in and letting him go.

3. Mirsad Bektic

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Division: Featherweight
Record: 8-0
Country of origin: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mirsad Bektic has been in America for many years now but spent much of his childhood in war-torn areas of Europe. But now that he's established in MMA, there appears to be no stopping the 23-year-old.

In his UFC debut this spring, the world-class prospect overcame illegal knee strikes to take a decision over Chas Skelly. 

He derailed his own hype train a bit in August when he pulled out of a fight with Max Holloway on late notice. Presumably, he is still recuperating (his specific injury was never identified). 

But it's only a matter of time before the incredibly talented Bektic steps back in. And when he does, you'll want to be on the bandwagon.

2. Marcin Held

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Marcin Held (left) faced Nate Jolly in May.

Division: Lightweight
Record: 20-3
Country of origin: Poland

All aboard the Marcin Held train. He's about to break out in a very big way.

Early in his Bellator career, Held lost a good one to veteran Dave Jansen. That, perhaps artificially, squelched the intrigue around the young jiu-jitsu world champion. 

After he handled Patricky Freire last month in the promotion's lightweight tournament final, consider that intrigue officially unsquelched. He dominated the favored Pitbull from horn to horn to earn his fifth straight win. 

One has to think he'll be watching next month's much-hyped title rematch between Michael Chandler and Will Brooks with great interest. At only age 22, the Pole with the suddenly complete game is waiting in the wings and may be a challenge for either man to handle.

1. Khabib Nurmagomedov

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Division: Lightweight 
Record: 22-0
Country of origin: Russia (Dagestan)

It is hard to believe that, in his six-fight UFC career, Khabib Nurmagomedov has only appeared twice on a main card, and both times it was in the opener. That is going to change, like, right now.

The man has recently declared himself the division's top contender to champ Anthony Pettis. And with wins over guys like Rafael dos Anjos and Gleison Tibau, it's hard to argue.

The takedown prodigy should get the next title shot or, at the very least, a reschedule of that bout with Donald Cerrone. In the case of the latter, put that one at the top of a cable TV card, and you've got yourself a sharp little main event.

Either way, Nurm is ready for his MMA close-up. The rest of the division—including those with the gold—are surely well aware of this. Only the fans and matchmakers are left to catch up.

Scott Harris writes about MMA and other stuff. You are hereby invited to follow him on Twitter.