The sport of mixed martial arts is in good hands.
With thousands of new gyms sprouting up all over the world due to the surge in the sport's popularity, and kids honing their skills younger and younger, there should be no shortage of talent in the pipeline for many years to come.
People of all ages are chomping at the bit to participate in the sport. However, a very small percentage of these individuals will eventually make an impact as a professional fighter in a major organization. An even smaller few may even have superstar potential—the ability to challenge for a belt, draw a crowd, and have his name ring out around the world.
Currently, a crop of megastars led by Fedor Emelianenko, Anderson Silva, and Georges St. Pierre are carrying the torch, but in time they will leave the sport on top or gradually slide back down the ladder to make room for others.
The revolving façade on the Mount Rushmore of MMA will once again have to be filled.
As the MMA gods look down into their crystal ball and peer into the future, what do they see?
A list of new names and faces trickling out of the proverbial woodwork who, collectively, are a group of young and hungry potential stars-in-the-making.
“Generation Next” is a group of talented fighters who are currently under the age of 25.
Some of the names may be more recognizable than others and they have had varying degrees of success so far in their brief careers.
One thing they all have in common is that they will be instrumental in writing the next chapter in the evolution of MMA.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 fighters under the age of 25:
1) Gegard Mousasi—24 years old—Strikeforce/DREAM —(26-2-1)
At the ripe age of 24 this mild-mannered Dutch-Armenian fighter has already cemented himself as one of the top MMA fighters in the world today.
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