Who Really Is The Next Superstar?
Ever since Conor McGregor's arrival into the UFC, Dana White has been on the lookout for his predecessor.
Now, more than ever, the UFC roster is full to the brim of marketable faces and personalities, so it will come as no surprise that many have been compared to the legendary Irishman.
This year Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett has burst onto the mainstream scene, after his exciting debut.
The Scouser secured a first round knockout against Luigi Vendramini, in stunning fashion, after taking a couple of heavy punches earlier in the round. After the fight, 'The Baddy' was being questioned about the punches he'd taken by UFC legend - Michael Bisping. His response was 'I'm a Scouser. We don't get knocked out.'
His quick wit, and likeable personality, saw the 27 year old win over hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide. He has gained millions of followers across his social media platforms since his debut. This, partnered with his memorable look, makes Paddy look set to make it to the very top of MMA.
Sean O'Malley has been on everybody's radar for years now. After fans dubbing O'Malley the 'Unranked Champ', he is now rank 12th in the Bantamweight division, with an impressive record of 14-1.
O'Malley has Irish roots, like Conor McGregor, so he has faced alot of comparisons to him throughout his career. He wishes to live up to them, however fans suffered shock after he suffered his first professional defeat in August 2020.
O'Malley is another fighter with an outspoken, witty and exciting personality. He has a podcast in which he regularly shows his fanbase a side to himself that professional athletes don't usually show their fans.
Sean O'Malley has also built his fanbase through his exciting style of fighting, often taking risks, he always guarantees a good fight. A superstar quality.
Khamzat Chimaev. This is a name we will undoubtedly be hearing for many years to come.
With a professional record of 10-0, Chimaev really looks the real deal. The way in which he has won his fights has quite simply been stunning, with him finishing all 4 of his UFC bouts in style. His first two UFC fights only several days apart, Dana White couldn't get enough. They way in which he made his opponents seem almost 'child-like' in his presence, is something the world of fighting has not seen for years. Serious domination.
His likeable personality, along with his skills in the cage, have won him millions of worldwide fans. His background story is also amazing - he has has to overcome some serious obstacles throughout his life, and now he is deservedly in the eyes of the world.
Dana White will undoubtedly be licking his lips looking at the calibre of fighters coming through at the moment.
Several on his roster, like the three I have just mentioned, have that magic combination of skills, personality and looks - undoubtedly a recipe sure to sell tickets and maker serious amounts of money.
Although the hunt for the next superstar is well underway, it has to be questioned...will anybody ever be able to fill the shoes of Conor McGregor?
Photo Credits:
- Paddy Pimblett after his victory at Cage Warriors 90: https://www.mmanytt.com/latest-news/video-watch-paddy-pimblett-winning-ways-cage-warriors-90/
- Being around for a while, it comes as no surprise that Sean O'Malley has publicly spoke about filling Conor McGregor's shoes: https://mma.uno/sean-omalley-desafia-a-dominick-cruz-para-su-proximo-combate-quien-es-una-pelea-mas-grande-que-yo/
- Is Khamzat Chimaev the next Dagestani fighting star?: https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/9/16/21440824/khamzat-chimaev-gerald-meerschaert-detail-pre-fight-verbal-altercation-ahead-of-ufc-vegas-11
- The man behind it all (here pictured after UFC 259): https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/mma/news/19828/11984844/dana-white-defends-ufc-249-its-as-safe-as-it-can-possibly-be