Meet the New Generation of MMA Stars

They emerge from every corner of the world, seeking to test their skills against the world’s best fighters, striving for the top. A few, the very best, are so good that they will become the next MMA superstars.

Who is on the list of the new generation of MMA stars?

Perhaps the greatest of the pack is 23-year-old Jon Jones, who has been ushered in as the messiah of the UFC light-heavyweight class. He has the skills, mind, charisma and look to be one of the greatest champions the game has seen.

Right behind him is Jose Aldo, who has been equated to being the featherweight equivalent of Anderson Silva. As Silva is considered by many as the greatest fighter in the history of the game, it speaks volumes to how far Aldo can go with his dynamic style, immense skill and creative mind.

Then there are tremendous athletic talents like Anthony Johnson and Gilbert Melendez, who is seen as a miniature version of UFC champ Cain Velasquez, and the ever-improving Dominick Cruz.

To be sure, all have the seeds of greatness firmly implanted in their MMA genetics, and all have their eyes firmly set on becoming the best they can be. Meet the 20 men who may become kings.

 

JON JONES

Sometimes massive hype trains can derail and result in an ugly wreck, but that is not the case with 23-year-old Jon Jones.

From the beginning, which was a unanimous decision over fellow lightheavyweight Andre Gusmao, it was obvious Jon Jones was going to be something special. Soon, people were excited to see him take on the UFC heavyweights … when he hadn't even been crowned the champion at 205.

Jones has shown he is certainly a unique champion. He is armed with pristine genetics for athletic combat sports, which means he has a long reach that enables him to strike viciously, a highly creative and diverse mode of attack and a highly intelligent mind that allows him to easily access "the zone" to achieve peak performance.

And get this … he has still not reached his potential. If Jones stays focused, he could be the face of the sport for many years to come.

 

JOSE ALDO

Jose Aldo is 145 pounds of concentrated violence.

The featherweight division has never seen someone with the kind of tools he brings to the cage. He might hit an opponent with a double flying knee, debilitating leg kick or perhaps a speedy combination with his hands that will send an opponent to the floor.

Touted by some as a mini Anderson Silva, Aldo has the potential to become a legendary figure. Aldo seems to prefer battering opponents with his eight limbs, but if it does hit the ground, he can be a devastating force there too.

There is an influx of fighters joining the featherweight ranks after the UFC added the 145-pound weight class into their league, so the competition has gotten stiffer. Still, Aldo remains a favored fighter against every featherweight in the world.

 

NOTE: THE FULL STORY IS IN THE OCTOBER ISSUE.

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