UFC 300 featured iconic performances from the likes of Alex Pereira and Max Holloway. Nothing that happened in Las Vegas last weekend should be forgotten anytime soon, but for now we can put it in the rearview mirror and look forward to the next milestone event: UFC 400.
Based on the current pay-per-view schedule, UFC 400 could take place in 2031. Almost all of today’s stars will retire, including Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, and Israel Adesanya. But there will still be many of the new generation.
In fact, nine of the 26 fighters who competed in UFC 300 were already on the roster when UFC 200 took place in 2016. And his 29 fighters who were ranked at the time are still ranked today.
Below, we’ll work to identify a few fighters who could potentially step into the Octagon at UFC 400.
Ilia Topuria
Status: Featherweight Champion
Current age: 27 years old
Age at UFC 400: Approximately 34 years old
Topuria established himself as the best featherweight in the world with a knockout win over longtime champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February. At only 27 years old, Topria is the present and future of the department. A multicultural fighter with roots in Spain, Georgia and Germany, he is on the verge of becoming one of MMA’s biggest stars. Seven years is a long, long time to hold a UFC belt. The best-case scenario for Topuria’s hopes of competing at UFC 400 is for him to be at the tail end of his prime, a mainstream superstar, and able to land a headliner spot. If that doesn’t happen, there’s a very good chance Topuria will still be relevant when the next breakthrough event occurs.
tom aspinall
Status: Interim Heavyweight Champion
Current age: 31 years old
Age at UFC 400: Approximately 38 years old
Chris Unger/UFC/Getty
Historically, heavyweight fighters have been competitive into their late 30s. Two of the best heavyweights in the world, Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones, are 37 and 36 years old, respectively. Daniel Cormier was 41 years old when he retired, and Cain Velasquez was 37. So it’s natural to think that Aspinall will likely still be at the top level by the time UFC 400 takes place. Aspinall, like Topuria, is widely seen as the present and future of his division. The British fighter will be competing at a time when many of today’s heavyweight contenders are retiring. So there’s a good chance he’ll play in this blockbuster event.
Khamzat Chimaev
Status: Middleweight 11th place
Current age: 29 years old
Age at UFC 400: Approximately 37 years old
Fans have had high expectations for Chimaev ever since he began his rise in the UFC in historically dominant fashion. The Russian’s momentum has stalled a bit due to his inactivity over the past two years, but when he steps into the Octagon, he’s almost always impressive. His performance is a strong indication that Chimaev will be a mainstay in the middleweight division for years to come, and he could become a long-reigning champion. As the second oldest fighter on this list, Chimaev’s mixed martial arts days could end by 2031. But even if that doesn’t happen, and if the next seven years of his career live up to any expectations, Chimaev will be a strong contender for UFC 400.
Arman Tsarukyan
Status: 1st place lightweight
Current age: 27 years old
Age at UFC 400: Approximately 34 years old
Chris Unger/UFC/Getty
Tsarukyan proved he is one of the best lightweights in the world with a win over former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. Tsarukyan will likely face Islam Makhachev or Dustin Poirier for the title by the end of the year. The 27-year-old Armenian-Russian fighter is still at the beginning of his career. He’s expected to be a force at 155 pounds for years to come, potentially taking him all the way to UFC 400.
Shavkat Rakhmonov
Status: 3rd place welterweight
Current age: 29 years old
Age at UFC 400: Approximately 36 years old
Rakhmonov has been on a rampage against his fellow UFC welterweights since joining in 2020. The Kazakh fighter first submitted Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson last year and is on track for a title shot in 2024, possibly against the winner of Leon Edwards vs. Leon Edwards. Belal Muhammad 2. All signs point to the 170-pound Rachmonov being a threat for years to come.
Ian Machado Garry
Status: Welterweight 7th place
Current age: 26 years old
Age at UFC 400: Approximately 33 years old
Garry has emerged as one of the most promising rising stars in the welterweight division over the past two years, rising to No. 7 in the rankings with wins over the likes of Geoff Neal and Neil Magny. Garry, aptly nicknamed ‘The Future’, is Ireland’s first UFC title contender since Conor McGregor, and it would be surprising if he doesn’t become a pay-per-view draw in the not-too-distant future.
Erin Blanchfield
Status: 3rd place in women’s flyweight class
Current age: 24 years old
Age at UFC 400: Approximately 32 years old
Jeff Bottari/UFC/Getty
Things didn’t go her way in her last bout, falling to 6-1 in a unanimous decision loss to Manon Fioreau in a UFC women’s flyweight title eliminator. But the results don’t really detract from Blanchfield’s overall potential. Although she is still incredibly young and hasn’t reached her prime, she will inevitably learn and grow from her lopsided loss in Atlantic City to the UFC. Blanchfield is one of the most promising prospects in women’s MMA, and she should win far more than she loses over the next seven years.
Umar Nurmagomedov
Status: Bantamweight 9th place
Current age: 28 years old
Age at UFC 400: Approximately 35 years old
Nurmagomedov has the talent, undefeated record and last name to become a star. The Dagestani bantamweight has a 5-0 record in the UFC and is in desperate need of a step up in the competition to prove himself as one of the best in the division. His older cousin Habib took quite a while to reach the top, but that’s okay. A future rivalry with current bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, this generation’s Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor, could steal headlines left and right, and Umar could be on his way to big things as UFC 400 approaches. It will be.
Beau Nickal
Status: Unranked middleweight
Current age: 28 years old
Age at UFC 400: Approximately 35 years old
Many believe Nickal has a chance to become one of the faces of the sport. The former college wrestler has gotten off to a fast start to his UFC career, winning three matches over distance since his debut 13 months ago. Nickal is not a championship-level fighter yet, but the sky is the limit for a raw fighter like him. If he can achieve the level of success expected between now and UFC 400, the American Top Team product could be key to the card.
Raul Rosas Jr.
Status: No Bantamweight Ranking
Current age: 19 years old
Age at UFC 400: Approximately 26 years old
As the youngest fighter on the UFC’s roster (and signed with the promotion), Rosas has time to improve his craft, figure out what kind of fighter he is and rise through the ranks. By UFC 400, Rosas probably won’t even be in his prime physically yet. The New Mexico native is already a skilled submission specialist, and if he can hone his skill set a bit more, there’s a good chance he could compete at 135 pounds by his mid-20s.
