Fight Matrix

FightMatrix 20 under 20

Posted on January 20, 2026 by Hafid Darbaki

FightMatrix’s Current MMA Rankings are built to surface talent globally, regardless of promotion size, geography, or hype. With thousands of active fighters tracked and ranked weekly through the CIRRS system, the data often reveals elite prospects long before they become widely known.

This article highlights the 20 highest-ranked professional MMA fighters in the world under the age of 20, based on the latest FightMatrix rankings. Each athlete listed here is already ranked globally and within their division, reflecting real competitive results — not projection.

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What Makes MMA Different From Other Combat Sports

Posted on January 20, 2026 by A. J. Riot

In the world of full contact sports, there is a diverse range of fighting disciplines that each pose their own unique challenges. From boxing to judo, kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts, each discipline requires its own skill set, understanding of the rules and judging criteria, and athletic build.

There are of course similar traits that belong to the whole family of full contact sports such as strength, resilience, and peak conditioning, but in terms of a sport that requires such a well-rounded fighter, no fight compares to one in a mixed martial arts cage.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has established itself as the leader in MMA, due to its global outreach, with the world’s best fighters looking to secure the various weight category titles. In the heavyweight category, England’s Tom Aspinall was elevated to undisputed champion on 21^st June 2025 after Jon Jones retired.

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Featured Upcoming Bouts (Outside of UFC)

Saturday, August 22nd 2026: PFL Tampa: Cyborg vs. Vieira

[#1 W145] Cristiane Justino

[#4 W135] Ketlen Vieira

Last Fight Date: 12/13/2025 [PFL]
Last Opponent: [#2 W145] Sara Collins
Last 5: W W W W W

Last Fight Date: 5/16/2026 [UFC]
Last Opponent: [#10 W135] Jacqueline Cavalcanti
Last 5: W L W L W

Thursday, September 10th 2026: Rizin FF - Super Rizin 5

[#5 FW] A.J. McKee

[#6 FW] Rajabali Shaidullaev

Last Fight Date: 6/27/2026 [PFL]
Last Opponent: [#19 FW] Salamat Isbulaev
Last 5: W L W W W

Last Fight Date: 4/12/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation]
Last Opponent: [#241 FW] Yuta Kubo
Last 5: W W W W W

Thursday, September 10th 2026: Rizin FF - Super Rizin 5

[#1 W105] Natalia Kuziutina

[#16 W105] Rena Kubota

Last Fight Date: 4/12/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation]
Last Opponent: [#9 W105] Ayaka Hamasaki
Last 5: W W W W W

Last Fight Date: 12/31/2025 [Rizin Fighting Federation]
Last Opponent: [#2 W105] Seika Izawa
Last 5: W L W W L

Featured Fighters

[#28 LW]	Salahdine Parnasse	[#1 WW]	Islam Makhachev
[#10 FLW]	Ramazonbek Temirov	[#2 LW]	Ilia Topuria
[#86 LW]	Axel Sola	[#15 LW]	Dan Hooker
[#66 LW]	Nurullo Aliev	[#101 LW]	Magomed Zaynukov
[#354 LW]	Noah Gugnon	[#4 LW]	Arman Tsarukyan

Fight Matrix Program – UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett (01-24-2026)

Posted on January 19, 2026 by Jason

Lightweight Championship (155)
[#5][#5UFC] Justin Gaethje (26-5-0, +191) vs. [#8][#7UFC] Paddy Pimblett (23-3-0, -235)
Justin Gaethje is the All-Time #9 ranked Lightweight and #49 ranked Absolute fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Justin Gaethje (2-1-0)
2025-03-08: W vs. [#12LW] Rafael Fiziev (13-4-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2024-04-13: L vs. [#4LW] Max Holloway (27-8-0) via KO (Punch) in 4:59 of round 5
2023-07-29: W vs. [*] Dustin Poirier (30-10-0) via KO (Head Kick) in 1:00 of round 2

Last 3 Fights: Paddy Pimblett (3-0-0)
2025-04-12: W vs. [#25LW] Michael Chandler (23-10-0) via TKO (Elbows and Punches) in 3:07 of round 3
2024-07-27: W vs. [#49LW] Bobby Green (33-17-1) via Technical Submission (Triangle Choke) in 3:22 of round 1
2023-12-16: W vs. [*] Tony Ferguson (25-11-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Paddy Pimblett	-235		67.12%
Elo K170	Justin Gaethje	2286.80	+188.51	74.75%
Elo Modified	Justin Gaethje	2234.53	+168.55	72.52%
Glicko-1	Justin Gaethje	2284.76	+131.23	68.04%
WHR	Paddy Pimblett	2025.84	+0.07	50.01%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Justin Gaethje 37.2, Paddy Pimblett 31.0
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Justin Gaethje 322, Paddy Pimblett 287
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 2 win(s) against common opposition.
.

Bantamweight (135)
[#3][#3UFC] Sean OMalley (18-3-0, -206) vs. [#6][#6UFC] Yadong Song (22-9-1, +168)
Sean OMalley is the All-Time #10 ranked Bantamweight fighter.
Yadong Song is the All-Time #50 ranked Bantamweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Sean OMalley (1-2-0)
2025-06-07: L vs. [#3DD][#7P4P][#2BW] Merab Dvalishvili (21-5-0) via Submission (North-South Choke) in 4:42 of round 3
2024-09-14: L vs. [#3DD][#7P4P][#2BW] Merab Dvalishvili (21-5-0) via UD (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
2024-03-09: W vs. [#12BW] Marlon Vera (24-11-1) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-44)

Last 3 Fights: Yadong Song (2-1-0)
2025-02-22: W vs. [*] Henry Cejudo (16-6-0) via TUD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2024-03-09: L vs. [#1DD][#4P4P][#1BW] Petr Yan (20-5-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2023-12-09: W vs. [#37BW] Chris Gutierrez (22-7-2) via UD (50-44, 50-45, 50-45)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Sean OMalley	-206		64.34%
Elo K170	Sean OMalley	2094.90	+55.55	57.93%
Elo Modified	Sean OMalley	2059.31	+30.67	54.40%
Glicko-1	Sean OMalley	2115.11	+23.44	53.37%
WHR	Sean OMalley	1949.75	+35.98	55.16%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Sean OMalley 31.2, Yadong Song 28.1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Sean OMalley 231, Yadong Song 336
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Sean OMalley leads 2-1
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Heavyweight (265)
[#8][#7UFC] Waldo Cortes-Acosta (16-2-0, -340) vs. [#13][#10UFC] Derrick Lewis (29-12-0, +260)
Derrick Lewis is the All-Time #28 ranked Heavyweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Waldo Cortes-Acosta (2-1-0)
2025-11-22: W vs. [#23HW+] Shamil Gaziev (14-2-0) via KO (Punch) in 1:22 of round 1
2025-11-01: W vs. [#16HW+] Ante Delija (26-7-0) via KO (Punches) in 3:59 of round 1
2025-08-23: L vs. [#4HW+] Sergei Pavlovich (20-3-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

Last 3 Fights: Derrick Lewis (2-1-0)
2025-07-12: W vs. [#83HW+] Tallison Teixeira (8-1-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:35 of round 1
2024-05-11: W vs. [#26HW+] Rodrigo Nascimento (13-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:49 of round 3
2023-11-04: L vs. [#6HW+] Jailton Almeida (22-4-0) via UD (50-44, 50-44, 50-45)

System	Favorite	Rating	Rating Diff	Win %
Betting Odds	Waldo Cortes-Acosta	-340		73.55%
Elo K170	Waldo Cortes-Acosta	1969.65	+104.60	64.62%
Elo Modified	Waldo Cortes-Acosta	1969.93	+115.38	66.02%
Glicko-1	Waldo Cortes-Acosta	2042.19	+104.30	64.57%
WHR	Waldo Cortes-Acosta	1888.33	+89.51	62.61%

Fighter Ages on Fight Day: Waldo Cortes-Acosta 34.3, Derrick Lewis 40.9
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta 63, Derrick Lewis 196
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Wildrobin casino and the evolution of live dealer poker experiences for digital audiences

Posted on January 19, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Live dealer poker has transformed the online gaming landscape, offering players an immersive experience akin to physical casinos. Platforms like Wildrobin casino leverage cutting-edge technology to provide real-time interactions with dealers. This article explores how these advancements are redefining digital poker experiences.

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🎙️ Interview: Fight Matrix talks to Ralf-Peter Frohn-Lux

Posted on January 19, 2026 by Oleg

Masters Boxing – Strength Has No Age Limit

⸻

Fight Matrix: Peter, you are the WBU Masters Boxing World Champion today. But how did it all begin for you?

Ralf-Peter Frohn-Lux:
Honestly? Quite late and that’s exactly what makes it so special.
I started boxing around five years ago. Not because I suddenly thought, “I want to fight,” but because I realized I wanted to stay strong and capable. I wanted to know what was still possible not at 25, but at an age when many people already slow down or give up.

And then I felt something only boxers really understand: you step in there, it’s just you, and you can’t hide. That grabbed me immediately.

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What’s Next for Oleksandr Usyk Following Unified Heavyweight Champion’s Lengthy Hiatus

Posted on January 19, 2026 by A. J. Riot

A boxing speed bag – Source: Unsplash

It’s been six long months since we last saw the unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk step into the ring. His last effort was arguably the finest performance of his career, a five-round destruction of Daniel Dubois to become undisputed champion for the second time. The Ukrainian no longer has the undisputed tag attached to his name, vacating the WBO title because injury didn’t allow him to defend against his mandatory challenger Joseph Parker, but he remains the king of the heavyweight division, of that there is no doubt.

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Unobvious Sports for Betting at 1Win India

Posted on January 19, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Cricket, football and kabaddi occupy the top spots in the 1Win India line, but the site offers more than 30 disciplines for betting. Among the 2,800 daily events are tournaments in darts, snooker, floorball and other exotic sports with good odds and weak competition among bettors. Let’s take a look at how to find these disciplines and what they offer players.

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1Win Armenia Games with Lucrative Bonus Rounds

Posted on January 19, 2026 by A. J. Riot

When a player from Armenia visits the online casino section at https://1win-am.com/ for the first time, they are literally lost in the number of entertainment options available. The platform cooperates with more than 100 providers, offering over 11,000 games in a wide variety of formats.

But what exactly distinguishes games with lucrative bonus rounds and why do they attract users’ attention? Let’s figure it out in this article.

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2025 WHR Betting Wrap-Up

Posted on January 18, 2026 by Jason

Final stats from the WHR betting posts for 2025…

We made 44 weekly WHR posts in 2025.
The “Underdog” parlays turned a profit of $1,524.01, hitting on 11 of 39.
The “Safe” parlays turned a profit of $394.12, hitting on 24 of 35.
Expectations were that we’d hit at a higher rate, especially on the dogs (expected 44.7% vs. 28.2%).

I’d have to analyze, but it feels like there are two areas for potential improvement:

Improve hit rate – Stricter guidelines on past fighter experience and/or eliminating some or all of the regional promotions.
Increase profit – Scaling the bet amount based on the perceived certainty of beating the odds.

We can never objectively beat the gamblers on properly handling fighters with previous non-MMA combat experience. This got us a couple of times in the past… Any ideas for handling this objectively?

The series will return either this week or next, assuming there are qualifying bets!

Current MMA Rankings Updated (01-18-2026)

Posted on January 18, 2026 by Jason

How Training Discipline Shapes Success In Combat Sports

Posted on January 17, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Do you ask yourself how fighters stay steady, sharp, and confident year after year, even when training looks long and demanding? Many fans and learners feel curious about what truly builds success in combat sports, and the answer often points to one simple habit that stays with every strong athlete: training discipline. This article talks in a friendly and easy way about how steady practice habits guide fighters toward steady growth, calm focus, and lasting results. The idea here is simple: keep showing up, follow the plan, and trust the process with a positive mind.

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What Combat Sports Fans Seek In The Best Online Casinos

Posted on January 17, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Fight nights are a ritual. You clear the schedule, round up friends and lock in snacks. Between cards you still want that charge of anticipation which is why many fans look for quick digital entertainment that respects time and budget. The right casino experience hits similar notes to a good fight card, clean matchups, fair rules and a crowd pleasing main event. If you are starting your research, shortlists of the best online casinos help you sort the field by payments, mobile polish and responsible play basics so the first session feels smooth rather than chaotic.

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How to Deal Blackjack Like a Pro: Beginner Guide

Posted on January 17, 2026 by A. J. Riot

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games, but many beginners approach it the wrong way. Learning how to deal with blackjack like a pro isn’t about luck or copying other players, it’s about understanding the game, staying disciplined, and making smart decisions consistently. Professional players don’t chase wins or rely on feelings. Instead, they follow proven principles that reduce mistakes and improve long-term results. This guide is designed for new and casual players who want to learn how to play blackjack like a pro, avoid common beginner errors, and feel more confident at both online and live blackjack tables.

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Olympian Boxer and Trainer, Andrew Singh Kooner

Posted on January 16, 2026 by Heather

Introduction

Andrew Singh Kooner’s (10-3, 4 KOs) life story is truly remarkable, marked by resilience, achievement, and compassion. From an early age, Andrew faced and overcame significant challenges, channeling his determination into the sport of boxing where he consistently excelled. His journey is not just about personal victories in the ring, but also about the selfless ways he utilizes his experiences to help others.

Andrew is a passionate advocate for those affected by Parkinson’s Disease, using innovative and supportive methods to slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life. His commitment extends beyond advocacy; he actively engages with individuals facing these challenges, demonstrating a genuine care that reflects the golden character he is so often praised for. Through his words and actions, it’s clear that Andrew’s compassion is deeply rooted and sincere, making a lasting impression on everyone he encounters.

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Three MMA Fighters: When Image Becomes a Weapon

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Mark Collins

Modern MMA is no longer just about technique and physical strength. It’s about characters — fighters whose image is instantly readable by the audience. A strong archetype amplifies a fighter’s presence, makes them memorable, and turns a fight into a story. Here are three fighters whose images work as powerfully as their skills.

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