Other sports have “Rookie of the Year” when a player makes it to the big leagues, so why not MMA? Sure, it’s a little bit tougher, since you can have a longtime regional vet make a late run to the top. But for the sake of defining “newcomer,” we’re going to say, any fighter new to a major promotion. So here’s a look at our Newcomer of the Year, as part of our ongoing 2025 MMA Awards!
Newcomer of the Year 2025
Eddie Law: Quillan Salkilld burst onto the MMA scene with the kind of poise, power, and finishing instinct rarely seen in a UFC debut, immediately marking himself as a problem for the lightweight division. Shot selection and ruthless efficiency made every moment he was in the cage box office, signaling that his rise isn’t a flash in the pan. In a year loaded with strong rookie performances, Salkilld separated himself by looking less like a newcomer and more like a future contender from the moment the lights hit him.
Gabriel Gonzalez: Steven Asplund. The DWCS product ended the year on a high note after bursting onto the scene this year. It is not easy to make a great first impression in the cage and on the microphone, but Asplund succeeded in 2025.
Jay Anderson: This is a tough one, and for me, Baisangur Susurkaev, Quillan Salkilld, and Kevin Vallejos were all in the running. Process of elimination: Susurkaev made a big splash fighting less than a week after his DWCS win. That said, he fought just twice and while he won, his level of competition isn’t comparable to Salkilld or Vallejos. Both went 3-0 on the year. Salkilld got the big finish over Nasrat Haqparast. Both men earned two finishes and a decision in 2025. But Vallejos, with wins over Seung-Woo Choi, Danny Silva, and Giga Chikadze had a slightly tougher field of opponents, so I’m leaning towards him. Kevin Vallejos for Newcomer of the Year.
Brett Cagle: Baisangur Susurkaev. Debuting on the contender series with a first round knockout in August, MMA fans around the world would soon be introduced to one of the new hottest prospects in the sport. Just four days after earning a contract on DWCS, Susurkaev returned at UFC 319 defeating Eric Nolan via second round Submission. Picking up another win before 2025 closed, Baisangur Susurkaev is a name to look out for.
Mathis Desjardins: Kevin Vallejos. Quillan Salkilld’s head kick of Nasrat Haqparast was probably the best highlight from a rookie this year. And Ateba Gautier went 3-0 in a combined 6 minutes and 23 seconds. However, quality of competition matters, and Kevin Vallejos becoming the first man to finish Giga Chikadze with strikes to snatch a top 15 spot at barely 24 years of age should grant him this award.
Daniel Vreeland: Quilland Salkilld. After beating Gauge Young (who has now also made the UFC and picked up a win) on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024, many were excited for what 2025 might bring for the Aussie. Few predicted it would go just this good though. Not only did he post a 3-0 record on the year, but he picked up a couple of the most devastating knockouts on record, including a Knockout of the Year candidate over divisional stalwart Nasrat Haqparast.
Bryson Hester: Kevin Vallejos. Runner Up: Joshua Van. Kevin Vallejos gets the nod here over the champion, Joshua Van on a technicality as Van isn’t a promotional newcomer per say and much more of a breakout star in the year of 2025. Regardless he gets the runner up with four victories, two finishes and seizing the 125lbs title in the calendar year. Kevin Vallejos is the Newcomer of the year- after winning his second contender series appearance by first round finish last year he went 3-0 in 2025 including two finishes. In his last time out Vallejos, stopped ranked featherweight, Giga Chikadze, with a spinning back fist to earn a bonus and a #13 ranking.
End Result: Argentinian featherweight Kevin Vallejos is our Newcomer of the Year, and the 24-year old looks to have a bright future in the UFC!
