AI Predicts These 3 UFC Fighters to Lose Their Hype Train in 2025

“People will go for anything they don’t understand if it’s got enough hype,” said the late legendary Jazz trumpet player Miles Davis. This insight resonates deeply with the MMA world, where new fighters continuously rise, eager to break into the elite ranks and carve out their place in the sport’s rich history. In December 2023, Cuban-born prospect Robelis Despaigne, a towering 6’7″ fighter with an 84-inch reach, entered the UFC after gaining attention in the Taekwondo world. He certainly lived up to expectations, making an explosive debut with a powerful knockout. But in just his second fight, Despaigne’s promising start took a sharp decline.

After suffering back-to-back losses, the hype surrounding his imposing size quickly dissipated. Shortly after his second defeat at UFC Fight Night 245 in October, the UFC decided to cut ties with him. This series of events served as a stark reminder that hype is often fleeting—easily inflated and just as easily destroyed. Now, in 2025, we turn to OpenAI’s ChatGPT to ask, “Who’s next on the list to be slaughtered?” The AI’s response? Some surprising names. Let’s dig deeper and find out.

1. Paddy Pimblett

Shocked to see Paddy Pimblett’s name? So are we. A  former Cage Warriors champion from the streets of Liverpool, ‘The Baddy’ joined the UFC’s toughest weight class, the lightweight division, back in 2021 with a solid resume of 16-3. Fast forward to over three years, and the Englishman now stands ranked #12. With his cocky personality and over-the-top behavior, he’s racked up six consecutive wins with no losses, carving out an image as a potential future title challenger. His bold claim, “I don’t think any man on this planet would beat me,” only fuels the fire.

Paddy Pimblett has victories over big names like Jared Gordon, Tony Ferguson, and King Green (formerly Bobby Green) in his last three. However, in his fight against Jared Gordon, ‘The Baddy’ showed serious holes in his game despite winning a lopsided decision victory, which raises some serious questions. As he moves further down the rankings, the competition is bound to get tougher, with opponents like Renato Moicano, Arman Tsarukyan, and division kingpin Islam Makhachev looming.

2. Khamzat Chimaev

UFC middleweight sensation Khamzat Chimaev, boasting an undefeated record, quickly became one of the most electrifying fan favorites and made a major impact in the division last year. At UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, he shocked the MMA world by submitting former champion Robert Whittaker in the first round with a devastating rear-naked choke that left the Australian fighter’s jaw twisted. This dominant win not only extended the Chechen’s undefeated streak but also propelled him from rank #13 to #3.

Despite this success, Khamzat Chimaev’s past pullout issues due to ‘poor immunity’ have cast a shadow over his growing hype. With six fights canceled so far, described as being caused by over training, the momentum that once surged behind him is at risk. If the Chechen native doesn’t resolve these health setbacks, it could jeopardize his career trajectory and the excitement he’s built.

3. Bo Nickal

“There’s somebody named Bo Nickal, who I think is going to be great,” said the newly appointed 47th President of the United States, praising Bo Nickal ahead of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden last year. A standout in collegiate wrestling, the Rifle sensation quickly made his mark in MMA, remaining undefeated in the UFC with a 7-fight win streak.

However, in that same appearance at Madison Square Garden against Paul Craig, Bo Nickal won the fight but faced harsh criticism from fans, who labeled his performance as “boring.” Chants filled the arena, and even middleweight stars like Israel Adesanya, who isn’t far behind in the rankings, voiced his opinions. Adesanya remarked, “He’s (Bo Nickal) throwing like he’s not trying, just throwing to throw.”

This feedback could be the wake-up call the 29-year-old Colorado native needs to reassess his approach. If he doesn’t make adjustments, Dana White and the matchmakers may treat him the same way they treated the rising Dagestani sensation Muhammad Mokaev, who was cut from the UFC last year allegedly because of his fighting style. As we wrap up our list, what do you think of the fighters likely to lose their hype train in 2025 according to ChatGPT? While this list isn’t exhaustive, who do you think should be on it? Feel free to share your thoughts below.