Video: Megan Olivi names UFC's next crop of potential pay-per-view stars

Megan Olivi

UFC reporter and correspondent Megan Olivi has had an in inside look on the promotion's operation for more than a decade, so she knows what it takes for a fighter to rise through the ranks and reach superstar status.

From Jon Jones to Conor McGregor to Ronda Rousey and everyone in between, Olivi has experienced it all as larger-than-life figures in MMA have come and gone. So when claims are made the promotion has an alleged star power problem in the wake of Alex Pereira's light heavyweight title loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, it requires a closer examination.

Olivi talked to MMA Junkie about whether that's a deficit of names capable of headline numbered UFC pay-per-view events in the coming years, and also list which fighters have the potential to excel and slide into the position of carrying an entire event around their name.

Check out the video above for Olivi's appearance on "The Bohnfire" podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn, where they rate the current and next crop of UFC stars and mention names such as Islam Makhachev, Tom Aspinall, Ilia Topuria, Diego Lopes and many more.

Henry Cejudo after UFC 313: 'Alex Pereira's lifestyle is finally catching up to him'

Jamahal Hill toots his own horn after Alex Pereira's loss to Magomed Ankalaev

How Daniel Cormier believes Alex Pereira has maxed after UFC 313

Overreaction Time: UFC 313 Alex Pereira's downfall?, Dana White holding back UFC?, more!

Joe Rogan breaks down how Magomed Ankalaev put Alex Pereira in 'uncharacteristic position'

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: Megan Olivi names UFC's next crop of potential pay-per-view stars

Topics

What's next for Justin Gaethje and other stars from UFC 313?

What lies ahead for Gaethje, Pereira and other big names from UFC 313?
ESPN - 2d
UFC star Alex Pereira and the mystery of punching power

The UFC's light heavyweight king, Alex Pereira, may hold the key to unlocking enormous punching power.
ESPN - 5d
NFL Draft 2025: How Cam Ward went from a zero-star prospect to the potential No. 1 pick

Whether it's the Titans or someone else, Ward is the favorite to hear his name called first
CBS Sports - 2d
USMNT roster for Mauricio Pochettino's first test includes Diego Luna, a head-turning selection

Pochettino named his roster for next week's CONCACAF Nations League finals. It includes stars and notable MLS names.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
UFC 313 fight fall out: Next options for Alex Pereira, Magomed Ankalaev and Justin Gaethje after Saturday

The UFC would be wise to salvage what they can of Pereira's heavyweight run
CBS Sports - 4d
Vogue's 'Hairspray' video starring model Gigi Hadid left many wondering: What happened to the plus-size message?

Some people online expressed frustration at Vogue’s recent homage to “Hairspray," starring Gigi Hadid, saying the video did not include any plus-size models.
NBC News - 12h
Paul Mescal and Patsy Ferran deliver 'A Streetcar Named Desire' for the ages

Paul Mescal and Patsy Ferran star in Rebecca Frecknall's production of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Los Angeles Times - 2d
Discord in Early Talks With Bankers for Potential I.P.O.

The app has become a mainstay of the video game community and young internet users.
The New York Times - Mar. 6
Alaska Volcano Observatory warns of potential eruption near Anchorage

The Alaska Volcano Observatory on Wednesday said Mount Spurr is at risk of erupting within the next few weeks or months, potentially impacting residents 78 miles away in the city of Anchorage. “The ...
The Hill - 12h
Nvidia’s next chips are named after Vera Rubin, astronomer who discovered dark matter

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is expected to reveal details about Rubin, the chipmaker's next AI GPU, on Tuesday at the company's annual GTC conference.
CNBC - 11h
Top 2026 NFL free agents: Best players available in free agency next year

NFL teams spent hundreds of millions of dollars on free agents this offseason. Here are the top names in next year's class.
Yahoo Sports - 13h
Millie Bobby Brown unveiled her full real name. Hint: It sounds really, really similar

Millie Bobby Brown tells her 'Electric State' co-star Chris Pratt in an interview that she moved away from her full birth name just for fun. 'I've never told anyone that,' she says.
Los Angeles Times - 6d
How A Minecraft Movie Could Compare To Other Video Game Films At The Box Office

The next big video game movie to hit theaters is A Minecraft Movie, but how well is it expected to perform commercially? According to one tracking estimate, it could pull in $60 million or more in ...
GameSpot - 17h
Predicting the Next Baseball Stars to Sign 9-Figure Contracts

Dylan Cease of the Padres could be in line for a seven-year extension.
The New York Times - 2d
Mavericks forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper has season-ending wrist surgery

Dallas Mavericks forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper has undergone season-ending surgery on his right wrist, one of many injuries that have plagued the defending Western Conference championship since ...
Yahoo Sports - 7h
Defiance, The Video Game That Tied Into A TV Show, Is Coming Back To Life

The MMO Defiance, which was shut down in 2021, is coming back to life. For anyone unaware, Defiance was a third-person shooter MMO from Trion Worlds that was developed as a tie-in for the Syfy show ...
GameSpot - 1d
Ferrari CEO says automaker is doing 'scenario planning' to counter potential impact of tariffs

"We are watching what's going to happen in the next month, next weeks," said the Ferrari CEO at CONVERGE LIVE. "We are on the same boat in terms of tariffs."
CNBC - 1d
‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ Is Haunted by Brando and Ghosts of Actors Past

With a revival starring Paul Mescal and Patsy Ferran in Brooklyn, a look at the carefully weighted balance that actors playing Blanche and Stanley need to strike.
The New York Times - 18h
(Video): Struggling Chelsea star scores after mazy dribble to lift pressure on himself and the team

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall got a lot of abuse for his dreadful showing in the first leg of this Champions League tie against Copenhagen, and Chelsea’s poor performance in the first period here today ...
Yahoo Sports - 12h
Leaked EA photo shows Arizona State football featured on cover of video game

A photo of the potential cover for EA Sports College Football 26 was leaked, showing a handful of top figures in the sport. Arizona State is included.
Yahoo Sports - 13h
Stars Defenseman Still Has to Clear Several Hurdles Before Return

With the playoffs starting next month, Dallas Stars fans are chomping at the bit to find out when both Tyler Seguin and Miro Heiskanen can return to the lineup. Heiskanen has not played since ...
Yahoo Sports - 13h
Eminem joins Detroit's bid to land next WNBA expansion franchise, per report

Eminem just added some more star power to Detroit's bid
CBS Sports - 18h
Where Could Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Sign In The Summer? Five Potential Fits

Following last week’s NHL trade deadline, a major storyline has been the future of Toronto Maple Leafs star right winger Mitch Marner.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
NFL star Odell Beckham Jr denies allegations in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs lawsuit

Woman claims player was involved in assault Beckham says he was not in California at time NFL star Odell Beckham Jr has denied any wrongdoing after saying he was named in a lawsuit that alleges ...
The Guardian - 2d
Speaker Mike Johnson unveils funding bill one week before potential shutdown

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Saturday unveiled a stopgap funding bill that would avert a shutdown at the end of next week and keep the government running through the end of September.
NBC News - 5d
Ankalaev ends Pereira's UFC reign by decision

Magomed Ankalaev dethroned Alex Pereira on Saturday night, taking a unanimous decision to become the new light heavyweight champion in the main event of UFC 313.
ESPN - 4d
Alex Pereira's coaches think he beat Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, promise 'Poatan 2.0' in rematch

Alex Pereira's coaches disagree with the UFC 313 decision. Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in ...
Yahoo Sports - 12h
UFC 313 results: Ankalaev dethrones Pereira, wins by unanimous decision

The UFC's light heavyweight division has a new champion, following Magomed Ankalaev's win over Alex Pereira.
ESPN - 5d
End is near: Pereira's UFC 313 loss felt like a funeral

Alex Pereira didn't get knocked out by Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, but there was a funeral-type feel to the end result.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
UFC London: Jan Blachowicz's 'perfect scenario' includes rematching Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira

Jan Blachowicz hopes he can disrupt the UFC's plans of a rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) defeated Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) by unanimous ...
Yahoo Sports - 13h
UFC's Daniel Barez sees Andre Lima as a more difficult rival than 'Lazy Boy' Rodriguez

Daniel Barez tried to pick a fight with Ronaldo Rodriguez, but instead got unbeaten prospect Andre Lima. Barez (17-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Lima (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) are set to clash this Saturday at UFC ...
Yahoo Sports - 9h
Pete Buttigieg, a Possible 2028 Contender, Won’t Run for Senate in Michigan

The former transportation secretary, who moved to Michigan from Indiana in 2022, had been seen as the most prominent potential candidate in next year’s marquee contest.
The New York Times - 15h
2025 UFC event schedule: Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze 2, Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes on tap

Check out a complete list of UFC pay-per-view and Fight Night events scheduled for 2025
CBS Sports - 2d
UFC expert picks, best bets: How Vettori can win in return from layoff

Who has the edge in this week's UFC Fight Night? An MMA coach and a betting insider make their picks.
ESPN - 23h
The 12 finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame

The Strong’s World Video Game Hall of Fame released this week the 12 finalists for induction into the esteemed list of impactful games.
VentureBeat - 6d
Apple and Nvidia led Monday’s $750 billion tech wreck. How to play the aftermath.

Trump’s policy moves are causing angst. But one analyst says the broader AI thesis is still intact, and he names Tesla and Microsoft among big potential winners.
MarketWatch - 3d
Photo – Ex West Ham United Star Celebrates Inter Milan Reaching Champions League Quarterfinals With 2-1 Feyenoord Win: ‘Quarters Next! Let’s Go’

Inter Milan wrapped up qualification for the Champions League quarterfinals against Feyenoord.The Nerazzurri had already had a 2-0 advantage from the first leg of their round of sixteen tie. And ...
Yahoo Sports - 4h
LeBron James appears to reveal what Stephen A. Smith said regarding Bronny that ticked him off

Video seems to show Lakers star LeBron James telling ex-Cavaliers teammate Richard Jefferson why he was upset with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith over his Bronny comments.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
UFC 313 odds, predictions, time, Las Vegas card: Pereira vs. Ankalaev picks from proven MMA expert

SportsLine's Daniel Vithlani reveals his picks for the UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev fight card from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday
CBS Sports - 5d

Video: Megan Olivi names UFC's next crop of potential pay-per-view stars

Related

Topics