ESPN Predicts Which MMA Fighter Will Have The Best 2020, Gives Them Individual Rankings

UFC stars Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jon Jones and Conor McGregor have all finished in ESPN's top 10 fighters to have the best 2020.

The publication compiled a 30-fighter list and ranked each MMA star, both male and female, for how well they will fair this year.

UFC lightweight champ Khabib, who faces a tough test against Tony Ferguson in April, took the top spot ahead of Jones.

ESPN wrote that the 31-year-old Russian star's upcoming fight "represents the very best MMA has to offer right now: two streaking fighters (both 12-0 in their past 12 UFC fights) going toe-to-toe to determine the best lightweight on the planet."

UFC legend Jones, who returns to action next week against Dominick Reyes, could climb up to heavyweight after his forthcoming clash at UFC 247.

Joining Khabib and Jones in the top five are Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman and Valentina Shevchenko.

McGregor, who made his sensational UFC comeback last month against Donald Cerrone, ranked at seventh in the standings.

ESPN believes that if the 31-year-old Irish superstar can win three fights in 2020 as part of his return, it would "represent one of the most impressive career comebacks in UFC history."

Posted below are ESPN's predictions for the MMA fighters to have the best 2020.

30. Paulo Costa (13-0)

29. Daniel Cormier (22-2, 1 NC)

28. Nate Diaz (20-12)

27. Rose Namajunas (8-4)

26. Petr Yan (14-1)

25. Tatiana Suarez (8-0)

24. Edmen Shahbazyan (11-0)

23. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-3)

22. Zabit Magomedsharipov (18-1)

21. Stipe Miocic (19-3)

20. Dustin Poirier (25-6)

19. AJ McKee (16-0)

18. Joseph Benavidez (28-5)

17. Justin Gaethje (21-2)

16. Colby Covington (15-2)

15. Leon Edwards (18-3)

14. Max Holloway (21-5)

13. Tony Ferguson (25-3)

12. Jorge Masvidal (35-13)

11. Zhang Weili (20-1)

10. Henry Cejudo (15-2)

9. Alexander Volkanovski (21-1)

8. Amanda Nunes (19-4)

7. Conor McGregor (22-4)

6. Francis Ngannou (14-3)

5. Valentina Shevchenko (18-3)

4. Kamaru Usman (16-1)

3. Israel Adesanya (18-0)

2. Jon Jones (25-1, 1 NC)

1. Khabib Nurmagomedov (28-0)

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: ESPN, UFC News, MMA News, UFC, MMA

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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