Can Jamahal Hill be a champion? What about Khamzat Chimaev?

They are two of the most exciting words in mixed martial arts: Fresh blood.

Like in any sport, it’s not unusual for the same handful of names to dominate the top of a division in MMA. The best are the best, and usually they’re the best for a decent amount of time. It’s difficult for a new name to break into the top 15 of a UFC weight class. Harder still to break into the top 10. Title fight? Only the best of the very best make it.

But when it happens — when someone does manage to shake things up and turn a division on its head — it’s exciting. The UFC’s upcoming schedule is dominated by a crop of potential new title contenders, and most are scheduled to headline a UFC event for the first time.

Who are the ones to keep an eye on, and how far will they go? ESPN consulted with a panel of experts — Michael Chiesa, current UFC welterweight; Alan Jouban, ESPN analyst and retired UFC welterweight; and Sayif Saud, head coach of Fortis MMA — to create a scouting report and outlook on this new class of contenders.

Jamahal Hill (9-1, 1 NC), light heavyweight

Hill has shown a ton of promise, but it’s too early in his career to confidently predict where he’ll land. There wasn’t too much consideration on Hill’s one loss, a submission against Paul Craig, as Craig’s guard is notoriously tricky. But there are still as many questions as there are answers around Hill’s ceiling.

“When you’re under 10 fights in your career, there is so much s— you haven’t seen yet,” Jouban said. “You probably haven’t seen an All-American wrestler or a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. His first five opponents, he probably just smoked on smaller shows. So, there are areas he hasn’t been tested in.”

Despite his lack of experience, Hill’s mindset is seen as an attribute. He’s a confident 30-year-old contender. Chiesa fought on the same night as Hill in 2020, and said he has a “calmness” to him on fight night. Saud noted his high degree of self-belief.

One concern moving forward could be Hill’s…