Tom Aspinall

UFC Record: 4-0

Latest Fight Result: Win via KO vs. Spivac

Breakdown: Fighting out of the UK, 28 year old Tom Aspinall is 4-0 in the UFC with 4 finishes. UFC announcer and analyst Michael Bisping has gone on record backing Aspinall as the next British champion. Aspinall has shown his ability to finish fights with his hands, but he also has an impressive submission on his resume. Aspinall has made it clear in his interviews that he is in no rush to become champion. He prefers to grow his skill set and continue to work his way up the division rankings one step at a time. This is definitely a guy in the heavyweight division to keep an eye on.

Chris Daukaus

UFC Record: 4-0

Latest Fight Result: Win via KO vs. Abdurakhimov

Breakdown: This 32 year old fighting out of Philadelphia Pennsylvania is making serious noise on the heavyweight scene. Daukaus is 4-0 with 4 knockouts, an opponent has yet to sniff the 3rd round against him. Daukaus will have his biggest test coming up December 18th against fellow knockout artist Derek Lewis. A win against Lewis could springboard Daukaus into the top 3 in the division. This Philadelphia native is a big threat in this division!

Jiri Prochazka

UFC Record: 2-0

Latest Fight Result: Win via KO vs. Reyes

Breakdown: If you're looking for a guy that has the “wow” factor, look no further than Jiri Prochazka. With only 2 UFC fights under his belt, Jiri has made a big statement in both fights. He is currently the number 2 ranked light heavyweight despite just a 2 fight sample size. With serious power, and an unorthodox fighting style, Prochazka is a must watch when he fights, and he has already captured the attention of this division.

Anthony Smith

UFC Record: 11-6

Latest Fight Result: Win via Submission vs. Spann

Breakdown: This one might throw some people off, as most would say Anthony Smith is on the backend of his career. That might be true, but he’s looking better than ever, and he’s taken out one of the big upcoming contenders in this division (Jim Crute). Anthony Smith seems to be making his final push toward a title run, and based on his last 3 fights, he’s a threat to anyone in this division. Don’t forget the champion in this division is 38 years old (Jan Blachowicz), and the number one contender Glover Teixeira is 41 years old. Age is just a number, Smith is an upcoming threart in this division.

Sean Strickland

UFC Record: 11-3

Latest Fight Result: Win via Unanimous Decision vs. Hall

Breakdown: Sean Strickland is currently riding a 5 fight win streak, and has become a fan favorite in the UFC. In his latest fight against Uriah Hall, Strickland landed 93% of his significant strikes to the head. He has proved throughout his career that he can win in a variety of ways, but his striking and cardio has really hit the next level. Sean Strickland will take on Luke Rockhold November 6th at UFC 268. With a win, Strickland will be on a nice path to the top of the rankings.

Derek Brunson

UFC Record: 14-5

Latest Fight Result: Win via Submission vs. Till

Breakdown: Similar to Anthony Smith, most people probably wouldn't have expected to see Derek Brunson here in this article. However, at 38 years old, Brunson is charging toward another title shot. Since losing to Israel Adesanya, Brunson has gone to work and won 5 straight fights including a big win against Darren Till. With one or two more wins, Brunson could find himself in a fight for the belt. With his high level wrestling ability, Brunson is a tough fight for anyone in this division. 

Vicente Luque

UFC Record: 14-3

Latest Fight Result: Win via Submission vs. Chiesa

Breakdown: Since losing to Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque has become one of the most exciting finishers in the UFC. He has 2 wins by submission, and 2 wins by KO in his last 4 fights, and sits as the 4th ranked Welterweight in the world. Current champion Kamaru Usman was quick to acknowledge Luque as a potential contender after his most recent submission win over Michael Chiesa at UFC 265. We are excited to see what is next up for Vicente Luque.

Sean Brady

UFC Record: 4-0

Latest Fight Result: Win via Submission vs. Matthews

Breakdown: This 28 year old fighting out of Philadelphia Pennsylvania has never been defeated in his professional fighting career. In his last fight, Brady dominated a very talented Jake Matthews, giving him back to back finishes in his last two fights. What we really like about Brady is his ability to make his opponents uncomfortable on the ground. When Sean Brady gets his opponents in that guillotine, it’s goodnight. Don’t take our word for it, UFC legend Paul Felder has gone on the record saying Brady has one of the tightest squeezes he has ever witnessed. This Welterweight division is loaded with talent, but Brady is one of the few fighters in this division that we believe is a legitimate threat to Kamaru Usman. Sean Brady will take on Michael Chiesa on November 20th!

Khamzat Chimaev

UFC Record: 3-0

Latest Fight Result: Win via KO vs. Meerschaert

Breakdown: When you think about someone exploding onto the scene, that is exactly what Khamzat Chimaev did. Khamzat went 3-0 over the course of about 2 months in 2020, with 3 “get out of your seat” type wins. Unfortunately, Khamzat came down with a serious case of Covid19 that kept him out almost a year. He is back on October 30th taking on Li Jingliang in what should be a fantastic fight. Look for Khamzat Chimaev to make some noise in both the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions.

Islam Makhachev

UFC Record: 8-1

Latest Fight Result: Win via Submission vs. Moises

Breakdown: Fighting out of the Khabib camp, Makhachev is viewed as one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC. Many believe he is the guy to beat in this division. There are many credible articles that suggest it’s been very difficult for Makhachev to find someone ranked ahead of him that is willing to fight him. He has a suffocating style, and you can imagine why those ranked above him would be hesitant to take him on. That being said, Makhachev is a serious threat in this division, it’s a matter of time until he gets his title shot.

Beneil Dariush

UFC Record: 15-4

Latest Fight Result: Win via Unanimous Decision vs. Ferguson

Breakdown: At 32 years old, Beneil Dariush is on a 7 fight win streak. He currently holds the #3 ranking in this Lightweight division. The thing with Dariush is how diverse his skill set is. Amongst his 19 UFC fights, he has a nice mixture of submissions, KOs, and wins by decision. He has earned the right to get a crack at one of the big guns in this Lightweight division. The biggest fight of his career should be right around the corner!

Terrance Mckinney

UFC Record: 1-0

Latest Fight Result: Win via KO vs. Frevola

Breakdown: Terrance Mckinney’s last 4 professional fights include a first round KO in 7 seconds (UFC debut), a KO in 1 minute 12 seconds, a KO in 17 seconds, and a KO in 16 seconds. He has ferocious power, and tremendous striking skills. It is still early in Mckinney's career, but we believe he is a threat to anyone in this division top to bottom. This kid is extremely talented, and he should shoot up the rankings in this division over the course of the next couple of years. Terrance Mckinney is set to return to the octagon on November 20th. Don’t blink, or you might miss the fight.

Giga Chikadze

UFC Record: 7-0

Latest Fight Result: Win via KO/TKO vs. Barboza

Breakdown: Giga Chikadze is one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC. Whenever he fights, you know you are in for a show. The 32 year old is on a 7-0 run in the UFC. He has cracked the top 10 and currently holds the #8 spot in this Featherweight division. More impressively, Giga Chikadze is a bonus machine! He is currently on a 3 fight performance bonus streak. We hope to see Giga take on a top 5 opponent at some point in late 2021, or early 2022.

Bryce Mitchell

UFC Record: 5-0

Latest Fight Result: Win via Decision vs. Fili

Breakdown: At just 26 years old, Bryce Mitchell holds a 5-0 record in the UFC and holds the #11 ranked spot in the Featherweight division. His most recent win came against a very good fighter in Andre Fili. We have yet to see Bryce Mitchell in 2021, but he is someone that UFC fans should keep an eye on. A top 10 matchup is definitely on the horizon at some point for the one and only “Thug Nasty” Bryce Mitchell.

Pat Sabatini

UFC Record: 2-0

Latest Fight Result: Win via Submission vs. Emmers

Breakdown: Pat Sabatini has been making some waves in the UFC since making his debut earlier this year, he is off to a hot 2-0 start. In his last fight against a very talented Jamall Emmers, Sabatini showed his high level submission skills and his toughness. Sabatini is a former (and current) CFFC champion. The Cage Fury Fighting Championship has put out some serious talent including Aljamain Sterling, Alex Perez, Anthony Smith, Paul Felder, Dan Ige, Sean Brady, and many more! Sabatini will return to the octagon on November 20th looking to keep his winning streak rolling. Keep an eye on this Philadelphia native.

Rob Font

UFC Record: 9-3

Latest Fight Result: Win via Unanimous Decision vs. Garbrandt

Breakdown: Amongst the fighters at the top of this Bantamweight division, Rob Fonts resume is right there at the top. He is currently on a 4 fight win streak, all 4 of those wins were against top 10 ranked opponents. Font has proved he belongs right there with Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling, Cory Sandhagen, and TJ Dillashaw. We can’t wait to see him face one of these top guys, and we certainly won’t be surprised if his winning continues.

Sean O'Malley

UFC Record: 7-1

Latest Fight Result: Win via TKO vs. Moutinho

Breakdown: A rising superstar in the UFC, Sean O’Malley has become one of the most popular fighters on the entire UFC roster. O’Malley brings elite striking skills, recently breaking the all time record for the most significant strikes landed in a 3 round Bantamweight fight. He missed the all time record in any weight class (held by Nate Diaz) by just 8 strikes. Sean O’Malley has taken the UFC by storm with his talent and personality. Look for him to be a threat in the division for a long time. The Suga Show is must watch television, and he is set to return to the octagon on December 11th!

Merab Dvalishvili

UFC Record: 7-2

Latest Fight Result: Win via KO/TKO vs. Moraes

Breakdown: After stumbling out to an 0-2 start in the UFC, Dvalishvili has ripped off 7 straight wins. Most recently, his chin was put to the test against Marlon Moraes who landed some big time shots on him early in the fight. Dvalishvili showed his ability to overcome a dangerous situation and come out with a finish of his own. He is a rising star in the division, a major threat, and he deserves to be on this list.

Askar Askarov

UFC Record: 3-0-1

Latest Fight Result: Win via Unanimous Decision vs. Benevidez

Breakdown: This 28 year old fighter out of Russia has serious talent! He has yet to sniff defeat in his UFC career. He did have one draw, but it came against Brandon Moreno. Askar Askarov is currently the #2 contender in this Flyweight division. He already beat one of the other top contenders in this division (Alexandre Pantoja), so it seems that either a rematch with Moreno, or a matchup against Figueiredo could be upcoming. Be sure to keep an eye out for his next fight!

Alexandre Pantoja

UFC Record: 4-2

Latest Fight Result: Win via Submission vs. Royval

Breakdown: Fighting out of Brazil, Patoja is one of the most dynamic fighters in this division. His two losses have come against Figueiredo and Askarov. There is absolutely no shame in losing to either one of those elite opponents, and neither one of them was able to finish Pantoja. He has wins by submission, KO, and decision on his resume. There is not a single fighter in this division that would walk over Alexandre Pantoja, he is a big time threat and contender to that Flyweight belt.