5 UFC fighters who might beat the champion from their weight class
Generally, every time a fighter claims a UFC title, they’ll additionally justifiably lay declare to being the perfect of their weight division. Nevertheless, generally there are exceptions.
Proper now, there are a selection of fighters within the UFC who don’t maintain the title of their weight class however might probably unseat their division’s champion if the chance presents itself.
Listed here are 5 UFC fighters who aren’t present champions however may very well be the perfect of their weight class.
#5. Sergei Pavlovich – UFC heavyweight contender
Nevertheless, some consider that with ‘The Predator’ gone, the perfect heavyweight on the roster is now the heavy-handed Russian Sergei Pavlovich.
Pavlovich debuted within the octagon approach again in late 2018, however inactivity in the course of the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic saved him flying beneath the radar.
All that modified final yr when he stopped three opponents in devastating trend, together with former title challenger Derrick Lewis and the highly-ranked Tai Tuivasa.
Most significantly, although, Pavlovich took out Lewis and Tuivasa in a far simpler trend than Gane, who additionally beat each males.
Lewis lasted three rounds with Gane, whereas Pavlovich put him away in beneath a minute. Tuivasa, in the meantime, virtually knocked ‘Bon Gamin’ out once they met in September, however once more, Pavlovich starched him inside a minute.
Principally, it’s controversial that Pavlovich is the toughest hitter within the heavyweight division proper now. Whereas he isn’t fairly as battle-tested as Gane, he has proven unbelievable potential.
#4. Rose Namajunas – UFC strawweight contender
‘Thug Rose’ famously ended the prolonged title reign of Joanna Jedrzejczyk again in 2017. Nevertheless, her personal reign was comparatively transient as she was dethroned in mid-2019 by Jessica Andrade.
Nonetheless, Namajunas was capable of regain it in 2021 by beating Zhang, who took the title from Andrade later in 2019.
2022, although, noticed her produce arguably the worst displaying of her profession, as Carla Esparza controversially outpointed her in a really horrible five-round bout.
Namajunas hasn’t fought since, however the truth that it was Zhang who ended Esparza’s reign – with ease, it is perhaps added – means that ‘Thug Rose’ might be nonetheless the perfect strawweight within the promotion.
In any case, she holds two wins over ‘Magnum’. ‘Thug Rose’ defeated the Chinese language fighter by way of KO of their first bout in 2021 and by way of a break up resolution of their second bout later that very same yr. If the 2 fighters had been to face off for a 3rd time, Namajunas would possible be a sizzling favourite.
ON THE BUTTON! 🎯Rose Namajunas finishes Zhang Weili within the first spherical to grow to be UFC strawweight champion as soon as once more! 🏆#UFC261 https://t.co/zRxH9GFWZp
Whether or not she will get a title shot within the close to future is one other factor, however for now, it’s undoubtedly controversial that Namajunas continues to be the perfect 115lber on the earth.
#3. Robert Whittaker – UFC middleweight contender
As soon as the load class’s titleholder, Whittaker was defeated by Israel Adesanya in late 2019 after which did not regain the gold from ‘The Final Stylebender’ of their rematch in 2022.
Whereas ‘The Reaper’ set himself other than the remainder of the promotion’s middleweights throughout this era, beating the likes of Jared Cannonier, Darren Until and Marvin Vettori, he was nonetheless solely the second-best fighter at 185lbs.
Now that Adesanya has been crushed by Alex Pereira – who seems to have his quantity – although, might Whittaker find yourself because the division’s prime canine once more?
It’s undoubtedly potential. In any case, Pereira is an excellent striker, however he nonetheless has holes in his sport – significantly on the bottom. These are the sort of holes that Whittaker, who’s barely extra well-rounded than Adesanya, might capitalize on.
Basically, ‘The Reaper’ may not be capable of beat Adesanya, however he’d have a superb likelihood of dethroning ‘Poatan’, making him probably the perfect middleweight within the UFC.
#2. Magomed Ankalaev – UFC mild heavyweight contender
Ankalaev fought Jan Blachowicz for the vacant title in December, and regardless of many followers believing he gained their conflict, the judges declared it a draw.
Extra importantly, Dana White, who was unimpressed by the bout, merely omitted the Dagestani and made Hill vs. Teixeira for the title as a substitute.
Nevertheless, the reality is that if Ankalaev and Hill had been to battle, the Dagestani’s floor sport and wrestling expertise would make him an enormous favourite. Basically, there’s an argument that he’s the uncrowned king at 205lbs proper now.
#1. Alexandre Pantoja – UFC flyweight contender
Nevertheless, whereas ‘The Murderer Child’ can undoubtedly declare to have confirmed himself to be higher than Figueiredo, that doesn’t essentially imply that he’s the perfect 125lber within the promotion.
That’s due to the presence of one other extremely gifted Brazilian, No.2-ranked Alexandre Pantoja.
Like Moreno, ‘The Cannibal’ emerged into the UFC by way of the twenty fourth season of The Final Fighter, the place he choked the Mexican out earlier than faltering within the semi-finals.
Since then, although, he’s reeled off 9 wins within the octagon and is presently on a three-fight win streak. Whereas he does have a loss to Figueiredo on his file, he additionally holds a second win over Moreno, defeating him again in Could 2018.
It appears extremely possible {that a} battle between ‘The Murderer Child’ and ‘The Cannibal’ will go down later in 2023, permitting followers to search out out who the higher man actually is.
Nevertheless, based mostly on the truth that he’s already crushed Moreno twice, it is controversial that Pantoja may very well be thought-about the perfect flyweight on the earth proper now – it’s only a matter of him proving it once more within the octagon.
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