The UFC’s roster is now an enormous, sprawling checklist of over 600 fighters. Unsurprisingly, plenty of them find yourself flying below the radar of the followers.
Proper now, the UFC is residence to plenty of top-class fighters who’re below the radar, however even have surprisingly nice octagon data.
Whether or not these fighters can discover a strategy to escape as stars in 2023, or whether or not they proceed to be unheralded, stays a query mark proper now. Nonetheless, it’s protected to say that by way of their expertise, they’re all properly value watching.
Listed here are 5 under-the-radar fighters who even have nice UFC data.
#5. Roman Dolidze – UFC document: 6-1
This previous weekend noticed Georgian middleweight Roman Dolidze decide up his largest UFC win up to now, as he stopped longtime veteran Jack Hermansson by way of TKO within the second spherical.
Previous to the bout, which Dolidze took on late discover, Hermansson was ranked at No.8 within the division. Due to this fact, it’s seemingly that Dolidze could properly find yourself rising into the highest 15 at worse when the rankings are subsequent up to date.
Nonetheless, whereas he’ll undoubtedly become visible for a lot of followers going into 2023, it’s controversial that the Georgian ought to have already got garnered some notable hype even previous to the Hermansson bout.
In any case, his present octagon document stands at a vastly spectacular 6-1, with 4 of these wins completed by way of KO or TKO. Extra to the purpose, his single loss to Trevin Giles in March 2021 got here below controversial circumstances. Many followers felt that Dolidze, who was making his debut at 185 kilos, deserved the nod from the judges.
Basically, Dolidze is a basic instance of an thrilling fighter who has slowly climbed up the mountain within the UFC, taking over more durable opponents every time till it turns into inconceivable to disregard him. Judging by his present type, 2023 ought to see him lastly turn out to be a identified amount to the followers.
#4. Damir Ismagulov – UFC document: 5-0
A look on the UFC’s top-15 lightweights reveals plenty of the promotion’s largest star names, from Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier to Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje and Conor McGregor.
Nonetheless, one title within the rankings that may properly go unnoticed is Damir Ismagulov. Presently ranked at No.12, it’s seemingly that many followers, notably informal ones, wouldn’t have the ability to decide the Russian out of a line-up.
Regardless of this, Ismagulov has a remarkably sturdy octagon document of 5-0, compiled over the previous 4 years. In truth, he hasn’t misplaced a bout in MMA general since September 2015, giving him one of many lengthiest win streaks on the UFC’s roster.
So why aren’t extra folks speaking about him? The chances are as a result of Ismagulov has but to complete an opponent contained in the octagon.
Positive, it’s not like he’s been squashing overmatched foes; Guram Kutateladze and Thiago Moises are extraordinarily difficult fighters. Nonetheless, it’s tougher for the promotion to market somebody with out a minimum of one highlight-reel end.
Regardless of this, Ismagulov clearly does have loads of hanging energy – he damage Kutateladze badly on the ft and has 12 pre-UFC knockouts to his title. So, if he can decide up his first end in 2023, he ought to now not fly below the radar for anybody.
#3. Chris Gutierrez – UFC document: 7-1-1
When former UFC light-weight champion Frankie Edgar introduced his plans to retire after one ultimate struggle final month, many followers had been surprised that Chris Gutierrez was chosen as his final ever opponent.
In any case, the promotion had at all times tended to make use of ageing veterans to construct up sizzling prospects on their approach out, and but Gutierrez was flying below the radar for many followers main into the bout.
Nonetheless, in actuality, possibly ‘El Guapo’ ought to’ve garnered extra hype. He got here into his conflict with Edgar with an impressive octagon document of 6-1-1, together with his solely loss coming to Raoni Barcelos in his 2018 debut.
Extra to the purpose, two of his losses had are available in violent vogue, together with a spinning backfist end of Danaa Batgerel. Many followers additionally felt he deserved the nod in his draw with Cody Durden, which noticed him get better from a foul first spherical to take the ultimate two stanzas.
Gutierrez was capable of end up the lights on Edgar’s octagon profession final month, however provided that ‘The Reply’ was already badly broken previous to that struggle, it appears that evidently ‘El Guapo’ stays below the radar.
Chris Gutierrez stops Frankie Edgar 😳An ideal knee up the center ends this one early #UFC281 https://t.co/M5A0A1VKYq
If he can proceed to win, notably in the identical entertaining vogue that he did in opposition to Edgar, that might properly change in 2023.
#2. Grant Dawson – UFC document: 7-0-1
Normally, any fighter capable of put collectively an unbeaten UFC document over the course of eight fights would garner loads of hype, notably in the event that they’d been capable of end 5 of their seven wins.
Nonetheless, that hasn’t been the case for Grant Dawson, who not solely stays below the radar with the followers, but in addition seemingly with the promotion itself. Regardless of his excellent document, ‘KGD’ stays unranked.
Why is that this? The seemingly clarification is that Dawson has floated between weight courses throughout his run with the UFC, together with his first three wins coming at 145 kilos and his fourth coming at a 150-pound catchweight.
Since early 2021, Dawson has fought completely as a light-weight, though he did miss weight for his latest late-notice bout with Mark Madsen. On condition that none of his 4 victims at 155 kilos had been ranked previous to their fights with him, it is smart that ‘KGD’ hasn’t cracked the highest 15 but.
Regardless of this, it’s clear that Dawson is prepared for a run on the elite. Previous to their bout, Madsen was a 12-0 sizzling prospect who seemed set for a push in direction of the highest, and so it’s solely honest that ‘KGD’ now will get that chance.
He won’t be essentially the most charismatic fighter on the roster, however Dawson is definitely legit, and so hopefully, 2023 will give him an opportunity to show that in opposition to the most effective on the earth.
#1. Belal Muhammad – UFC document: 13-3-1
Most fighters who crack the UFC’s prime 10 of their weight class can now not be seen to be flying below the radar, however one way or the other, it nonetheless seems like welterweight contender Belal Muhammad is being unfairly ignored.
‘Keep in mind the Title’ has a remarkably sturdy octagon document of 13-3-1, he hasn’t misplaced a struggle since January 2019, and he’s coming off a brutal knockout end of a highly-touted prospect in Sean Brady.
Regardless of this, many followers simply don’t point out him by way of attainable title contenders at 170 kilos, preferring to debate the likes of Khamzat Chimaev, Colby Covington and Gilbert Burns.
To say that it’s difficult to know could be an understatement. With wins over Vicente Luque, Stephen Thompson and Demian Maia on his ledger alongside that win over Brady, Muhammad’s document stacks up in opposition to some other welterweight within the promotion.
Extra apparently, it’s not like Muhammad isn’t charismatic, both. In truth, he’s arguably one of many higher microphone employees within the division.
Principally, it seems like he merely can’t go ignored for for much longer – and yet one more massive win in 2023 may push him over the sting in direction of stardom.
