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#9. UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou
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It's no surprise that Francis Ngannou has become a lot more popular since his UFC debut. The reigning heavyweight champion is regarded as the most feared knockout artist in the promotion. His thunderous knockouts have made his fights can't-miss events.
'The Predator' has 3.9 million followers on Instagram. He gained more fans and respect for truly betting on himself in his most recent bout against Cyril Gane. He went into the fight with a knee injury, changed up his gameplan and showcased his improvements in wrestling.
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Ngannou's following could increase in the near-future as he could possibly defend his title against Jon Jones, a fight sure to generate plenty of interest.
#8. Former UFC title challenger Dustin Poirier
Dustin Poirier is one of the most popular lightweights in the UFC. The former title challenger joined the promotion in 2011 and competed at featherweight. Despite having an impressive record at 145lbs, his best performances have been at lightweight.
'The Diamond' has 4 million Instagram followers and has benefited from his rivalry with MMA's biggest name in Conor McGregor. He defeated McGregor twice last year, with both pay-per-view events generating 1.5 million and 1.8 million pay-per-view buys respectively.
Poirier continues to be a great ambassador for the sport through his charity efforts. He founded The Good Fight Foundation, where he auctions off memorabilia and fight kits to raise money for his community in Louisiana.
#7. UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev
UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev has had a meteoric rise to superstardom. After submitting John Phillips on his debut, he returned to the octagon 10 days later and TKO'd Rhys McKee.
Chimaev's willingness to fight anybody regardless of weight division gained him a devoted following. The undefeated welterweight currently has 4.1 million Instagram followers and could gain a lot more in the upcoming months.
'The Wolf' is scheduled to fight Nate Diaz on September 10. This will be significant for both as it's the final bout of Diaz's UFC contract and Chimaev's first pay-per-view main event. A win against the former TUF winner could earn Khamzat a title shot against the winner of Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards.
