5 best UFC fighters you've most likely never heard of

#2. Mohammad Mokaev – UFC flyweight

Mohammad Mokaev joined the UFC in 2021. The 21-year-old is an unbelievably exciting addition to the promotion’s flyweight division.

Mokaev’s journey to mixed martial arts has been tumultuous, to say the least. He and his father fled Russia with just a bag of clothes and no money in the summer of 2012. They ended up at a refugee center in Liverpool, England, for 28 days. From there, they were relocated to Wigan.

His father encouraged him to go to the Wigan Youth Zone every day so he could keep him off the streets and away from the wrong crowd. There, Mokaev was introduced to wrestling and combat sports. He went on to become the British champion in wrestling and the European champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

After winning back-to-back junior bantamweight titles at the IMMAF World Championships in 2018 and 2019, Mokaev turned pro in 2020. He accumulated four wins in his first year as a professional, three of which came via finish.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that Mokaev will struggle in the UFC because of his record of just 5-0. ‘The Punisher’ owns a 23-0 amateur record and has been mapping out his career since he was a young teen. He fought his first amateur fight at just 14 years of age and has ripped through every opponent he’s faced ever since.

Interestingly, Mokaev DM’ed UFC president Dana White in 2018, saying he would be joining the promotion very soon. The Russian-born Brit has come through on his promise and is expected to make a splash in the 125 lbs division.

Mokaev will undoubtedly enter the title picture at 125 lbs in the coming years. In a division brimming with strikers, the grappling phenom could emerge as a long-reigning UFC champion. He is set to make his promotional debut against Cody Durden at the O2 Arena in London in March.

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#1. Shavkat Rakhmonov – UFC welterweight

Shavkat Rakhmanov is an ominous presence in the UFC’s welterweight division. Think Khamzat Chimaev, without all the hype.

Rakhmonov joined the UFC in 2020 and has won two fights since making his debut at UFC 254. The Kazakh phenom boasts an unblemished professional record of 15-0. He has finished all of his fights so far in his career, winning eight by way of KO/TKO and seven by submission.

‘Nomad’ has been likened to UFC superstar Khamzat Chimaev. The duo are very similar in their fighting style as both possess impeccable wrestling, elite submission skills and one-punch knockout power. The only difference between the two is the way they carry themselves. Chimaev’s outspoken nature is a stark contrast to Rakhmonov’s soft-spoken demeanor.

The UFC has been looking to push Chimaev up the ladder at 170 lbs at an unprecedented pace, considering his performances and the way ‘Borz’ has resonated with the fans. However, the promotion has a fighter just as good as the Chechen star in Rakhmonov, who is primed to take over the welterweight division in the coming years.

At just 27 years of age, Rakhmonov has a long way to go in his UFC career. Expect him to break into the rankings in the next year or so.