5 current UFC fighters who deserve more respect from fans

#2. Andrei Arlovski – former UFC heavyweight champion

Andrei Arlovski is somehow still ticking on despite being 43.

His tenure with the UFC hasn’t been an unbroken one. He was not in the promotion between 2008 and 2014.

However, the fact that Andrei Arlovski is still competing in the promotion after so long is truly remarkable. Nevertheless, it’s safe to say that, over the last few years especially, ‘The Pitbull’ perhaps hasn’t got the respect he deserves from fans.

Sure, Arlovski is no longer one of the most feared men in the division. His last six wins inside the octagon have all come via decision. He has also suffered bad losses against younger prospects like Tom Aspinall and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

However, it’s easy to forget that the Belarusian is 43, and was written off as being finished at the highest level way back in 2010. When you consider that, as well as the fact that he’s in phenomenal physical shape for a man of his age, it’s difficult not to marvel at his accomplishments.

Given that Arlovski is currently on a three-fight winning streak, it’s likely he’s not going to be hanging up his gloves any time soon. That could especially be the case if the UFC doesn’t pit him against the real top fighters in the division.

We’re now well over a decade removed from his tenure as heavyweight champion. So it’s safe to say that ‘The Pitbull’ deserves a huge amount of respect from fans, certainly more than he currently seems to get.

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#1. Conor McGregor – former UFC lightweight champion

While some fans see Conor McGregor as past his best, it’s impossible not to respect his accomplishments.

It might sound crazy to suggest that Conor McGregor, who is still the UFC’s biggest star and drawing card, might deserve more respect from fans. However, the truth is that the Irishman’s fall from grace in recent years means his accomplishments have now somewhat gone under the radar.

When McGregor tweets that he ought to be considered up there with the greatest fighters in UFC history, many fans these days scoff. They bring up his devastating defeats against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier.

Sure, those defeats – particularly the two to ‘The Diamond’ – were bad, if not downright embarrassing. However, the accomplishments of ‘The Notorious’ should still shine brighter than those losses.

McGregor cut a trail of destruction through the featherweight division from his octagon debut in 2013 through to his title win in 2015. He dismantled high-level contenders like Poirier and Chad Mendes, dealt Max Holloway his only loss for six years, and became the first man since 2005 to beat Jose Aldo.

More than that, though, ‘The Notorious’ accomplished all of that while also using his charisma and ability on the microphone to become the biggest drawing star in MMA history.

When you also add in the fact that ‘The Notorious’ was the first man to simultaneously hold two titles in different weight classes – before the likes of Henry Cejudo and Daniel Cormier – it’s difficult not to consider him a true legend.

That’s why he deserves more respect than he currently gets. Sure, it’s easy to dismiss him as yesterday’s fighter right now – and it’s ludicrous to suggest he ought to be given another lightweight title shot. However, his accomplishments should be talked about far more than they currently are, regardless of his current relevance.