5 UFC fighters who enjoyed outstanding runs in 2021

#4. Islam Makhachev (3-0 in the UFC in 2021)

Islam Makhachev ripped through the UFC lightweight division in 2021. The Dagestani prodigy started the year as an unranked fighter in the 155 lbs weight class and will be going into 2022 as one of the top lightweights in the world.

Makhachev took on Drew Dober at UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya in March. He made light work of the American, submitting him with an arm triangle in the third round. It was hardly a contest for the Russian fighter, who was in control throughout the bout.

He was subsequently booked to take on Thiago Moises in his first five-round bout in July, securing yet another comfortable victory. He submitted Moises in the fourth round and called out Rafael dos Anjos after the bout.

Makhachev got his wish and was set to take on the Brazilian at UFC 267 in October. Unfortunately, dos Anjos had to pull out of the fight after picking up an injury and lightweight contender Dan Hooker stepped in on short notice.

Unlike his two previous bouts, Makhachev wasted no time in getting Hooker to the ground before securing a Kimura hold on the Kiwi in the very first round.

By the end of 2021, Makhachev had broken into the top 5 in the UFC lightweight rankings. In his three fights this year, the formidable Russian secured just as many submission finishes and is an ominous presence in the 155 lbs division.

Currently ranked No.4, he is set to take on Beneil Dariush in a title eliminator bout in February next year.

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#3. Rose Namajunas (2-0 in the UFC in 2021, both championship bouts)

Rose Namajunas emerged as the new queen of the UFC women’s strawweight division in 2021. She had previously won the title in 2017, but famously struggled with the pressures of being a world champion.

The women’s flyweight, bantamweight and featherweight divisions have had long-reigning champions for quite some time now, with Valentina Shevchenko dominating the 125 lbs weight class and Amanda Nunes doing the same at 135 lbs (until her recent defeat to Julianna Pena at UFC 269) and 145 lbs.

The 115 lbs title, however, has been constantly changing hands. Rose Namajunas won the title in 2017 and defended it once. She then lost the belt to Jessica Andrade in 2019. Chinese ace Zhang Weili defeated Andrade later that year and reigned as champion till 2021.

Weili took on Rose Namajunas at UFC 261 in April this year. Many believed that the Chinese fighter would be too powerful for the TUF alum and that she would continue her reign as the strawweight queen.

However, Namajunas produced one of the most memorable moments of the year as she caught Weili with a clean head kick in the first round. She finished the fight with a series of ground-and-pound strikes to become a two-time UFC champion.

The duo squared off in a rematch at UFC 268 in Madison Square Garden, New York. This time, Namajunas secured a split-decision victory over her Chinese foe to further solidify her status as the best in the division.

2021 has seen ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas truly come into her own. With a few more title defenses in 2022, she could become a long-reigning champion alongside her idol, Valentina Shevchenko.