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#2. Marlon Vera – UFC bantamweight contender
Undoubtedly one of the most exciting fighters operating in the UFC’s bantamweight division today, it’s safe to say that Marlon Vera deserves a lot more appreciation. In fact, it could be argued that ‘Chito’ is as underappreciated by the promotion itself as he is by UFC fans.
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The native of Ecuador is currently ranked thirteenth in his division by the UFC. Despite falling to defeat in the majority of his biggest fights, he’s definitely one of the best in the world at 135lbs.
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However, for the most part, ‘Chito’ remains underappreciated. Even when he took out highly touted prospect Sean O’Malley at UFC 252 in 2020, many fans – as well as O’Malley himself – chose to blame the result on an injury to ‘The Sugar Show’, refusing to give Vera his due credit.
In truth though, ‘Chito’ is a ruthless finisher who only needs a very small window of opportunity to put his opponents away. Vera has eleven victories in the octagon – with just two of them coming via decision.
Add in the fact that he’s a highly charismatic fighter who refuses to back down from any opponent and it makes no sense why ‘Chito’ isn’t a fan favourite right now. Essentially, he’s the very definition of an underappreciated fighter.
#1. Andrei Arlovski – UFC heavyweight contender
Most of the UFC’s former champions are largely revered as legends in their own right. This applies in particular to fighters who held titles before the UFC really soared in popularity fifteen years or so ago.
Fighters like Matt Serra, Rich Franklin and Sean Sherk are all fondly remembered. Somehow, Andrei Arlovski – a former UFC heavyweight champion – remains largely underappreciated by UFC fans, despite still ticking away in the division today.
It’s perhaps this extreme longevity that’s caused ‘The Pitbull’ to be underappreciated. Arlovski won the UFC heavyweight title back in 2005 after defeating Tim Sylvia. He then defended it successfully against Justin Eilers and Paul Buentello. Only one fighter – Stipe Miocic – has made more defenses of a UFC heavyweight title than Arlovski.
Most fans figured that the native of Belarus was finished at the top level when he lost four fights in a row outside the UFC from 2009 to 2011. However, an unexpected resurgence saw him return to the UFC in 2014. After beating the likes of Travis Browne and Frank Mir, he somehow wound up in title contention once again.
While Arlovski didn’t quite make it that far – and ended up on a five-fight slide at one point – he’s been able to turn things around again in the years that have followed.
While he seems to lose as many fights as he wins these days, the fact that he’s still plugging away at the age of 42 – beating much younger prospects like Carlos Felipe and Tanner Boser – means he warrants much more appreciation from UFC fans than he receives.
