5 underrated fighters whose UFC records warrant more recognition

#4 Santiago Ponzinibbio (UFC Record: 10-3)

UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik v Sakai Weigh-in

UFC welterweight veteran Santiago Ponzinibbio has been part of the promotion since November 2013, but health concerns and injuries have left him sidelined for significant periods of time. The last such layoff, which came between November 2018 and January 2021, has perhaps taken some of the shine off of what a great fighter he has been in the UFC.

Ponzinibbio was knocked out by Li Jingliang in his comeback fight, and a section of fans quickly discredited his accomplishments in the UFC. But he proved what he's made of with a brilliant comeback win over Miguel Baeza in a memorable, tightly contested fight earlier this month.

Fight of the night? Month? Year? 😳👏 What a way to end this scrap! #UFCVegas28 pic.twitter.com/4eCJCePUHi

— UFC (@ufc) June 6, 2021

Between his second UFC loss to Lorenz Larkin and his third to Li, 'The Argentine Dagger' went on a seven-fight win streak, vanquishing names such as Gunnar Nelson, Mike Perry, Neil Magny and Court McGee. He even has a win over current contender Sean Strickland.

Speaking of Strickland....

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#3 Sean Strickland (UFC Record: 10-3)

UFC Fight Night: Strickland v Jotko

A fighter with a UFC record identical to that of Santiago Ponzinibbio, Sean Strickland made his promotional debut in May 2014. And in just his second fight, he fell to the more experienced Argentine via unanimous decision.

Since then, Strickland has flown under the radar but has been one of the UFC's most consistent fighters. His two other losses in the UFC aren't embarrassing by any means - one to pound-for-pound king and current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, and another via a freak wheel kick from Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.

Strickland is now ranked 11th in the middleweight division and is surging up the rankings. On a four-fight win streak right now, 'Tarzan' faces Uriah Hall next month.