5 best unbeaten fighters in the UFC right now
Almost every weight class in the UFC is effectively a shark tank. For a fighter to spend a significant amount of time in the organization and stay undefeated is an admirable feat. Only a handful of fighters continue to protect their perfect records every time they step inside the cage.
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jon Jones are the only UFC legends to have never truly tasted defeat. While Jones does have one blemish on his record, a controversial disqualification which the UFC has tried to overturn, he has never been bested inside the octagon.
The only recorded "loss" on Jon Jones record. https://t.co/DUsgpIgCSM
This article explores the best unbeaten talents the UFC has to offer, ranking them in order of their championship potential. Honorable mentions include Muhammad Mokaev, Casey O'Neill, Ian Garry and Bo Nickal.
With that said, here are the five best unbeaten fighters in the UFC right now.
#5. Umar Nurmagomedov [16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC]
Umar Nurmagomedov has already established himself as the boogeyman of the bantamweight division. The undefeated Dagestani is seemingly suffering a similar fate to his brethren Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, as his struggles in finding willing opponents continues.
Umar Nurmagomedov needs an opponent 😤
#UFC #MMA | @ufc https://t.co/n0BwD3hNh5
Umar Nurmagomedov's professional record stands at 16-0. In his four octagon appearances so far, the Russian has accrued three finishes. His most recent outing produced his best performance yet as he knocked out Brazilian ace Raoni Barcelos in devastating fashion.
The knockout win over Barcelos served as a real statement of intent. While he was previously known for his patented Dagestani wrestling and slick submission game, Nurmagomedov showed off his much-improved striking in his most recent performance.
The 27-year-old is clearly the future of the bantamweight division. Currently ranked No.11, it's only a matter of time before he gets his shot at the title.
Umar Nurmagomedov is calling his shot 😳 https://t.co/cCxN7Nc87I
#4. Tatiana Suarez [9-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC]
Prior to her extremely unfortunate injury woes, Tatiana Suarez was being touted as a future champion by almost everyone in the know. Suarez returned from a three-and-a-half year hiatus at a recent Fight Night show, where she showed that she's back to her best and is ready to make a title run.
TATIANA SUAREZ IS BACK 😤 #UFCVegas70 https://t.co/QqgQAux0Mr
Tatiana Suarez submitted Montana De La Rosa to improve her professional record to 9-0. Widely regarded as one of the best grapplers across women's MMA, the American is a nightmare matchup for almost anyone she goes up against, so her return to action certainly makes things interesting.
Suarez has made no secret of her desire to claim the 115 and 125-pound titles, but she'll have to stay active if he is to deliver on her vision. She has a submission win over current flyweight queen Alexa Grasso under her belt, so if the Mexican champion defeats Valentina Shevchenko again, that's an intriguing storyline.
Suarez re-entered the strawweight rankings soon after her last win. having spent a huge chunk of her athletic prime on the sidelines, the 32-year-old is now itching to ascend the rankings and claim UFC gold.
Do you think Tatiana Suarez will be a UFC champion? 🤔 https://t.co/E9VscYYaJh
#3. Ilia Topuria [13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC]
Ilia Topuria is arguably the most promising prospect in the featherweight division. Still just 26, 'El Matador' is destined for greatness in the world's premier MMA promotion and he's only just getting started.
Ilia Topuria defeats Bryce Mitchell (2022)
📸 @CooperNeill https://t.co/wqlkmb9FDP
Topuria has finished his last four opponents to claim the No.9 spot in the featherweight rankings. His record stands at 13-0, comprising four knockouts, eight submissions and just one decision.
His latest performance against Bryce Mitchell, who was also undefeated heading into the bout, saw the masses finally take notice of the all-action finisher. Topuria dominated 'Thug Nasty' from pillar to post before submitting the American with an arm-triangle in the second round.
Topuria's game is unbelievably advanced for his age, and it's scary to imagine how good he'll be when he reaches his athletic prime.
#2. Shavkat Rakhmonov [17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC]
17 fights. 17 finishes.
Shavkat Rakhmonov's record speaks for itself. The Kazakh phenom boasts a 100% finish rate and is the only entry on this list who has stopped every opponent he's faced. At the recently concluded UFC 285 pay-per-view, 'Nomad' picked up his fifth win in the octagon to break into the top tier of the welterweight division.
SHAVKAT IS THE REAL DEAL! 🤯
@Rakhmonov1994 stays undefeated at #UFC285!! https://t.co/Dr1jVTZDkE
With eight knockouts and nine submissions to his name, Shavkat Rakhmonov's potent finishing ability makes him the divisional dark horse. The 28-year-old is now just one or two wins away from a shot at gold, and at this rate, could find himself in a title fight inside the next 12 months.
Rakhmonov is as well-rounded as they come. His spectacular performance against Geoff Neal showcased just how dangerous and diverse his striking ability is, which coupled with his Combat Sambo background, makes for a lethal combination.
'Nomad' is rampantly growing in popularity with the UFC fanbase, and for good reason.
#UFC285"I always wanted one of these."
@joerogan got a victory gift from Rakhmonov 🎁 #UFC285 https://t.co/RkoF7qSApT
#1. Khamzat Chimaev [12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC]
Since making his promotional debut over two years ago, Khamzat Chimaev has been strapped to a rocket and his stock has reached astronomical heights.
Four quick finishes, a war against top-ranked welterweight Gilbert Burns and a masterclass against Kevin Holland have seen 'Borz' emerge as the hottest talent in the sport.
Khamzat Chimaev remains undefeated and takes his record to 12-0.
#UFC279 https://t.co/wsJUj1Slt4
Khamzat Chimaev was once seen as a real threat to both the welterweight and middleweight thrones. However, after his weight-miss debacle at UFC 279, some have questioned whether the Chechen-born Swede can make the welterweight limit anymore.
Chimaev boasts an impressive record of 12-0, with the barnburner against Gilbert Burns being his only decision win. The manner in which he has dispatched the rest of his opponents has been nothing short of extraordinary. His relentless wrestling makes him a bad matchup for most fighters, and he'd likely be the betting favorite against most top-ranked welterweights and middleweights.
Recent reports indicate that Chimaev will commit to the 185-pound bracket, which is currently ruled over by Alex Pereira. Whether Pereira remains champion or Israel Adesanya retains the title, it's safe to say 'Borz' would be favored against either striker.
Out of all the fighters on this list, Chimaev is the only one who can realistically capture UFC gold this year.
Daniel Cormier sees Khamzat Chimaev as a major threat to new champ Alex Pereira 🤔
Full story: bit.ly/3Vo6KYP https://t.co/ClDGZn0x06