5 current UFC contenders who are unfairly overlooked
In the world of the UFC, it takes a lot to be noticed. With such a stacked roster, much more than just fighting skill is needed.
Right now, there are several current contenders in the UFC who are unfairly overlooked.
Some of these fighters are largely overlooked by the fans, while others are overlooked by the promotion itself. In some cases, the contender is under the radar with both.
Here are five current UFC contenders who are unfairly overlooked.
#5. Tatiana Suarez - UFC strawweight contender
There's a very real argument to suggest that based purely on talent, Tatiana Suarez has the capability to become a two-division champion in the UFC.
The TUF 23 winner can fight at both 125 pounds and 115 pounds and holds an unbeaten MMA record of 10-0.
Right now, she sits in the No.1 contender spot at strawweight but also holds a one-sided victory - albeit from 2018 - over reigning flyweight titleholder Alexa Grasso.
Thus far, nobody has come close to even testing Suarez, who has been able to take down and bully every foe she's ever faced. So why does it feel like she's being overlooked?
Unfortunately, the simple explanation is her injury record. Suarez has spent massive stretches of time on the shelf with various physical issues and now hasn't fought in a year after withdrawing from a planned February bout.
Despite this, she's never shown any signs of ring rust when she has returned in the past, meaning the promotion ought to lock her into a title fight with 115-pound queen Weili Zhang upon her return.
If she could win, nobody would be able to overlook her again.
#4. Tatsuro Taira - UFC flyweight contender
Earlier this month, flyweight contender Kai Kara-France picked up his first win since 2022 when he knocked out former title challenger Steve Erceg.
In the immediate aftermath of his win, many observers began to discuss the chances of 'Don't Blink' in a title bout with current champion Alexandre Pantoja.
However, putting Kara-France directly into a title bout would probably be harsh to one of the UFC's most overlooked contenders, No.5 ranked Tatsuro Taira.
Not only is the Japanese fighter unbeaten in MMA at 16-0 but he's also claimed six of those wins in the octagon.
More to the point, the most recent of those wins came over former title challenger Alex Perez, and while it did come via knee injury, Taira was firmly responsible for it.
Given that Kara-France has multiple losses to his name—including to Pantoja—surely it'd make more sense for the promotion to push the unbeaten Taira up into a title bout.
Instead, it feels like he's being largely overlooked for reasons unknown. Hopefully this is something that changes if he can defeat Brandon Royval in their scheduled clash in October.
#3. Movsar Evloev - UFC featherweight contender
Despite some observers' criticism, the UFC's rankings tend to be relatively accurate.
The current featherweight division rankings, though, have a curious issue with them. Somehow, Movsar Evloev is only ranked at No.5.
Quite how this is the case is baffling. Not only is the Russian unbeaten at 18-0, but his last fight saw him outpoint the tricky Arnold Allen. Despite this, 'Almighty' is somehow ranked one spot above Evloev at No.4.
To add insult to injury for the Russian, next month will see Brian Ortega fight Diego Lopes in what many are calling a title elimination fight. Lopes, of course, has one loss to his name in the octagon, and it came to Evloev in his promotional debut.
So why is the Russian being overlooked? The most likely explanation is his fighting style, which relies heavily on his takedowns and could be considered dull by some observers.
Given his winning record, though, it's impossible to ignore the fact that he's a very effective fighter.
If he can defeat former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling in his next fight, his title credentials will only increase - but even then, it feels like unless he produces a finish, he'll remain overlooked.
#2. Sean Brady - UFC welterweight contender
One hugely overlooked contender who should have the chance to step out of the shadows next month is welterweight Sean Brady.
Brady is currently ranked No.8 in the 170-pound division and boasts a stellar record that includes victories over Kelvin Gastelum and Michael Chiesa.
Overall, the Philadelphia native is 16-1, with his only loss to current titleholder Belal Muhammad. Realistically, he should be considered just as much a title threat as other prospects like Ian Machado Garry and Jack Della Maddalena.
Instead, he seems to be flying under the radar almost completely. What is to blame for this? The most logical answer is a combination of his grappling-heavy style and the fact that he's only fought once since October 2022.
Brady will have a chance to sway the fans next month, though. He's due to fight in his first headline bout against former title challenger Gilbert Burns.
If he can defeat 'Durinho', then with any hope, he'll be seen as the genuine title contender he ought to be considered as now. Until then, he remains unfairly overlooked.
#1. Magomed Ankalaev - UFC light-heavyweight contender
While it definitely doesn't feel like the fans overlook him, it's probably fair to accuse the UFC itself of unfairly looking past Magomed Ankalaev.
Realistically, the Dagestani is probably the biggest threat to the light-heavyweight title currently held by Alex Pereira.
His powerful takedowns and top control, as well as his underrated striking, could genuinely test 'Poatan' in ways he hasn't been tested before.
More to the point, Ankalaev has more than earned his shot at the gold. He's unbeaten since 2018 in a run of 12 fights and could well have become champion had the judges not strangely declared his clash with Jan Blachowicz a draw.
However, rather than offer him the next shot at Pereira, he's instead been matched with Aleksandar Rakic in late October.
To make matters worse for him, just days after that fight was announced, Pereira's next bout was announced as being against Khalil Rountree earlier in the same month.
Quite why Dana White and company overlooked Ankalaev is anyone's guess, particularly as it has since emerged that the Dagestani was never offered the fight with 'Poatan'.
Essentially, it feels like the promotion is avoiding putting Ankalaev into a title bout, which is bizarre given that his last fight saw him violently stop Johnny Walker.
Whether we'll ever see Ankalaev vs. Pereira remains a question mark, then, and whether the Dagestani can ever stop being overlooked is a question mark, too.