5 UFC fighters who may be better than the champion in their weight class
It’s probably safe to say that for any fighter, claiming gold in the UFC would represent the pinnacle of a career. For the most part, the promotion’s champions are recognized as the best fighters in the world.
The UFC currently has some outstanding champions that seem almost unbeatable. However, in some divisions, it’s arguable that the champion may not actually be the best fighter competing in the weight class.
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This might seem crazy. After all, anyone who’s claimed gold in the octagon is clearly at the top of their game. Nevertheless, it may be the case that the best fighters just haven’t had their opportunity yet and may well do in the near future.
With that in mind, here are five UFC fighters who may be better than the current champion in their weight class.
#5. Askar Askarov – UFC flyweight contender
Following the departure of former champions Demetrious Johnson and Henry Cejudo, the UFC’s flyweight division has been ruled over by two fighters – current champ Deiveson Figueiredo and former champ Brandon Moreno.
The two men famously split bouts in both 2020 and 2021, with their first meeting being a draw. Moreno then choked out Figueiredo to claim the title in mid-2021, before the Brazilian outpointed ‘The Assassin Baby’ to regain the gold earlier this year.
Based on this, both Moreno and ‘Deus Da Guerra’ probably have a fair claim to being the top flyweight in the promotion. However, a third fighter may actually warrant that label, too. That fighter is Askar Askarov.
The native of Dagestan debuted in the UFC octagon in 2019, bringing an unbeaten 11-0 record with him. Coincidentally, that debut came against Moreno.
The fight was a back-and-forth one, with Askarov’s takedowns and grappling skills giving him an early lead on the scorecards, before Moreno produced a stirring comeback to take the bout the distance.
The result could easily have gone either way, but in the end, it was declared a split draw in what was probably a fair call from the judges. It’s arguable, though, that with more octagon experience, Askarov would’ve found a way to win.
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So, could he also beat Figueiredo? Well, since that draw, he’s reeled off three wins in the octagon, one of which came against high-level contender Alexandre Pantoja, who is essentially a slightly lesser version of ‘Deus Da Guerra'.
Given that Pantoja was well beaten by ‘The Bullet’, it’s probably safe to say that Askarov would at least stand a chance of beating the current champion. Given he’s the best wrestler in the division, it’s definitely arguable that he is, in fact, the best 125lber on the planet right now, too.