Top 5 UFC fighters from Australia & New Zealand in 2022
The UFC is the proud owner of one of the most diverse talent pools in sports history. Fighters of all shapes and sizes, backgrounds, cultures, varying fighting styles, and personalities compete under the same banner.
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Over the last two years, the world has witnessed a lot of Kiwi and Australian fighters make their mark. A heavyweight contender drinking beer from shoes, a rivalry between the two best middleweights, a featherweight fighter looking to set records -- the athletes from down under are rising up and taking the UFC by storm.
Beyond good vibes and neat accents, these fighters are some of the most skilled in the world right now. It's also worth noting that these areas have had stringent rules and regulations to work around these past few years, which adds to how incredible it is that they've been able to perform as well as they have recently.
As Oceania takes over the UFC and wins fans over, we take note of a handful of athletes that could make the most out of the year. Here are the top 5 fighters from Australia & New Zealand in 2022:
#5. Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France is one of many fighters who took the initiative to make the flyweight division as exciting as possible. 'Don't Blink' recently handed Askar Askarov his first professional loss and did it with some finesse. The 29-year-old from New Zealand showed his composure in a first round that saw him in some very hot water.
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However, his striking prowess and grappling defense fetched him not just a victory but a potential title shot. The road to Askarov wasn't easy, as he was fed the heavy-handed former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt in late 2021. Already doing the best he can to make 2022 his breakout year, the looming championship gold is within grasp later in the year.
Although the flyweight division is experiencing a bit of turbulence with a potential tetralogy between the incumbent champion and number one contender, Kara-France has done enough to sit out and fight the winner of that bout closer to the end of the year. However, should he choose to stay active, he's only got exciting and winnable fights amongst the top five to look forward to.