Top 5 UFC Fighters of 2018
2018 has without a doubt one of the best and most exciting years for the UFC and the world of MMA.
The premier promotion celebrated it's 25th anniversary this year and delivered stacked cards throughout the year.
We got to witness some truly epic and historic moments and also some intense and entertaining contests.
Be it Daniel Cormier's historic win over the longest reigning Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, or the biggest fight in UFC history between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor; 2018 was a good year for the UFC and particularly for some fighters who have risen to super stardom in the span on a year.
In a year filled with excitement, some fighters truly outshined the rest to deliver memorable performances and historic moments. Here is our list of the Top-5 UFC fighters of 2018.
#5 Khabib Nurmagomedov
Starting off our list at no. 5 is the Russian sensation, the UFC Lightweight Champion and the No.2 ranked pound-for-pound fighter, Khabib "The Eagle" Nurmagomedov.
2018 has without a doubt been the best year in Khabib's legendary career. In a span of 12 months, the Dagestani Sambo phenom has gone from a fighter only well known to the hardcore fan-base to a global superstar.
Looking back at the year Khabib has had, we should look back to his fight with Edson Barboza at UFC 219 on 30th December 2017.
Before the Barboza fight, Khabib had been a fighter fighting on the undercards of PPV events or in small Fight Night events.
His dominant victory over Edson Barboza on the co-main event in one of the biggest cards of 2017 sky-rocketed Khabib's stock and instantly made him the No. 1 contender at Lightweight.
Khabib started the year with a fight scheduled against the then interim Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson. With Ferguson having been forced to pull out of their fight due to a nasty knee injury, Khabib faced Al Iaquinta at the shortest notice of 24 hrs in the main event of UFC 223 on April 7th. Khabib became a UFC champion with a win over Iaquinta; and the biggest fight in UFC history followed as the Dagestani Sambo phenom faced the biggest superstars in the history of MMA, Conor McGregor.
Khabib and Conor fought at UFC 229 on October 6th and "The Eagle" left no doubt in anyone's minds as to who is the King at 155 lbs.
Khabib fought the best fight of his life to dominate and submit McGregor in the fourth round and capped off his amazing year as the Undisputed Lightweight Champion and the No. 2 ranked Pound for Pound fighter in the world.
From fighting at undercards to headlining and winning the biggest fights in UFC history, Khabib made a statement and has become one of the biggest stars in the UFC. As Khabib famously says, "What time is it?! It's Khabib Time".