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#4. Yair Rodriguez – UFC featherweight contender
When he first burst into the UFC back in 2014 after he won the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America, the likes of Joe Rogan were quick to label Yair Rodriguez one of the most exciting prospects to come through in a long time.
For the most part, those people were right. In the seven years that have followed Rodriguez’s octagon debut, he’s been responsible for some of the wildest fights in the featherweight division.
Sure, ‘El Pantera’ hasn’t fought for the featherweight title, and he’s suffered through lengths of inactivity due to injuries, spats with the promotion and various other issues. However, his UFC record of 8-2-1 stands up against anyone’s at 145lbs, and right now he’s ranked at No.3 in the weight class.
The aspect of Rodriguez’s style that makes him so exciting is clearly his willingness to throw crazy, low-percentage strikes with little to no regard for his own safety. However, unlike many of his peers, ‘El Pantera’ makes those strikes work – as he did in his knockouts of Chan Sung Jung and Andre Fili.
Whether Rodriguez can ever make it to the very top of the promotion is a question mark, but even if he doesn’t, every time he steps into the octagon he’s a must-see attraction.
#3. Giga Chikadze – UFC featherweight contender
One of the newer prospects to break through in the featherweight division in recent years, Giga Chikadze has quickly established himself as not only one of the best fighters in the division, but the most exciting too.
Living up to his nickname of ‘The Ninja’, Chikadze has used his wild striking style to put together a run of 7-0 in the octagon, and has steadily climbed the ranks to put himself on the cusp of title contention.
Prior to entering the UFC, the native of Georgia had an extensive kickboxing career, competing in the world-renowned GLORY promotion. And thus far into his UFC career, he’s used that striking experience to the best of his ability.
Most impressively, Chikadze has also broken the pattern when it comes to being able to finish his opponents. Facing lower-level foes in his early UFC days, the Georgian went the distance in his first four octagon appearances.
However, as the ability of his foes has increased, so has Chikadze’s ability to take them out. He finished both Edson Barboza and Cub Swanson – his toughest tests to date – inside the distance in 2021, defeating both men with savage kicks.
Next weekend sees Chikadze face off against Calvin Kattar in his second headliner for the promotion, and if he wins he could well find himself with a title shot. Even if he doesn’t, though, he’ll remain one of the most exciting 145lbers in the company.
