![UFC women's flyweight Casey O'Neil [Image Courtesy: @kingcaseymma on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/09/bb689-16330129879245-800.jpg)
![UFC women's flyweight Casey O'Neil [Image Courtesy: @kingcaseymma on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%205.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Following an electric night of fights at UFC 266, the UFC returns to the Apex this weekend for UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker. The headlining bout is set to be a light heavyweight thriller between former title challenger Thiago 'Marreta' Santos and the always-entertaining Johnny Walker.
An intriguing co-main event will see fan favorite Kevin Holland return. He'll face 10-2 middleweight prospect Kyle Daukaus. An intriguing clash between Aspen Ladd and Macy Chiasson, as well as Niko Price vs. Alex Oliveira, will no doubt have piqued the interest of many fans.
However, hidden on the event's undercard are a number of intriguing fighters that fans would do well to keep an eye on. In the following list, we break down five under the radar fighters that are worth keeping an eye on at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker.
#5. Johnny Eduardo - UFC bantamweight
Johnny Eduardo is a name that may not be familiar to some newer UFC fans. However, to the old school, Eduardo is known as a fun action fighter with surprising power for a bantaweight.
He has not competed since 2018, when he was submitted by Nathaniel Wood. Eduardo has previously competed against some of the division's best, including current champion Aljamain Sterling.
Eduardo has now been in the UFC since 2011 and will be hoping to utilize all of his veteran savvy this weekend when he takes on Alejandro Perez in the opening fight of the night.
#4. Jamie Mullarkey - UFC lightweight
Jamie Mullarkey, a teammate of UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, is set to face off against Devonte Smith this weekend. Mullarkey is currently coming off a highlight reel KO against Khama Worthy at UFC 260, which marked his first win in the UFC octagon.
Mullarkey will face another hard-hitting striker at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker in the form of Devonte Smith. The fight truly promises to be a war. Mullarkey also possesses exceptional durability, which, when paired with his one punch KO power, makes him a legitimate problem for anyone in the 155-pound division.
#3. Joe Solecki - UFC lightweight
Joe Solecki will serve as one half of UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker's featured preliminary bout. He'll take on UFC veteran Jared 'Flash' Gordon. Solecki is only three fights into his UFC career, but he has shown off a slick Brazilian jiu-jitsu game that could truly pose a problem to a large number of fighters in his division.
He picked up an impressive rear-naked choke submission finish against Austin Hubbard last year, becoming the first man to finish 'Thud' inside the UFC. More recently, Solecki was able to overcome an all-time UFC legend in Jim Miller.
Another win here for Solecki and he may well be looking at a ranked opponent next. That is not to say Gordon will be a walk in the park for Solecki, but at the same time, it could be the perfect stage for the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist to truly showcase his skills as an MMA fighter.
#2. Alexander Hernandez - UFC lightweight
UFC lightweight Alexander Hernandez admittedly walks the line between the status of niche and mainstream. He truly appeared to be growing a fan base back in 2018 following his knockout victory against Beneil Dariush on his UFC debut.
Hernandez followed that up with a win over Olivier Aubin-Mercier, before getting brutally KO'd by Donald Cerrone. Since that loss, Hernandez's career has somewhat plateued, with a record of 2-2 in his last four fights.
He was initially set to take on Leonardo Santos this weekend. However, Santos has since dropped out and been replaced by Mike Breeden, who will make his UFC debut. Hernandez is a heavy favorite in this fight, and he may well pick up yet another highlight reel stoppage.
#1. Casey O'Neill - Women's flyweight
'King' Casey O'Neill is an undefeated women's flyweight who currently holds a 7-0 record. She already has two wins inside the UFC, both of which ended within the distance.
A brutal TKO against Shana Dobson marked her UFC debut. A follow-up fight saw her catch Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Lara Procopio in a clinical rear-naked choke submission.
This weekend, O'Neil' will face off against Antonina Shevchenko in what will be her highest profile fight to date. A win on Saturday will likely see O'Neill wake up on Tuesday with a ranking and put her on track to eventually challenge the other Shevchenko sister, who currently holds the title.
