5 reasons to watch UFC Fight Night 136

#5 One of the UFC’s most underrated fighters is in action

Rustam Khabilov might be the UFC's most underrated fighter

Given that it’s been over three years now since we saw him on the main card of a UFC event, fans would be excused if they’d entirely forgotten about Russian Lightweight Rustam Khabilov. But ‘The Tiger’ – who was once considered one of the hottest up-and-comers in the division – is back in action on Saturday and he’s looking for his 6th victory in a row, which would surely land him back in title contention.

Admittedly, Khabilov’s style isn’t the most exciting to watch at times – a wrestling-based fighter who uses his powerful takedowns and ground control to win his fights, ‘The Tiger’ hasn’t finished an opponent since 2013 – but don’t forget that this is the same fighter who ragdolled Vinc Pichel to the point where he was TKO’d by a German suplex; the same fighter who once stunned Jorge Masvidal – now a Welterweight contender – with a spinning wheel kick.

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His opponent on Saturday – Kajan Johnson – will almost certainly be fighting with his back to the wall given he lost his last fight by submission (to a fellow Russian in Islam Makhachev) and is heavily involved with an attempt to unionize UFC fighters, and that could make for an exciting fight. But it’s Khabilov who should be able to win, and if he can do it impressively – especially with a finish – then he could find himself in the top 15 come next week.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Vikshith R