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Preserving an undefeated record in the UFC is no small feat. Winning a single fight in the world's top MMA organization is more than most fighters achieve so it is incredibly rare for a fighter to earn a title bout without a single loss on his record.
That is not to say that it doesn't happen. Khabib Nurmagomedov famously went several steps further, winning the belt and remaining undefeated throughout the entirety of his career.
There are several other MMA greats, however, who were not able to keep a spotless record all the way up to their first title shot. Jon Jones, Jose Aldo and Demetrious Johnson all had losses on their record before fighting for gold.
In today's UFC, there are no undefeated champions besides interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane, whose record will come under enormous threat when he eventually faces Francis Ngannou for the undisputed belt at UFC 270.
With that being said, there are a number of undefeated contenders that have climbed up the rankings in 2021. Here are five fighters who might just be able to earn a title shot in 2022 whilst keeping their perfect records in tact:
#5. Bryce Mitchell
'Thug Nasty' Bryce Mitchell is currently the No.11-ranked fighter in the UFC's featherweight division. While he did suffer a loss on The Ultimate Fighter season 27, his professional record still stands at a perfect 14-0.
Mitchell is a dangerous submission specialist, tapping out nine of his opponents and eight of those within the first round. He's also a colorful character, famously requesting to fight in camo shorts and repeatedly mentioning how he enjoys eating squirrel meat in interviews.
While Mitchell is still some way from the title, he could only be two big wins away from making a case, particularly if Max Holloway decides not to pursue the belt. While the featherweight division boasts some big names, many of these stars are currently on losing streaks, leaving a lack of contenders at the top.
If Mitchell were to convincingly submit a top ten and then top five fighter in his next two bouts, he could quite conceivably be the next man up. While this may be unlikely, Mitchell does have great potential as the 27-year-old flashed in his rare twister submission victory over Matt Sayles in 2019.
#4. Sean Brady
Sean Brady's perfect record is moments away from its biggest threat yet as he is due to fight UFC veteran Michael Chiesa later today. Should the No.14-ranked contender get the win, he would be well placed for a big year in 2022.
Brady's record currently stands at 14-0 and he's gone 4-0 thus far in the UFC. He has a well-rounded style to his game and that is reflected by his record that has three knockouts, four submissions and seven decision wins.
Being in the welterweight division may also work in his favor, as dominant champion Kamaru Usman is expected to beat all-comers. The UFC may be intrigued by an undefeated contender like Brady in the later stages of 2022.
#3. Casey O'Neill
Casey O'Neill is just starting to pop up on UFC fans' radar as she has now finished all of her three opponents in the organization. These wins have taken her record to 8-0 and she is another fighter who seems poised for a big 2022.
O'Neill is also likely to benefit from the fact she competes in the UFC women's flyweight division, which features another very dominant champion in Valentina Shevchenko. A fresh contender for the title could again provide an appealing option.
Furthermore, O'Neill defeated the champion's sister Antonina Shevchenko in her last fight. She also has the chance to pick up another high-profile win when she faces Roxanne Modafferi in the latter's retirement fight.
If O'Neill were to win that fight in February and pick up another win over a top-ranked contender later in the year, perhaps she could challenge for the title towards the end of 2022.
#2. Askar Askarov
Askar Askarov is the highest contender on this list as he is currently the No.2-ranked fighter in the UFC flyweight division. He may only need to pick up one more win before he is in a position to fight for the title.
Askarov has 14 wins and one draw in his fifteen professional fights thus far. While each of his fights in the UFC have gone to a decision, Askarov finished every opponent prior to that with four knockouts and seven submissions.
Askarov also has history with current UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno. Askarov fought Moreno to a draw in his UFC debut in Moreno's home country of Mexico.
Should Askarov make weight (he didn't last time out) and win his next fight, he will likely be the number one contender for whoever is champion at that time. If that proves to be the case, look for Askarov to fight for the belt in the summer of 2022.
#1. Khamzat Chimaev
Khamzat Chimaev may have the most momentum of any fighter in the UFC today. The 10-0 star is fresh off his dominant first-round submission victory over Li Jingliang at UFC 267 and looks set for another monster year in 2022.
While Chimaev is only ranked No.10 in the division, he could quite feasibly be just one win away from fighting for the belt. If he were to win a rumored upcoming bout with Gilbert Burns, he could conceivably challenge for the title in mid-2022.
Usman will have to beat his likely next challenger Leon Edwards first. Should both Usman and Chimaev win their next bouts, they could collide in one of the most anticipated fights in recent history next year.
Poll : Who will fight for gold first?
Askarov
Chimaev
68 votes
