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#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.
