'%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)
#4. Magomed Ankalaev – UFC light heavyweight contender
Arguably the most underappreciated fighter in the UFC light heavyweight division is Magomed Ankalaev. While fighters such as Aleksandar Rakic, Johnny Walker and Jiri Prochazka have earned plenty of plaudits, the Dagestani fighter has somehow flown under the radar.
Ankalaev might not get much attention from UFC fans, but there’s no disputing his talent inside the octagon. After suffering a last-gasp loss to Paul Craig in his UFC debut, Ankalaev has reeled off six straight wins in impressive fashion.
It isn’t like the Dagestani isn’t exciting to watch, either. Four of his six wins have come via stoppage, with his knockouts of Ion Cutelaba and Dalcha Lungiambula being terrifyingly brutal.
Essentially, Ankalaev might be the most well-rounded fighter in the division. Like his countrymen Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, he’s a phenomenal wrestler with powerful takedowns, but he also possesses brutal striking skills to go with it.
Fighters like Makhachev, as well as Khamzat Chimaev and Zabit Magomedsharipov have all been labeled 'the new Khabib'. Why the same label hasn’t been thrown at Ankalaev remains a mystery.
This weekend sees Ankalaev face off against former UFC title challenger Volkan Oezdemir. If he can win impressively, he may not be flying under the radar for much longer. For now, though, he remains widely underappreciated.
#3. Francisco Trinaldo – UFC welterweight contender
The UFC’s roster might be huge these days – bloated, even – but it’s becoming ever-trickier for a fighter to stay on that roster for a lengthy period of time. Every week, it seems that the UFC cuts a number of fighters who’ve lost a handful of fights at recent events.
That’s why current welterweight fighter Francisco Trinaldo deserves far more appreciation from UFC fans.
Despite never quite climbing into contention for either the UFC lightweight or welterweight titles, ‘Massaranduba’ has been able to keep afloat in the promotion since June 2012.
During this time, Trinaldo has stepped into the octagon on 24 occasions, winning 17 of his fights while losing just seven. It’s not the greatest record ever, but it’s definitely not one worth sneezing at either.
‘Massaranduba’ has also proven himself to be an exciting fighter for the most part. His finishes of Jai Herbert, Evan Dunham and Chad Laprise were both highly memorable and highly violent.
More to the point, when Trinaldo made his UFC debut in 2012 against Delson Heleno, he was already 33 years old and probably should’ve been coming to the end of his athletic prime. Somehow though, despite being 43 years old now, he still seems as athletically gifted and explosive as ever.
Add in the fact that he’s the lone survivor of the first season of TUF: Brazil, and it’s safe to say that ‘Massaranduba’ deserves much more appreciation than he gets from UFC fans.
