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#4 UFC lightweight Nasrat Haqparast
In a bit of unique matchmaking, eighth-ranked Dan Hooker will face off against the unranked Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266. 'The Hangman' has lost two on the trot, with his most recent loss coming to Michael Chandler at UFC 257. It seems like a rebound fight for the Kiwi, but Haqparast is anything but a pushover.
A man who debuted in the UFC in October 2017, the 26-year-old has won five of his seven fights in the promotion and is well on the rise in the lightweight division. He has two bonuses to his name and holds an impressive 13-3 record.
Hooker himself has acknowledged the threat Haqparast possesses, having claimed that the German fighter has the same skillset as several ranked fighters. We could see Haqparast break into the UFC lightweight rankings if he manages to defeat Hooker, assuming he sorts out his visa issues to make it to UFC 266.
#3 UFC women's flyweight Manon Fiorot
We've already discussed numerous talented strikers who are competing at UFC 266, but the card just doesn't seem to run out of them. Manon Fiorot has had a stellar start to her UFC career with knockout wins over Victoria Leonardo and Tabatha Ricci.
An extremely dangerous striker with extensive experience in karate and Muay Thai, Fiorot appears to have what it takes to compete with the best flyweights in the world despite only eight professional fights under her belt. 'The Beast' faces Mayra Bueno Silva, a Contender Series alum with four UFC fights.
Fiorot is already talked about as one of the few fighters with the striking pedigree and well-roundedness to challenge champion Valentina Shevchenko, who fights on the same card. If the France native can churn out another highlight-reel knockout, she could steal the show at UFC 266 and campaign for an early title shot.
