![Islam Makhachev [Image Courtesy: @islam_makhachev on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/08/f50f3-16291340862161-800.jpg)
![Islam Makhachev [Image Courtesy: @islam_makhachev on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%205.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%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. Beneil Dariush - UFC lightweight
Beneil Dariush came into the UFC with a reputation for being an elite ground fighter with a plethora of submissions in his arsenal. However, after losing several fights by KO, Dariush seemed to reinvent himself. He still has the wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills as an option, but now also seems more than happy to engage in a complete firefight.
His fights against Drakkar Klose and Scott Holtzman are perfect examples of this. In the fight against Klose, Dariush got badly rocked, which led Klose to attempt to swarm him. Rather than crumble like he may have earlier in his career, Dariush embraced the war and sat in the pocket, swinging back. He caught Klose, quickly followed up and knocked him out.
The finish over Scott Holtzman was equally impressive. One does not normally attribute spinning finishes to fighters with grappling backgrounds, but that is exactly what Dariush did. As Holtzman stepped in, Dariush landed a viscious spinning backfist, resulting in a brutal walk off KO.
Now ranked in the top five of the lightweight division, expect even more explosive performances from Beneil Dariush.
#3. Stipe Miocic - UFC heavyweight
Stipe Miocic is an interesting anamoly in the UFC's heavyweight division. In a weight class that is nearly entirely populated by specialists (e.g. Blaydes - Wrestling, Spivac - Submissions, and Lewis - Knockouts), Stipe Moicic is a well rounded fighter who can compete wherever the fight takes place.
However, due to not holding the one punch knockout power of Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis, Miocic occasionally gets over-looked when discussing the best strikers in the division.
This is of course completely unfair, with Miocic's boxing being some of the best in the entire UFC. One only has to look at his title-winning victory against Fabricio Werdum to get an idea of just how good Miocic's striking truly is.
Miocic was able to knock the former champ out with a counter hook whilst moving backwards. This is an incredibly uncommon way to finish a fight regardless of weight class.
