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#4. Rafael dos Anjos
Another highly skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist whose original approach to MMA was implementing a pressure-based grappling game, Rafael dos Anjos once lacked the well-rounded skill-set necessary to crack the very top of the UFC lightweight division. Thus, in 2012, he left his old gym in favor of making the switch to Kings MMA, where Rafael Cordeiro sought to turn him into a competent striker just as he had with Fabricio Werdum.
Cordeiro proved more than successful. 'RDA' evolved into a relentless pressure fighter who used sweeping strikes to attack the surrounding space his opponents used to maneuver around the cage, crowding them before sandwiching them between himself and the fence en route to brutalizing them. After mastering Cordeiro's style, dos Anjos shook off the memory of his lopsided loss to future UFC lightweight great Khabib Nurmagomedov in pursuit of his own glory.
The Brazilian rode a 3-fight win streak into a title fight with the then reigning champion Anthony Pettis. 'Showtime' was a favorite to win the matchup, but 'RDA' neutralized him by depriving him of the space he needed to throw kicks. It was a dominant showing that earned the Brazilian the lightweight title. 'RDA' went on to successfully defend his title against Donald Cerrone, TKO'ing 'Cowboy' before unexpectedly dropping the belt to Eddie Alvarez in his subsequent bout.
#3. Francis Ngannou
In 2018, Francis Ngannou was at a crossroads in his UFC career. He had just challenged Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title, losing the matchup in a manner that highlighted the Cameroonian's inexperience in MMA. Afterward, an uncharacteristically timid Ngannou put forth an impotent performance in his infamous low-volume bout with Derrick Lewis at UFC 226. Feeling as though he was no longer progressing at the MMA Factory, Ngannou made a change.
He made the switch to Xtreme Couture, earning the ire of former coach Fernand Lopez. Nevertheless, 'The Predator' was committed to his decision and it paid dividends. Ngannou snapped the first and only losing streak of his career by amassing 4 straight wins, 2 of which were first-round knockouts of former UFC champions Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez. Finally, 'The Predator' had earned his rematch against the then reigning champion Stipe Miocic.
The ensuing bout was nothing like their first affair. Miocic's attempts at wrestling the Cameroonian were thwarted at every turn, with Ngannou even managing a counter-trip against the American. Before the first minute of the second round, Ngannou had knocked Miocic out cold to capture the title he claimed his former camp had failed to prepare him for.
Xtreme Couture proved so successful that even in Ngannou's subsequent bout with Ciryl Gane, the Cameroonian secured a win by implementing a highly uncharacteristic wrestling-heavy gameplan despite his torn MCL and injured ACL.
