Women’s:
Rose Namajunas 115 (11-4): Thug Rose has quickly become one of the most beloved and respected champions of all time. Her wars with Joanna and Weili have cemented her place in UFC history, her pro and UFC debuts are ironic, to say the least, as she both won and lost by the same move and her first victory came on the undercard of a Carla Esparza headlined a card in Invicta.
Pro debut: 3rd round RNC victory VS Emily Kagan (2013)
UFC: 3rd round RNC Loss VS Carla Esparza (TUF 20 finale)
Valentina Shevchenko 125 (22-3): “Bullet” has taken the women’s 125-pound division and ran through it as her nickname indicates. Valentina has now racked up 6 title defences and much like every other GOAT that has held the strap is beginning to look like she’s out of challenges. Valentina is one of the most talented and intellectual fighters on this planet, no wonder she makes fighting look easy.
Pro: 2nd Round Tko victory vs Eliza Aidaralieva (2003)
UFC: Split Dec victory VS Sarah Kaufman (UFC on Fox Cerrone vs Dos Anjos 2)
Juliana Pena 135 (11-4): Talk about an upset. Juliana Pena destroying Amanda Nunes feels reminiscent of Matt Serra KO’ing GSP, or Weidman vs Silva 1. The Venezuelan vixen has come a long way since winning TUF, battling injuries and becoming a mom. She is slated to coach TUF alongside Amanda, and the rematch is sure to be FIRE (insert emoji).
PRO: 1st round RNC victory VS Raylene Harvey (2009)
UFC: 1st Round TKO victory vs Jessica Rakoczy (TUF 18 finale)
Men’s:
Deiveson Figueiredo 125 (21-2-1): 13 UFC fights and only 5 decisions, the man is known as the god of war has been entertaining fans since his 2017 debut, a division that was ruled by mighty mouse for years, got an injection once this man was crowned, he talks the talk and walks the walk.
PRO: 1st round Armbar victory VS Aluiso Ferreira (2012)
UFC: 1st round TKO victory VS Marco Beltran (UFC 212)
Aljamain Sterling 135 (20-3): Funkmaster is currently riding a 6 fight win streak that has seen him take out names like Cory Sandhagen, Pedro Munhoz, and Jimmie Rivera. If you’re a fan of MMA you don’t need to be told how he won his belt, but if you watch any of Aljo’s fights you know he gets better each time. The bad blood vs Yan will make for an even better rematch.
PRO: UD vs Sergio Da Silva (2011)
UFC: Decision victory VS Cody Gibson (UFC 170)
Alexander Volkanovski 145 (23-1): Alex gets my vote as the Australian GOAT, since debuting in 2016 the current Featherweight champ has been on a 10 fight unbeaten streak while taking out names like Jose Aldo, Brian Ortega, and most famously stopping the blessed express Max Holloway who was looking like a world-beater.
PRO: UD victory VS Gerhard Voigt (2012)
UFC: 2nd round TKO victory VS Yusuke Kasuya (Fight Night Whittaker VS Brunson)
Charles Oliveira 155 (32-8-1): AC/DC once said “It’s a long way to the top”, and that is exactly what it’s been for the lightweight champ. Nothing has come easy as he has faced multiple setbacks whether in training or competition. But Charles never relented and continued to evolve each time, he is now the best lightweight in the world.
PRO: 1st round RNC victory vs Jackson Pontes (2008)
UFC: 1st round Armbar VS Darren Elkins (Jones vs Matyushenko)
Kamaru Usman 170 (20-1): Kamaru is making his run at GSP for the greatest welterweight ever. He has lapped 3 of his greatest rivals ever when he beat Woodley for the belt and went on to beat Covington and Masvidal twice. If Chimaev doesn’t get a fight against Usman then there might be no other option than Dana shelling out 100 mill so he can face Izzy at 185.
PRO: 2nd round TKO victory over David Glover (2012)
UFC: 2nd round Arm Triangle victory VS Hyder Hassan (TUF 21 Finale)
Israel Adesanya 185 (22-1): Izzy is consistently compared to Anderson Silva and rightly so, he is a master of striking who makes his opponents look like amateurs, has never been stopped as a pro (MMA), and has faced much tougher and athletic competition that that of Silva (beat Silva). Unless a significant challenger shows up, don’t be surprised to see Stylebender back in 205.
PRO: 1st round TKO victory VS James Griffiths (2012)
UFC: 2nd round TKO victory over Rob Wilkinson (UFC 221)
Glover Teixeira 205 (33-7): At 42 years of age, many thought Glover was going to be nothing more than another journeyman/gatekeeper who would get close but not have that bit of juice needed. Well look at him now, after failing vs Jon Jones in 2014, Glover reinvented himself and submitted Polish power to become champ 7 years after his title loss.
PRO: 2nd round TKO loss VS Eric Schwartz (2002)
UFC: 1st round Arm Triangle VS Kyle Kingsbury (UFC 146)
Francis Ngannou 265 (17-3): The world’s scariest man and hardest hitter extended his win streak last month while showing an evolution in his wrestling game. The predator is one of the most inspirational come up stories and continues to showcase what hard work and dedication can get you in life. The man who nearly decapitated Alistair Overeem is looking to recover from knee surgery and hopefully face long time LHW champ Jon Jones.
PRO: 1st round Submission victory VS Rachid Benzina (2013)
UFC: 2nd round KO victory VS Luis Henrique (Dos Anjos vs Cerrone 2)
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