BEST UFC NEW COMERS 2021

1 – MICHAEL CHANDLER

Michael Chandler is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2009, Chandler first gained notoriety when he began competing for Bellator MMA from 2010 to 2020. There, Chandler became a three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion and was the winner of the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament, and held a promotional win-loss record of 18–5. Since arriving at the UFC in 2020, Chandler has been challenged for the UFC Lightweight Championship and also knocked out top contender Dan Hooker. He also competed in collegiate wrestling out of the University of Missouri, where he earned NCAA Division I All-American honors. As of December 2021, he is #5 in the UFC lightweight rankings.

Chandler made his promotional debut against Dan Hooker at UFC 257 on January 24, 2021. He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.

2 – PADDY PIMBLETT

If you didn’t know who Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett was when he was signed to the UFC. The hype train kicked into high gear to take care of that problem in the lead-up to his September debut against Luigi Vendramini. And while he had some rocky moments early on, the Liverpool star ended matters at 4:25 of the first round. Earning a bonus and the unofficial title of “Next Big Thing” in the UFC. He is the newest attractive prospect in the UFC and his future is looking bright.

3 – CHRIS CURTIS

Chris “Action-Man” Curtis is an American professional mixed martial artist in the UFC middleweight division. After not getting a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018. Chris Curtis walked away from the sport on two occasions. Only to return to chase his dream of competing in the Octagon. In 2021, he got his shot and more than made the most of it, knocking out top middleweight prospects Phil Hawes and Brendan Allen to cement his place on the roster and let the world know that he belonged.

Following an upset win in his octagon debut. The Cincinnati, Ohio native pulled off another improbable victory at UFC Vegas 44 on Saturday night. He blasted Brendan Allen with a nasty body shot followed by an overhand right that spelled the beginning of the end. After Allen was wobbled, Curtis blitzed him with a series of knee strikes. That eventually dropped him to the ground as the fight was stopped at 1:58 into the second round.

Curtis is now 2-0 in the UFC with a remarkable 6-0 record in 2021.

4 – CASEY O’NEIL

Casey Cameron O’Neil is a Scottish-Australian mixed martial artist (MMA). She currently competes in the Flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of October 4, 2021, she is #15 in the UFC women’s flyweight rankings.

In her UFC debut, O’Neill won with a second-round knockout victory over Shana Dobson at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis on February 20, 2021. O’Neill faced Lara Procópio on June 19, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige. She won the bout after choking Procópio unconscious in the third round via rear-naked choke. O’Neill faced Antonina Shevchenko on October 2, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker. She won the fight via technical knockout in round two

5 – ALEX PEREIRA

Alexsandro Pereira is a Brazilian kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He has competed in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, since September 2021. Most notably, he is the former GLORY Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion. Also competed in promotions such as Kunlun Fight, SUPERKOMBAT Fighting Championship and It’s Showtime.

As of February 2021, in kickboxing, he is ranked the #1 middleweight, the light-heavyweight. and the #6 pound-for-pound fighter in the world by Combat Press. He first entered the middleweight rankings in October 2019, and the pound for pound rankings in October 2018. He’s been ranked in the middleweight top ten by Combat Press ever since the rankings were first introduced in September 2014.

On September 3, 2021, Pereira signed with the UFC. And was booked to make his promotional debut against Andreas Michailidis at 268. He won the fight via TKO early in round two after knocking Michailidis down with a flying knee. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award. Pereira is scheduled to face Bruno Silva on March 12, 2022, at Fight Night 204.