David Larsen 
@adminThe year 2021 saw some amazing fighters rise to the occasion and take the spotlight which they always deserve. Many underrated fighters rose to the limelight but it was some fighters who turned the mixed martial world on its axis. Here is the list of fighters who impressed every one of us this year.
5- KEVIN HOLLAND
Kevin Holland is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Middleweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 2015, Holland has also competed for Bellator MMA, King of the Cage, and Legacy Fighting Alliance. As of December 20, 2021, he is no. 14 in the UFC middleweight rankings. Holland faced Derek Brunson at UFC on ESPN 21. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Holland faced Marvin Vettori, replacing an injured Darren Till, on April 10, 2021, at UFC on ABC 2. With his second main event in three weeks, Holland tied the record for shortest turnaround between two main events. Though he managed to hurt Vettori with punches a few times, Holland was dominated on the ground for the majority of the fight and lost by unanimous decision. Holland faced Kyle Daukaus at UFC Fight Night 193. Early in the bout, a clash of heads occurred, resulting in Holland briefly being knocked unconscious. Though he continued to fight, Holland would be submitted via rear-naked choke moments later. The fight was later declared a no-contest.
Though Kevin Holland has lost his fights he is evolving as a fighter and keeps getting better every fight.
4- KHAMZAT CHIMAEV
Khamzat Khizarovich Chimaev is a Russian-born Swedish professional mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler who competes in the welterweight and middleweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He formerly competed in Brave Combat Federation (Brave CF). In wrestling, Chimaev is a three-time Swedish National champion. Chimaev made his promotional debut in a middleweight bout against John Phillips, replacing Duško Todorović, on July 16, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 13. He won the fight via submission in the second round.
On March 1, 2021, he announced on Instagram that he was retiring from the sport due to lung complications caused by COVID-19. Dana White later came out and said Chimaev was not retired and was just emotional after experiencing the effects of prednisone for his lungs during a training session. Chimaev faced Li Jingliang on October 30, 2021, at UFC 267. He won the bout via rear-naked choke submission in round one. He has gone 4-0 in the UFC since his debut last year.
3 – JIRI PROCHAZKA
Jiri Prochazka is a Czech professional mixed martial artist and former amateur Muay Thai kickboxer. He currently competes in the light heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Jiri is the inaugural and former Rizin FF Light Heavyweight Champion. and also the inaugural and former Czech GCF Light Heavyweight Champion. Prochazka is ranked world top no.5 in light heavyweight by Fight Matrix on July 1, 2021.
Prochazka was expected to face former two–time UFC Light Heavyweight Championship title challenger Dominick Reyes at UFC Fight Night 186 to serve as the event headliner. However, in late January, it was reported that Reyes was pulled from the fight, citing injury, and the bout was rescheduled for May 1 at UFC on ESPN. In a back and forth fight, Procházka overwhelmed Reyes with his volume and knocked Reyes unconscious with a spinning back elbow in the second round.
2 – DEREK BRUNSON
Derek Brunson is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Middleweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Brunson faced Kevin Holland on March 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 21. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Brunson faced Darren Till on September 4, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till. He won the fight via rear-naked choke submission in round three.
He is one of the fighters who has dropped his losing streak and has climbed up the ranking every quickly. His last win over Darren Till was a big upset he socred and now has launched himself to the top of the division.
1 – ISLAM MAKHACHEV
Islam Makhachev is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and former Sambo competitor. He currently competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Hailing from the Republic of Dagestan in Russia, Makhachev was the combat sambo world champion at 74 kilograms in 2016. As of November 2, 2021, he is no.4 in the UFC lightweight rankings.
Makhachev faced Drew Dober at UFC 259. He won the fight by an arm-triangle choke submission in the third round.
Makhachev faced Thiago Moisés at UFC on ESPN 26. He won the fight by a rear-naked choke submission in the fourth round. A Fight with former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos was rescheduled and was expected to take at UFC 267. However, dos Anjos was forced to be pulled from the event due to injury. He was replaced by Dan Hooker. He won the fight by a kimura submission in the first round.
