For any martial artist who aspires to compete against the best, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is a destination of burning desires.
Many athletes with ambitions have passed through Dana White's Contender Series over the five seasons, but only a few have made it to the UFC.
As a result, we decided to compile a list of the top five fighters from the competition. We considered not only the talent displayed in the UFC but also the score.
Here are a few of our favorites:
Number 5 - Sodiq Yusuff
Photo: usatoday
In July 2018, the Nigerian-born American defeated Mike Davis at Dana White's Contender Series. His entry into the UFC was marked by four victories in a row, two of which came before the time limit. A remarkable rise in the featherweight division has slowed slightly as a result of the avenged defeat against Arnold Allen last April. The qualities for this 28-year-old explosive, on the other hand, appear to be all there, and the last mishap could have been a fluke. To be on the lookout for.
Number 4 - Greg Hardy
It is perhaps the ranking's second most well-known face. Greg Hardy, a former NFL football player, has proven that he can compete at the highest level in mixed martial arts. He entered the UFC with some buzz after knocking out Austen Lane at Dana White's Contender Series in July 2018 and then repeating the feat against Tebaris Gordon a month later with the same result. He was disqualified for an illegal knee in his first match in Dana White's promotion.
Then, thanks to his natural strength, he won the next two matches against Dmitry Smoliakov and Juan Adams by knockout. He was disqualified in the next match against Ben Sosoli for using an asthma inhaler during the inter-round break.
In November 2019, a fantastic chance to speedily ascend the rankings was squandered when he was defeated by Alexander Volkov in a unanimous decision. The victories over Yorgan De Castro and Maurice Green in the following two releases, however, brought redemption (TKO). Two victories appeared to be on the way to a higher position in the standings, but the last two defeats to Marcin Tybura and Tai Tuivasa have thrown everything into doubt once more.
He may not be a fighter who will be able to challenge for the title in the near future, but his impact since leaving the DWCS has been significant.
Number 3 - Edmen Shahbazyan
Photo: usatoday
One of Dana White's Contender Series' strongest technically. With a spectacular TKO victory over Antonio Jones in the first round, the Armenian-born athlete was the star of the second season of the DWCS. Once in the UFC, he demonstrated all of his abilities by winning four fights in a row. A winning streak propelled him to the top of the middleweight division, where he was unable to maintain the same level of success. The losses to Derek Brunson (TKO) and Jack Hermansson (unanimous decision) have slowed his rise, but being 23 years old and with those qualities, he still has plenty of time to prove himself.
Number 2 - Alex Perez
Photo: UFC
To date, the athlete who came closest to winning the UFC title out of Dana White's Contender Series. Alex Perez has 6 wins and only 2 losses since his anaconda choke against Kevin Gray in August 2017 that propelled him into the Ultimate Fighting Championship. One in November 2018 against Joseph Benavidez, and one in November 2020 against Deiveson Figueiredo, with the flyweight title on the line.
Number 1 - Sean O'Malley
Photo: UFC
Sean O'Malley made a dazzling impression. It was only a short step from Dana White's Contender Series to UFC cover man. Due to one of the most unique and spectacular fighting styles on the roster, as well as a flamboyant personality that has made him famous even outside the octagon, he has become a household name. O'Malley wasn't always reliable (also due to a few injuries too many). However, if he is 100 percent, he has proven to be a top fighter who is destined to make a name for himself in the bantamweight division.
