5 Underdog Fighters Worth Watching This Year

Arman Tsarukyan Most Consistently Underpriced Elite Fighter

Arman Tsarukyan at lightweight is perhaps the most consistently underpriced elite fighter in the UFC right now.

Tsarukyan has won five consecutive fights and is considered by many analysts as the most technically complete challenger available for any champion in his weight class.

He tends to open as a slight underdog or near-even money against the upper echelon because his victories have not been as spectacular as Topuria's or Makhachev's.

Tsarukyan's under-the-radar excellence:

• Armenian-born, trains American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose
• Only fighter to take round off Islam Makhachev in their 2019 bout
• Career grappling accuracy 47% (elite for lightweight division)
• Last loss was split decision to Mateusz Gamrot in 2022

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Ramazan Temirov Most Compelling Flyweight Underdog

Ramazan Temirov at flyweight is the most compelling underdog opportunity in the entire UFC roster following Pantoja's injury and Van's title win.

Temirov is 15-2, undefeated in the UFC, and entered 2026 with the division suddenly wide open.

If the UFC books Temirov against an elite striker on a Fight Night card, he will open as a +150 to +200 underdog based on the public's preference for offense.

Temirov's wrestling credentials:

• Represented Russia in international wrestling before MMA
• Trains at Eagles MMA under Khabib Nurmagomedov
• Average fight time 11:23 (finishes fights early consistently)
• Never been taken down successfully in UFC career

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Magomed Ankalaev Defeated Pereira at UFC 313

Magomed Ankalaev at light heavyweight carries underdog pricing that understates his elite credentials.

Ankalaev defeated Alex Pereira at UFC 313 (the biggest upset in light heavyweight history by betting standards) and then surrendered the title in a rematch at UFC 320.

A fighter who can beat the GOAT of his division once has demonstrated a ceiling that underdog prices consistently fail to honor.

Ankalaev's technical advantages:

• Sambo world champion before transitioning to MMA
• Owns longest active win streak at LHW before Pereira losses (9 fights)
• Striking defense 67% (highest among LHW contenders)
• Rematch loss came via controversial split decision

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Michael Morales Largest Gap Between Ceiling and Market Price

Michael Morales at welterweight is ESPN's and The Score's most uniformly praised rising contender, yet he remains priced as an underdog against any top-five welterweight.

Morales is undefeated, fights with finishing intention, and has been specifically identified by CBS Sports as one of the four welterweights in line for a Makhachev title shot.

Morales' under-recognized credentials:

• Ecuadorian-born, first from his country to crack UFC top 15
• Perfect 7-0 UFC record with five finishes
• Age 24, youngest ranked welterweight in division
• Knockout power in both hands per fight metrics data

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Aaron Blanchfield's Grappling Threatens Shevchenko

Aaron Blanchfield at women's flyweight is the division's most analytically compelling underdog, a 26-year-old who is 14-2.

Blanchfield's grappling game specifically threatens Shevchenko in ways that pure strikers never have, and the market has consistently priced her as a +200 or larger underdog.

Blanchfield's stylistic advantages:

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Fabricio Werdum
• Submission rate 50% (half her wins by submission)
• Shevchenko has never faced BJJ black belt at flyweight
• Only two losses both split decisions to top-5 opponents

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The Bottom Line on 5 Underdog Fighters

Arman Tsarukyan most consistently underpriced, only fighter to take round off Makhachev in 2019, trains American Kickboxing Academy. Ramazan Temirov most compelling flyweight, represented Russia in international wrestling, trains Eagles MMA under Khabib, never been taken down in UFC. Magomed Ankalaev defeated Pereira UFC 313, sambo world champion, owns longest active LHW win streak before Pereira, rematch controversial split. Michael Morales largest ceiling-price gap, Ecuadorian first to crack UFC top 15, perfect 7-0 with five finishes, age 24 youngest ranked. Aaron Blanchfield analytically compelling, BJJ black belt under Werdum, 50% submission rate, Shevchenko never faced BJJ black belt at flyweight.