It is remarkable that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) were able to show 41 events worldwide in 2020, cancelling only five events that year. Within the first six weeks of 2021, there have already been four fight cards including a fight between Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar and a rematch between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor which has been seven years in the making.
The most popular UFC fighters in 2021 will be meeting in the Octagon at venues across the globe. For additional excitement away from the Octagon you can join a licensed online casino like Yukon Gold Casino which offers the chance to win a life-changing jackpot. It may not just be these popular UFC fighters that could experience a life-changing 2021.
Ciryl Gane – Heavyweight
Gane joined the UFC in 2019 after just three professional fights and is currently ranked as a top 10 heavyweight contender after wins against Raphael Pessoa, Don’Tale Mayes and Tanner Boser. His fight with former UFC Heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos ended in a KO win and now Gane is due to meet Jairzinho Rozenstruik. With wins against another former heavy champion Andrei Arlovski and Alistair Overeem, who is arguably one of the best UFC fighters ever, Gane is one to watch in 2021.
Jiri Prochazka – Light Heavyweight
Having won 10 consecutive fights through TKO or KOs, Prochazka is expected to be a challenger in a 2021 title fight against champion Blachowicz. Only two of his 30 fights have gone the distance, but the light heavyweight division has several great fighters, including Teixeira, Santos, Reyes and Rakic
Lerone Murphy – Featherweight
Lerone Murphy has not lost a fight in his professional career, winning seven and drawing one at his UFC debut against Zubaira Tukhugov. Although his career is young, Murphy is hoping to follow in the footsteps of other English greats like Leon Edwards and Darren Till.
Joaquin Buckley – Middleweight
Joaquin Buckley made his UFC debut in August 2020 but his knockout against Impa Kasanganay, got everyone talking about him, though he lost against Alessio Di Chirico. Whilst Buckley deserves to be a top 10 contender, but the competition is strong.
Khamzat Chimaev – Welterweight
Having won the Fan Choice ‘Debut of the Year’ award with three impressive wins against; John Phillips, Rhys McKee, and the KO of Gerald Meerschaert at 17 seconds, Chimaev is not only immensely popular but also ranked as 15th in his division a name to follow in 2021. He is due to fight welterweight Leon Edwards, a match postponed due to lingering physical effects from the coronavirus.
Kevin Holland – Middleweight
The OpenMat Male Fighter of the Year 2020 has to be one of the most popular UFC fighters today. 2020 was not a good year for many, but Holland had a five-fight winning streak, including an epic win against Jacaré Souza that led to Holland being ranked 10th in the middleweight rankings and he is next up against Derek Brunson, ranked seventh.
Cory Sandhagen – Bantamweight
Having knocked-out UFC legend Frankie Edgar, Sandhagen is looking to contest the bantamweight division title. This fight is likely to be against Petr Yan or Aljamain Sterling, aiming to be champion through the use of his deadly knockout power and speed.