A Fighter’s Path: The Path of The Undefeated

Middleweights:

(C) Israel Adesanya

Age: 31 | Nigeria | 20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC

Very little can be said in a paragraph that would encapsulate the brilliance that is Israel Adesanya. He has been practically flawless in his three-year UFC career. Many are already calling him the greatest striker to ever compete in the UFC. Prior to transitioning into the sport of mixed martial arts, Adesanya had amassed a 75-5 record as a kickboxer and had won tournaments globally across several weight classes. Although he had dabbled in the sport with a couple fights, in 2018 the Nigerian-born striker transitioned into the sport full-time. He had already built an impressive resume of 9-0 which included a win over current UFC welterweight Song Kenan.

In his first fight since fully devoting his time to MMA, Adesanya was matched up with long-time UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard in a bout he won inside the first round. He entered the UFC at 11-0 and was matched up with John Phillips in a bout where he displayed his superior striking ability. Flash forward to today, ‘Izzy’ won his next eight contests over six currently ranked middleweights. The two exceptions are Yoel Romero, who was ranked until he departed the organization, and former long-reigning middleweight champion, Anderson Silva. Israel Adesanya will look to be one of the few individuals to capture two belts simultaneously when he faces Jan Blachowicz on March 6 for the Light Heavyweight Championship.

Notable Wins: Paulo Costa, Robert Whittaker, Anderson Silva, Yoel Romero, Kelvin Gastelum, Brad Tavares, Marvin Vettori, Derek Brunson

Aliaskhab Khizriev

Age: 30 | Russia | 13-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC

Aliaskhab Khizriev is one of the brightest signings from the Contender Series we have seen in recent memory. At 13-0, Khizriev has been dominating the Russian regional scene and needed to bring his talents to the U.S. to face elite competition in the UFC. He began his career in 2014 dominating every opponent he had faced. In 2018 he competed for the Fight Nights Global Welterweight Championship against long-time UFC Welterweight Rousimar Palhares. Despite being the favorite, no one expected him to finish the Brazilian within a minute. Following that win he earned a spot on the Contender Series against highly touted prospect Henrique Shiguemoto. He topped his previous performance finishing him in 0:50 seconds. Khizriev was expected to return against Turman on February 6 but Turman was forced out of the contest. The Russian middleweight is expected to return to the Octagon on April 10 when he faces Kyle Daukaus.

Notable Victories: Henrique Shiguemoto, Rousimar Palhares

Punahele Soriano

Age: 28 | United States | 8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC

Hawaiian MMA has been booming for the past few years with Champions Max Holloway and Ray Cooper (Bellator) as well as long-time UFC middleweight Brad Tavares leading the charge. Punahele Soriano threw his name in the hat of Hawaiians to keep an eye on a few weeks ago when he knocked out Dusko Todorovic in the first round. Soriano had competed in several organizations to begin his MMA career, and hadn’t even competed for a promotion more than once until he was signed by the UFC. After winning his first five fights in the first round, the UFC granted him an opportunity on the Contender Series against Jamie Pickett in June of 2019. He emerged victorious after three rounds and picked up a UFC contract. In December of 2019 he faced Oskar Piechota and knocked him out with a left hook in the first round. After injuries forced him to withdraw from two bouts, the Hawaiian was pitted against fellow undefeated fighter Dusko Todorovic. He had Todorovic hurt for the majority of the first round before putting him away 0:12 seconds before the first bell. Soriano doesn’t have an opponent scheduled yet, but expect the 28-year-old to get a big-name next time out.

Notable Victories: Dusko Todorovic, Oskar Piechota, Jamie Pickett

Rodolfo Vieira

Age: 31 | Brazil | 7-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC

Rodolfo Vieira is one of the most decorated jiujitsu practitioners in the UFC. Prior to his signing with the UFC, the Brazilian had won World Championships (5x), the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships, (Abu Dhabi) World Cups (7x), the Pan-Ams (2x), and European Championships (2x) in jiujitsu. All of these took place between 2011 until his retirement from the sport in 2016. Not bad for someone who began training at 13 as a way to lose weight. In 2017, he made his MMA debut earning his first submission victory in MMA. After picking up five consecutive finishes, four of which were by submission, he was picked up by the UFC. In his debut he defeated Oskar Piechota via arm-triangle choke in the second round. In March of 2020, we saw him face Saparbek Safarov where he earned his sixth submission victory in seven fights with yet another arm-triangle choke. Vieira holds a 100% finish rate and has only been out of the first round twice in his career. Rodolfo Vieira will face former LFA Middleweight Champion Anthony Hernandez on February 13 in a middleweight bout.

Notable Victories: Saparbek Safarov, Oskar Piechota

Isi Fiteku

Age: 27 | Australia | 6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC

Oceanian MMA right now is the best it has ever been. There are multiple title challengers across several different weight classes with Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski leading the way. Yet to make his debut is undefeated middleweight Isi Fiteku who is 6-0 as a professional with four finishes. After winning the Eternal MMA middleweight belt many knew it was a matter of time before he was offered a shot in the UFC. That chance came back in January when he was offered a fight versus Dalcha Lungiambula. Unfortunately, the Aussie was forced out of the bout but will likely be offered another fight with the promotion. His last fight was against former Hex Fight Series Welterweight Champion Kitt Campbell. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Notable Victories: Kitt Campbell

Tafon Nchukwi

Age: 26 | Cameroon | 5-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC

Tafon Nchukwi became the third born Cameroonian to sign with the UFC after Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and Francis N’Gannou. Like his Cameroonian counterparts, Nchukwi gained a lot of attention given his tremendous knockout power. He has only been competing professionally for less than two years but has already debuted with the world’s largest MMA promotion. In 2019 he fought three times which included three knockout victories. Only one of those opponents survived past the first round. Another one of those victories is over UFC Light Heavyweight William Knight. With a 3-0 record, Nchukwi was offered a spot on the Contender Series against Al Matavao. He landed a head kick in the second round that left Matavao unconscious on the mat and Dana frozen in his seat. The win earned him a UFC contract and he joined N’Gannou as the only Cameroonians in the promotion. Nchukwi made his debut in December against Jamie Pickett going the distance for the first time in his career extending his winning streak to five. It is unknown when the Cameroonian will make his return, but expect to see fireworks anytime he is in the Octagon.

Notable Victories: Jamie Pickett, William Knight, Al Matavao