5 UFC Fighters who have cases for title shots

In the UFC, there have been many new fighters who have made impressive debuts this year. Sean O'Malley and Jamahal Hill have become the first two individuals from Dana White's Contender Series to win a UFC championship. As a result, there are always new fighters climbing up the rankings and making a case for title shots. However, the perfect amount of momentum at the right time can make all the difference. Here are five fighters who have accomplished just that halfway through 2023. (Note: This is solely based on personal opinion.)

5. Sean Strickland

In the middleweight division's top ten, the situation is a bit unusual. However, Strickland has made a significant comeback after losing two fights against Jared Cannonier, a former title contender, and Alex Pereira, a former champion. It's worth noting that some argue that he won against Cannonier. Despite this setback, he went on to win over Nassourdine Imavov in a five-round bout on short notice. He followed this up with a second-round TKO against Abus Magomedov, who Dana White claimed, "nobody wanted to fight." Despite this, Sean Strickland stepped up to the challenge, which is why he has been given the opportunity to fight Israel Adesanya for the title at UFC 293, rather than the next person on the list.

4. Dricus Du Plessis

Many people criticize this man's fighting style, but he continues to win against increasingly difficult opponents. I had the pleasure of seeing him fight in person at UFC 285, and it seemed as though he makes subtle yet significant improvements based on his previous victories. Despite his impressive winning streak against the best middleweights in the world, and finishing them, no one expected him to defeat Robert Whittaker. The events between Dricus and Israel Adesanya at UFC 290 were relatively rough, and it is assumed that they will fight in the future. Du Plessis had the opportunity to fight for the title against Strickland, but he decided to take time to heal from his injuries instead of rushing into another fight.

3. Brandon Royval

The Flyweight division is constantly evolving in both the men's and women's categories. Since joining the UFC in 2020, Royval has achieved a record of 5-2, with his only two losses coming from fights against the current and former champions. Although he only fought once in 2023, he secured an impressive victory against a well-established contender, Matheus Nicolau, who had been on a six-fight winning streak. It wouldn't surprise me if the UFC decides to match Royval up against Amir Albazi, who is ranked higher than him. However, the level of competition Royval has faced thus far in the UFC compared to Albazi is quite different, with Royval having a slight edge.

2. Erin Blanchfield

Erin's match against Taila Santos would provide insights into her abilities against a formidable striker. However, she managed to withstand Santos' initial onslaught and maintained a high tempo, which Santos couldn't match. Erin's victory, albeit hard-fought, against a former title contender and a submission win against a former champion in the same year, makes her a strong contender for the title. It's worth noting that Erin's only career loss was a split decision to Tracy Cortez before either of them joined the UFC.

1. Ilia Topuria

There is some controversy surrounding this entry for a few reasons. Firstly, Ilia has only fought once this year, although it was an impressive five-round victory over Josh Emmett. However, Max Holloway has had more impressive performances this year, including a five-round win over Arnold Allen and a finish against The Korean Zombie. Despite this, Max fell short in his most recent championship fight against Alexander Volkanovski just over a year ago. On the other hand, Ilia has an undefeated record and is currently on a strong winning streak, making a title fight a logical next step for him in the near future.