Why UFC’s Featherweight Division Is One to Keep a Close Eye on This Year

• Alexander Volkanovski leads the Featherweight division but has no shortage of challengers
• Yair Rodriguez is the Interim Featherweight Champion and is eager to unify the two belts
• Ilia Topuria and Movsar Eloev are both in the top fighters and have both yet to taste defeat

The dream of many mixed martial artists is to get to the UFC and once there, the goal is to win gold.

As the world’s leading MMA organisation, the UFC boasts a huge number of talented fighters competing in numerous weight divisions.

One of the most stacked divisions in the UFC currently is the Featherweights.

Australia's Alexander Volkanovski has been the champion of the division since December 2019 but that does not mean there is a shortage of competition.

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Featherweight is the only division in the UFC to have an interim champion, a title held by Mexico's Yair Rodriguez. He won the title when he defeated Josh Emmett at UFC 284 and will be looking to unify the belts when he finally clashes with Volk.

A former champion still impresses

While Volkanovski and Rodriguez currently sit on top of the division, former champion, Max 'Blessed' Holloway is also in title contention range. Blessed ruled over the roost before he was eventually dethroned by the current champion.

As noted by SportsKeeda, Holloway amassed a 13-fight win streak in the division, during a period which saw him become champion. Holloway is currently the number two ranked contender and snapped Arnold Allen's undefeated streak at UFC on ESPN 44.

The division's only Zombie

Chan Sung Jung may be ranked sixth in the division, but that doesn't mean he isn't one to watch.

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The Korean Zombie has 17 wins and just seven losses in his career, as noted by UFC Stats, and is eager to fight Holloway next. A veteran of the sport, he has fought for the title before but was defeated by the reigning champion.

Two undefeated contenders

Rounding out the top ten in the division are Ilia Topuria - undefeated in 13 fights, and Movsar Eloev - undefeated in 16. Topuria last fought in December 2022 when he beat Bryce Mitchell. Eloev, who last fought in June 2022, will return to action against Mitchell in May at UFC 288.

Barboza impresses with brutal knee

At 37, many wouldn't consider Edison Barboza to be a threat to the hierarchy. The Brazilian fighter is ranked 14th in the division but is confident he can still climb the rankings.

Barboza rolled back the years at UFC on ESPN 44 as he knocked out Billy Quarantillo with a brutal knee to the chin. As noted by MMA Junkie, he was willing to fight anyone ranked above him in the division, no matter who that is.

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Who could Adesanya face next?

While the Featherweight division is stacked, the Middleweight side isn't that far off when it comes to talented fighters.

As reported earlier, Israel Adesanya faces no shortage of challengers for his UFC Middleweight championship.

Sports Brief looked at five potential fighters who could next take on The Last Stylebender for his title belt.