Most Overrated UFC Fighters in Every Division

The terms "overrated" and "underrated" get thrown around constantly in MMA, often without much thought or context. Every fight week, fans on social media and analysts debate who’s getting too much hype or not enough love. However, after taking a closer look at the top 15 of each UFC division, certain names stood out for being praised beyond what their performances truly show. This isn’t about hating on any fighter — it’s about taking a realistic look at who might be benefiting from hype, matchmaking, or favorable narratives. Here are the fighters I believe are currently the most overrated in their respective divisions.

Flyweight: Manel Kape

Manel Kape has all the athletic tools to be a contender, but his performances often leave more questions than answers. He’s been in several close fights and hasn’t shown the dominance expected from someone with his hype. His tendency to foul—whether with illegal knees or cage grabs—has become a pattern that slows down his momentum. Kape also struggles when opponents push back; he’s more comfortable being the hammer than the nail. With consistency and discipline lacking, it’s fair to question if he’s truly elite or just flashy.

Bantamweight: Mario Bautista

Mario Bautista has shown flashes of skill, but his inconsistency makes him hard to trust in the deep Bantamweight division. He’s scraped by in close fights against unranked or fringe-level competition, which doesn't scream top-tier potential. While his grappling is solid, it often feels like he relies on it as a fallback when his striking doesn’t land. There’s talent there, but the performances haven’t matched the praise. Until he starts dominating opponents clearly, the hype feels premature.

Featherweight: Lerone Murphy

Lerone Murphy remains undefeated on paper, but his fights tell a more cautious story. Many of his wins have come by razor-thin margins against unranked opponents, and he struggles against pressure-heavy fighters. His preference to stay on the outside and pick shots works against lower-tier opponents but could collapse under more aggressive competition. He hasn’t shown the killer instinct or volume that most top featherweights possess. With a tough matchup ahead, Murphy may finally hit a wall that exposes the gaps in his game.

Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot

Mateusz Gamrot is often praised for his wrestling and pace, but his performances suggest he might be more mid-tier than elite. He leans heavily on his grappling, but when that’s neutralized, his striking doesn't do much to separate him. Gamrot has shown signs of cracking under pressure and has struggled to look dominant in key fights. With his next test being Ludovit Klein—an unranked but dangerous striker—he’s in a risky position. A loss there could reveal that Gamrot has hit his ceiling.

Welterweight: Joaquin Buckley

Joaquin Buckley has built a reputation off highlight-reel knockouts, but the substance behind his record is thin. Most of his recent wins have come against aging fighters on their way out, and his chin has looked shaky under fire. While he’s explosive and entertaining, he’s much better when he’s dictating the pace. Once the momentum shifts, Buckley tends to fade. With stronger competition looming, his run near the rankings might be short-lived.

Middleweight: Roman Dolidze

Roman Dolidze’s style is rugged, but it’s also riddled with technical flaws. He’s slow on his feet, has poor footwork, and often looks one step behind faster, cleaner strikers. At 35 years old, there’s not much room left for improvement, and he hasn’t evolved much fight to fight. Despite a couple of wins over mid-level opponents, he hasn’t shown the consistency or skill to be a serious contender. The hype simply doesn’t match the output.

Light Heavyweight: Aleksander Rakic

Aleksandar Rakić was once touted as the next big thing in the Light Heavyweight division, but that narrative has aged poorly. He’s now on a three-fight losing streak and looks slower every time out. Rakić is solid when leading the dance, but when pressured, his lack of adaptability is exposed. He also seems hesitant in exchanges, making him predictable and beatable at the top level. Unless something drastically changes, his ceiling appears lower than expected.

Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane

Ciryl Gane has been positioned as one of the best heavyweights in the world, but his deficiencies, particularly in grappling, are glaring. His performance against Jon Jones was one-sided and exposed how vulnerable he was on the ground. Even in his most recent fight, many felt he arguably lost despite getting the decision. Gane looks great in space and on the feet, but elite opponents have figured out how to neutralize that. Until he rounds out his game, his ranking might be more reputation than reality.

Women’s Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie Dern’s ground game is elite, but her one-dimensional style has stalled her momentum. She’s slow on her feet, struggles with striking defense, and often looks out of her element when she can’t get the fight to the ground. Despite her high-level jiu-jitsu background, she hasn't shown the wrestling to consistently get fights where she wants them. Against well-rounded opponents, she’s looked outmatched. Until her striking improves, her ceiling remains limited.

Women’s Flyweight: Erin Blanchfield

Erin Blanchfield is being fast-tracked toward the top, but her recent performances suggest she might not be ready just yet. While her grappling is strong, her striking is still very raw, and lacks the speed or power to threaten top opponents. She’s also looked slow in exchanges and struggles when the fight stays on her feet. Many believe she’s a future champion, but that seems more based on potential than proven performance. She needs more time to develop before being crowned the next big thing.

Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson

Macy Chiasson has hovered near the rankings for a while, but she’s struggled to break through to true contender status. Many of her wins are close and lack dominance, often coming down to who edges out rounds rather than clear victories. She starts fights slowly, which puts her behind early and makes it hard to recover. While she’s big for the division, she hasn’t used that size to impose herself effectively. At this point, she feels more like a gatekeeper than a rising star.