MMAjunkie's 2017 'Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year': A champion before joining UFC

Eryk Anders made a splash on the prelims of UFC on FOX 25 by knocking out veteran Rafael Natal in the first round. Afterward, Anders was asked if he was surprised by such dominance in his UFC debut.

“To me, it’s no surprise,” Anders said. “To my teammates and coaches, it’s no surprise. But to the outside world, maybe they think it’s just a guy getting by on athleticism because he played football and what not.

“But this is my life.”

Anders’ debut performance is a big reason why he’s been selected as MMAjunkie’s “Under-the-Radar Fighter” for 2017. Before that July night, Anders, 30, already was a champion in two sports.

As a linebacker for the University of Alabama football team, Anders shined in the Crimson Tide’s 37-21 win over Texas in the 2009 BCS title game with seven tackles – including a critical sack – and a forced fumble. Anders tried his hand at the NFL but failed to make it with the Cleveland Browns. He also had stints in the Canadian Football League and Arena League before transitioning to MMA.

He took to the sport right away.

“It has a team aspect,” Anders said. “I can’t get better if I don’t have guys to train with and vice versa. But when that cage door closes it’s just me and the voice of my coach, and I prefer it that way.”

With roughly two-and-a-half years of professional experience, Anders (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is undefeated in 10 fights. And though he capped off 2016 with a Bellator victory, 2017 served as a turning point for his career. He won by TKO in his LFA debut, then became the promotion’s inaugural middleweight champion in June with an impressive unanimous-decision win over Brendan Allen.

One month later, Anders got the call from the UFC and was back in the cage for his promotional debut, impressively finishing Natal on short notice. For an encore to close out the year, Anders scored a lopsided win over UFC newcomer Markus Perez in December at UFC Fight Night 123 in Fresno, Calif.

Afterward, Anders boldly called out former champion Lyoto Machida and got his wish; the two are set to headline UFC Fight Night 125 on Feb. 3 in Belem, Brazil – which means Anders will fly under the radar no more.

If Anders can keep up his 2017 pace in 2018, there’s no telling what we could be saying about him by the end of this year. UFC champion, maybe?

So what do you think? Did we get it right? Who would your pick have been for “Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year?” Sound off in the comments.

Also see:

• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Upset of the Year’: Thug Rose! Thug Rose! Thug Rose!
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Breakout Fighter of the Year’: UFC newcomer wasted no time rising up
• MMAjunkie’s 2017 ‘Newcomer of the Year’: Despite late slip-up, Californian made mark in hurry
• MMAjunkie ‘2017 Round of the Year’: Absolutely menacing highlight
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Robbery of the Year’: The MMA gods giveth, and they taketh away
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Coach of the Year’: Former champion becoming standout instructor
• MMAjunkie’s ‘2017 Gym of the Year’: New entrant makes immediate impact

For more on UFC Fight Night 125, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.