Baisangur Susurkaev is making waves in the UFC, but a broken hand might slow his momentum. After a thrilling submission win at UFC 328, the undefeated middleweight isn't backing down from his ambitious plans.

Fighting out of Newark's Prudential Center, Susurkaev (12-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) locked in a rear-naked choke on Djorden Santos (11-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) with just 48 seconds left on the clock. It was a dramatic finish that capped off a whirlwind nine-month journey, starting with a first-round win on Dana White's Contender Series last August. Just four days later, he submitted Eric Nolan at UFC 319, and now this victory over Santos makes it three straight in the promotion's red-hot middleweight division.

But the 25-year-old isn't satisfied. He revealed that the day before the fight, he approached UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard with a shortlist of potential next opponents: Bo Nickal, Roman Dolidze, and Marvin Vettori. "I talked to Mick Maynard yesterday," Susurkaev said at his post-fight press conference. "We talked about a couple names. He said we will try something, and I'm 100 percent sure I need someone top 15 or top 20."

The only hitch? A likely broken hand suffered during the fight. "First or second minute of the second round, I broke my hand, and I still tried to knock him out," Susurkaev explained. "He has a good chin, and this guy, this crazy warrior, has a very good chin, and I needed to submit him." He expects to be sidelined until the end of the year, but that hasn't dampened his desire for a step up in competition.

For fans tracking the next big thing in the UFC, Susurkaev's fearless attitude and finishing instincts make him one to watch—once his hand heals, that is.