Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator, or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.
This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.
- A rising 23-year-old Brazilian featherweight hopes to prove he’s wise beyond his years by picking up another LFA finish.
- A lengthy Colombian bantamweight aims to join the wave of Latin American fighters headed to the UFC.
- Wracking up win after win, one of the best pound-for-pound regional fighters in Texas hopes one more victory will push him through the UFC threshold.
- After a dominant wrestling career at Oklahoma State University, an undefeated welterweight fighter looks to pass his toughest test to date and attract big promotion eyeballs in the process.
- A surging flyweight hopes a CFFC title punches his ticket to the biggest stage of all.
