Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, but few will succeed.
This November, five fighters on the verge of achieving major-promotion notoriety return to the cage for what could be their stepping stone fights. There are dozens of fighters inches away from making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.
This month:
- A 22-year-old Canadian featherweight phenom will look to once again show he’s wise beyond his years.
- With MMA soon to be legalized in his home country, a French bantamweight will look to get back to the UFC – where he went 3-1 from 2015 to 2016.
- A hard-hitting Brazilian will look to piggyback off the momentum of a violent knockout win in his LFA headliner debut last time around.
- After he was passed over on “Dana White’s Contender Series,” a Donald Cerrone training partner hopes another tally in the win column will be the tipping point.
- The older brother of a UFC champion looks to continue his ascent up the ladder to join his brother in the big leagues.