Each UFC division is staked up with it's champion and top contenders. For most part, those fighters are the ones we all talk about, GSP, Anderson Silva, Randy Couture, BJ Penn, Kenny Florian etc. But there are the guys that are doing very well in the division, still, they just haven't hit the top yet.
Those guys...we tend to forget about. Fighters that are waiting to get their shot at glory, that have the talent to make it to the top, the guys that are waiting to explode but just haven't had the right moment yet.
Here is a list of UFC fighters in each weight class that have the potential to make it big in the UFC. Whether they can make it to the top and become champions or just become one of the best this division has to offer doesn't really matter. This writer predicts big things for every fighter listed below.
Lightweight
Gray Maynard
Maynard is exactly was his nickname says he is...a bully. He's not the biggest or the strongest fighter in the division, but he has great cardio and he's very aggressive.
Maynard has great wrestling, he has proved that time and time again. Gray is the only fighter in the division who defeated the former undefeated Frankie Edgar and he stopped Rich Clementi, who was on a serious winning streak.
With a few more high profile fights, Maynard can put himself in title contention. He can really make it big, some people even say he's the sleeper waiting to explode in the lightweight division.
Joe Lauzon
Lauzon has been impressive in every fight he's had in the octagon. I'm a huge fan of his and think he will become something big. He's still young and has a great variety of submissions. His only loss came to the hands of Kenny Florian who we know, is no loser.
Lauzon is rumored to fight former top contender Hermes Franca at UFC Fight Night 17. This is just the opportunity Lauzon needs. If he beats Franca and this kid could well be on his way to more high profile fights. Beating Franca also serves to prove he's one of the best the division has to offer.
Welterweight
Mike Swick
I really like Mike Swick and although several people think he's finished, I still have faith in him. He's a very talented fighter that moved down in weight after suffering a loss in a division he was already doing really well in. I have to agree that he may have lost a little fire, but doesn't seem like anything to really worry about.
With his Goulet fight coming up, he should start getting more interesting fights, that is if he wins. If he really desires it and finds the passion again, Swick can be champion, there's no doubt in my mind.
Diego Sanchez/Josh Koscheck
I put these two guys together because I just don't see both of them making it big, it will be one or the other. When observed closely, they have had similar paths from TUF 1 up until to today. Both fighters had their moment to shine, somehow they let those moments slip right between their fingers.
I think a rematch between these two is inevitable. Whoever wins will probably go on to become one of the welterweight division's top fighters, while the other fades into darkness. The question is...who will it be?
Dustin Hazellett
By far one of the most talented fighters in the division, Dustin Hazellett is still very young. He still seems to be the most talented BJJ fighter in his division. He always has a solid performance and has proved his submissions should be feared. The one problem he faces, his stand-up is lacking. Good news is, he has plenty of time to work on that.
With a little more experience Hazellett is going to be a very dangerous fighter. He'll slowly make his way to the top, probably get knocked down several times, but if he works hard, this kid will have gold around his waist in the future.
5 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Darren Michael W 7 months ago
Gotta disagree with you here on some of these guys.
Gray Maynard is a good wrestler, but he looked pretty average as an mma guy against Clementi.
Lauzon is decent, but his only real win is over Jens Pulver, who hasn't been good in a long time.
Mike Swick is a solid veteran, but he's been fighting for 10 years. It isn't like he is all of a sudden going to gain some new skills. Dropping a weight division also doesn't neccessarily guarantee success. Look at Josh Haynes and Joe Riggs. They went from being average big guys, to being average small guys. He was also knocked out by gatekeeper chris leben, which doesn't help his case.
Cheick Kongo is 33 years old, and has been fighting mma for 8 years. He isn't going to show any new talents either.
Amir Sadollah is okay, but he benefitted from a relatively weak competition that year. He's also too small to be effective against the best at middleweight. He is someone who should actually drop to welterweight. At welterweight, however, he won't be too much better. He doesn't have as good striking as the best in the division, like GSP and Alves. Guys like Diego Sanchez, and Josh Koscheck will be able to take him down and control him. They also aren't likely to be submitted by him.
I'll agree with you on Carwin, Velasquez, Machida, hazelett and Silva. However, for the other guys, I think you'd be reaching a bit to say that they are "waiting to explode".
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Jessy Morris 7 months ago
Well we will see Darren, maybe you're right about some guys, I truly believe Lauzon will make it big. Like I said those guys I named have good skills and can make it big if they really want to.
Do you think about other guys who could make it big in the UFC right now?
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Darren Michael W 7 months ago
For sure, it's always fun to know the prospects before everyone else does. Carwin Velasquez, Hazelett, Machida, and Thiago Silva all are people who I've been watching, as far as guys yet to become UFC stars...
I already consider Kosheck and Sanchez stars, up on the level of the Nate Marquart, Kenny Florian and Thiago Alves. Everybody knows about these guys, and puts them near the top of the division.
Demian Maia, Dong Hyun Kim, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Junior Dos Santos, Dustin Hazelett are a few other guys who would probably go on a list of relatively unknown guys who have the potential to make an impact in their divisions, although some of them are already past their primes. Any one of these guys will solidify a spot near the top if they win a couple more fights.
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Blake Stone 7 months ago
The only thing I would add is that Dennis Kang has been signed for Middleweight. I look forward to watching him destroy that division and eventually face Silva.
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Jessy Morris 7 months ago
Well I don't see Kang dominating the division, I think he can do pretty good and maybe even fight Silva for the gold but I doubt he's the guy that will take this title away from "The Spider".
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