5 UFC Fighters Gaining in Popularity
Popularity is a double-edged sword in today's mixed martial arts.
It has the power to launch a fighter's career in the presence of masterful win streaks and memorable finishes but also unfairly bury deserving contenders in favor of sexier ticket sales and jaw-dropping matchups.
That's why it's important for the people in charge—in this case, the UFC—to manage their roster accordingly, book the sensible fights and actually play by their own ranking system.
If they can do that, then these five fighters gaining vast popularity will fall into their rightful places.
Yoel Romero
1 of 5
Some people may have been rubbed the wrong way when Yoel Romero stayed glued to his stool before his third-round TKO of Tim Kennedy at UFC 178, but fans tend to forgive and forget when it comes to a bona fide finisher.
Luckily, that's exactly what the 37-year-old Cuban power wrestler is after capturing three of his four UFC finishes in the final five minutes.
Needles to say, Romero has earned his keep in the middleweight division and has looked dominant while doing so, leaving him in a position to potentially fight for a championship sometime in 2015.
His age is a factor, but you don't hear many people complaining when Romero starts slinging leather, so what does it really matter?
Cat Zingano
2 of 5
In reality, any fighter next in line to challenge women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is going to be a fan favorite.
It's a result of Rousey consistently feeding into the role of a villain and the fact that seeing an undefeated pound-for-pound standout go down in flames somehow always interests onlookers.
In any case, despite her status within the division, Cat Zingano garners more potential than just "the next one."
Her stand-up is evolving, and her wrestling is superb. Her ferocity has fueled some of the very best finishes in women's UFC history (e.g., against Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes).
Add in the journey that Zingano has lived on the heels of knee surgery and the suicide of her husband, and there might not be a fight fan out there who doesn't want to see her crowned queen.
Mark Hunt
3 of 5
Heavyweights always hold a special place in the hearts of fans.
Blessed with extraordinary strength and power, they command a certain level of appeal and interest that most other fighters fail to meet.
When a heavyweight comes along who defies physical odds and overwhelming adversity, his surrounding aura exponentially glows.
That's exactly what heavy-hitting Mark Hunt has done in a UFC division packed with more athletically inclined specimens and vastly well-rounded contenders.
His dynamic ability to end fights with his will-inspired hands has made him a serious title threat entering 2015 and arguably the most popular fighter in the division today.
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Conor McGregor
4 of 5
There is no disregarding the potential and overall promise that Irish phenom Conor McGregor carries.
In the midst of arguably the quickest rise to stardom in MMA history, the 26-year-old has started to work his way into American households.
Some will argue that his divisional momentum is moving slightly quicker than his evolving skill set can handle, but it's nearly impossible to look at The King of Dublin and not be impressed by his Octagon prowess.
McGregor may already be one of the most sought-after fighters in the world today, but there's room for much, much more.
Dominick Cruz
5 of 5
Dominick Cruz was never the most popular UFC champion.
Sure, people respected his striking skills and ability to outpoint any bantamweight on the planet, but his relatively non-existent finishing rate often capped his budding potential amongst fans.
Now that the former divisional kingpin is back in action for the first time in nearly three years, his ferocity, aggression and knockout ability have never looked better.
Fueled mostly by rage and natural evolution, Cruz could be on the cusp of something truly great should he remain a potent finisher.
A future showdown with champion and Team Alpha Male standout T.J. Dillashaw will be the most highly anticipated fight in division history.
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