Rising Fighters on the Cusp of the UFC Rankings
The UFC serves as a perennial umbrella for the very best fighters on the planet.
With transcendent champions and hungry contenders at its disposal, the promotion is continuously gifted elite bout options in each one of its 10 divisions.
Needless to say, the organization is not short on talent.
But throughout the natural process of mixed martial arts' strenuous lifestyle, fighters fall and rise like clockwork.
With that sort of divisional fluctuation, other Octagon prowlers are presented with the opportunity to string some wins together and fashionably break into the UFC rankings.
Here are 10 of those aforementioned fighters who are on the cusp of undeniable ascension.
Rob Font
1 of 10
With only one appearance under the bright lights of the Octagon, 27-year-old bantamweight Rob Font is already showing up on the divisional radar.
Equipped with outstanding cardio and rangy footwork, the Massachusetts native has the makeup to become one of the more dangerous strikers at 135 pounds.
This was never more evident then when he knocked out veteran George Roop in the first round at UFC 175.
It was Font's promotional debut and a cap-friendly feather that will help propel him to the forefront of the weight class.
Nikita Krylov
2 of 10
At 22 years of age, Ukraine's Nikita Krylov has a long and productive career ahead of him.
Now while the former heavyweight has copious amounts of experience to gain at light heavyweight, his raw power and natural finishing ability should nudge him along nicely.
The fact that zero of his 22 professional career fights went to the judges' scorecards proves that Krylov is a brawler who likes to mix it up.
That's exactly the type of youthful exuberance the 205-pound division desperately needs these days.
Patrick Holohan
3 of 10
Riding the coattails of Conor McGregor's international rise to stardom, Ireland's other native brother, Patrick Holohan, is truly starting to make a name for himself.
Besides being a really nice guy, the 26-year-old flyweight possesses the submission game to test the cardiovascular resolve of any top dog (hint: chokes are his thing).
As the thinnest division in the UFC, the 125-pound crop heap is in need of some fresh blood.
If Holohan can remain potent on the ground and avoid nose-to-nose exchanges on the feet, he should have no problem ending 2015 on the right side of the Top 15.
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Aljamain Sterling
4 of 10
The latest monster to be reborn in Ray Longo and Matt Serra's super laboratory, undefeated bantamweight youngster Aljamain Sterling has reeked Octagon havoc like his Frankenstein predecessors.
From Serra himself to UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman and rising lightweight contender Al Iaquinta, Sterling is the next fighter in line to cash in on Long Island's biggest MMA avenue.
Currently positioned just outside of the division's Top 15 with a 2-0 UFC record, The Funk Master is presumably one victory away from finally cracking the rankings.
After that, with some of the best brains behind him, Sterling has the talent and boundless athleticism to push his way to the top.
Paul Felder
5 of 10
Just two victories inside of the Octagon and lightweight question mark Paul Felder is already scheduled to fight the always hard-boiled and thick-skinned Jim Miller.
That's some serious street cred for a relatively unknown Pennsylvanian fighter who starting competing professionally back in 2011.
But Felder seems to be cut from a different cloth. His presence inside of the cage is felt no matter what angle he strikes from or what timed limb he throws.
If The Irish Dragon (which is arguably the best nickname you can ever come up with) finds a way to defeat Miller at UFC on Fox 15 in April, then he could be on the fast track to becoming 2015's Breakout Fighter of the Year.
Stephen Thompson
6 of 10
It's unfortunate that Stephen Thompson was knocked out of his main event billing opposite Brandon Thatch back at UFC Fight Night 60.
But we got to see Benson Henderson make his welterweight arrival so it's not all sour apples.
In any case, Thompson's divisional momentum was certainly derailed by an unexpected rib injury, but he should be back to his old tricks in no time.
Once healthy, Wonderboy's Karate-based striking and defensive capabilities will make him a tough out for any fighter ranked in the Top 15.
Uriah Hall
7 of 10
The time is now.
No, that isn't derived from the UFC's 2015 tacky motto, but rather it's directed towards the maturation and evolution of one, Uriah Hall.
People remember Hall from his days of sending opponents to the hospital on season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter.
But what we've been looking for since his promotional arrival back in 2013 has been the 30-year-old's ability to inflict damage without cause or regret.
While his humane approach to fighting is sometimes admirable, it took a nearly detached toe in a victory over Thiago Santos back at UFC 175 to prove that Hall is finally ready to take the muzzle off and fight mean.
Neil Magny
8 of 10
The jig is up. Neil Magny is a real fighter with real capability and it's time the UFC served him up a dangerous opponent.
Because no matter which way you look at it, the 27-year-old welterweight has won six fights in a row.
Sure they came against names more commonly found on a cheap horror film's credit roll, but Magny is getting it done nonetheless.
A showdown with the aforementioned Stephen Thompson makes the most sense.
Tony Ferguson
9 of 10
Tony Ferguson remains one of the most overlooked fighters on the UFC roster today.
With a 7-1 UFC record, including five finishes and a Ultimate Fighter Season 13 crown to call his own, El Cucuy is becoming the lightweight division's worst nightmare.
From his rangy and unorthodox striking to his perfected chokes, Ferguson is dangerous at any point during a fight.
A victory over Gleison Tibau at UFC 184 in nearly one week could land the 31-year-old in the Top 15, if not give him the chance to fight the winner of Jorge Masvidal vs. Al Iaquinta.
Todd Duffee
10 of 10
Like dry clothes on a rainy day, UFC heavyweights are far and few between.
Whether it's due to current divisional contenders taking on too much damage or up-and-coming prospects opting to cut down to 205, today's MMA is a scarce world for heavyweights.
That's why Todd Duffee's promotional return means so much to a division whose Top 15 is comprised of nine fighters who are 35 years of age or older.
If Duffee can impress during his next Octagon appearance and build off two recent first-round finishes, then he could find himself fighting into the Top 10 by the end of 2015.
For more UFC news and coverage, Follow @DHiergesell
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