5 Fighters Ready to Make the Jump into the UFC

Being a UFC fighter may not have quite the same perks it once did (just ask the dozens of fighters who've voiced their opinions against the promotion's controversial Reebok sponsorship).

But while being caught in the crossfire of what could turn into an ugly battle between employer and employee may not appeal to the average fighter looking for a new home, there's no doubting the UFC's billing as the most competitive fighting promotion on the planet remains intact.

Competitive drive alone should motivate any fighter into the eight-sided cage.

Follow along as we cover the top five fighters ready to take the plunge into the biggest pond around.

Jessica Aguilar

Current Promotion: World Series of Fighting

Weight Class: Women's Strawweight

Record: 19-4

Notable: WSOF women's strawweight champion

Dana White may have struck oil when Joanna Jedrzejczyk punched her way past The Ultimate Fighter winner. The charismatic Pole extended her undefeated record to 9-0 and introduced herself to the MMA world as a potential star in the making.

But having defeated the division's top two fighters, and poised to defend her title against the division's No. 3 fighter, Jedrzejczyk might be in dire need of a bona fide challenger relatively soon.

Enter WSOF women's strawweight champion Jessica Aguilar. The 33-year-old American Top Team fighter competes as one of the few remaining female strawweights the UFC has yet to snatch up. With a 10-fight winning streak tacked on to her name, Aguilar could easily play half a role in joining GSP-Shields and Henderson-Melendez as the latest champion vs. champion title fight.

Ben Askren

Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images

Current Promotion: ONE FC

Weight Class: Welterweight

Record: 14-0

Notable: Former Bellator welterweight champion; Current ONE FC welterweight champion

Yeah, this guy.

Why this guy? Because he's well on his way toward becoming the latest mixed martial artist who spent his entire career fighting duds in the middle of nowhere, while the UFC's guy gets all the love. 

That's not to say Ben Askren is better than Robbie Lawler, Johny Hendricks, Rory MacDonald or Tyron Woodley. Each one of those guys could potentially walk right through Askren's one-sided wrestling attack and prove themselves dominant over the vocal 170-pounder.

But we can't say any of that for an absolute fact, and that's what keeps us up at night.

Patricio Freire

Current Promotion: Bellator

Weight Class: Featherweight

Record: 23-2

Notable: Bellator featherweight champion

With names like Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor, Chad Mendes, Frankie Edgar and Max Holloway hanging around, Zuffa's male featherweight division might already be convoluted all on its own. But why not complicate it a bit more?

Patricio "Pitbull" Freire took a hold of Bellator's hot potato of a featherweight strap after going five rounds against Pat Curran at Bellator 123 last September. Freire held onto that belt against the man who had it around his waist just seven months prior.

Bellator might have a few more worthwhile fights for Pitbull to take while he's atop the division, but the well-rounded Nogueira fighter would be better off testing himself against the best of the best.

Will Brooks

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Current Promotion: Bellator

Weight Class: Lightweight

Record: 16-1

Notable: Bellator lightweight champion

With only three title victories (two of which are against the same guy) to his name, Will Brooks might not be ready to make an impact in the UFC. But if Brooks can learn anything from his predecessor champion, he should genuinely consider leaving the Viacom promotion as he continues his walk toward his fighting prime—not as he walks away from it.

Sure, Brooks may not have what it takes to usurp the UFC's juggernaut champion in Rafael dos Anjos, but he could develop his skills enough to do so with just a few fights inside of the Octagon.

Cris 'Cyborg' Justino

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Current Promotion: Invicta FC

Weight Class: Women's featherweight

Record: 13-1

Notable: Former Strikeforce women's featherweight champion; Current Invicta FC women's featherweight champion

At this point, we can't be sure if we're inching closer to or farther from Rousey vs. Cyborg.

Some days have Cris "Cyborg" Justino flaunting her confidence in a superfight with Ronda Rousey at the latter's preferred 135 pounds. Other days, sometimes within the same conversation, she calls for a catchweight fight at 140.

Whatever the weight, this is a fight the fighting world can ill afford to lose a grip on. Brock vs. Fedor never happened. Silva vs. St-Pierre never happened. Silva vs. Jones never and probably won't happen.

But Rousey vs. Cyborg has to happen.