UFC: Fighters Who Are Destined to Wear Gold in Every Weight Class

Over the past several years, ultimate fighting has emerged as the fastest-growing sport across the globe.

Much of the sport's rapid growth is credited to the fighters that have spent years training in hopes of one day becoming great.

And, while the UFC has seven weight divisions with seven different title holders, there are many fighters who have yet to reach the peak of their early careers.

While some of these fighters do not yet wear gold, they will someday fulfill their dreams of becoming a UFC champion. Others, however, have tasted the gold already and will someday return to wearing it.

The following slides display the fighters who are destined to wear gold in the upcoming future.

Lets take a look.

Bantamweight

Urijah Faber

Despite losing to Dominick Cruz at UFC 132, many fans felt Faber received the shaft by the judge's scorecards.

Faber, who defeated Cruz at WEC 26, is one of the best submission fighters in the UFC today. Also one of the more explosive fighters in mixed martial arts, he is destined to wear UFC gold.

Demetrious Johnson

Johnson is coming off the biggest victory of his career, when he defeated Miguel Torres at UFC 130.

The "Mighty Mouse" is also on a four-fight winning streak, and he shows no signs of slowing. One of the strongest fighters in the UFC today, Johnson is destined to be declared a Bantamweight Champion in the future.

Joseph Benavidez

Benavidez, who nearly pulled off an upset against Cruz at WEC 50, lost in a close split decision.

Since then, Benavidez has won three straight fights and out-struck his opponent in each bout. His conditioning and speed is second to none and posing a serious threat to the 135 weight class.

Brian Bowles

Bowles never lost a mixed martial arts fight until he met Cruz at WEC 47, when he couldn't go on with the fight via doctor's stoppage.

Since then, Bowles has been more than impressive, winning both his UFC fights. Bowles, a well-rounded fighter, is destined to wear gold before he hangs up the gloves.

Scott Jorgensen

Much like many of the fighters in the bantamweight division, Jorgensen was also defeated by Cruz.

Prior to his defeat WEC 53, Jorgensen had won five straight fights and was on a fast track to the top of the division. "Young Guns" Jorgensen was also impressive in his UFC debut, knocking out Ken Stone in the first round of action.

Featherweight

Chad Mendes

Mendes is the biggest threat to Jose Aldo's featherweight title. "Money" Mendes has never lost a mixed martial arts fight and has been perfect since entering the UFC, with a 2-0 record.

Almost certain to be a future UFC champion, Mendes demonstrates immeasurable wrestling and take-down skills that cause trouble for any fighter.

Mark Hominick

While Hominick had his chance in capturing the UFC featherweight title at UFC 129, he came up just short.

In what would end up being the Fight of the Night, Aldo remained champion via unanimous decision. Hominick, one of the toughest fighters in the UFC today, is destined to wear gold at some point in his career.

Kenny Florian

Florian could become the UFC Featherweight champion sooner than we think. He will square off in one of the most anticipated bouts at UFC 136 against title-holder Jose Aldo.

Florian, who recently dropped to the featherweight division, is a well-rounded fighter who demonstrates second-to-none submission skills. Florian will be a UFC Featherweight Champion in the future.

Hatsu Hioki

Hioki recently signed with the UFC on June 25th, 2011 to fight in the featherweight division.

The UFC newcomer is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and hasn't lost a bout since November of 2009. While he has yet to fight inside the UFC Octagon, Hioki has all the ingredients for a future champion in the 145 weight class.

Lightweight

Gray Maynard

Topping the list of lightweight fighters is Maynard, who has never lost a mixed martial arts fight in his career.

In one of the greatest fights in UFC history, Maynard drew against Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 125. Maynard will get another chance to be declared the 155-pound champion when he takes on Edgar for a third time at UFC 136.

Clay Guida

Arguably the most entertaining fighter in the UFC today, Guida has been on a fast track for a shot at the lightweight title.

He will face up-and-coming star Ben Henderson at UFC on Fox in the hopes of becoming the next to receive a title shot in the 155 division. Guida, who is on a four-fight winning streak, is a serious threat to any fighter holder in the lightweight division.

Ben Henderson

Much like Guida, Henderson will look for a chance at earning a title shot with a win at UFC on Fox. Since entering the UFC, Henderson has been perfect, posting a 2-0 record.

Guida and Henderson are very similar in that they both are the aggressors of their fights and both display exceptional skills in the submission game. Henderson is destined to wear UFC gold.

Melvin Guillard

Arguably one of the best knockout artists in the UFC today, Guillard has proven time and time again that he is in fact ready for a lightweight title shot.

Guillard, who's been on an absolute tear to the top of the division, has won eight of his last nine fights. Four of his eight victories have come by way of knockout in the very first round of action.

Anthony Pettis

Pettis missed his chance in a title shot when he was defeated by Clay Guida at the Ultimate Fighter 13 finale via unanimous decision.

Pettis is unarguably one of the most explosive fighters in the UFC today. Despite a recent loss, a win against Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136 will get him back in the talk for a lightweight title shot.

Welterweight

Carlos Condit

Condit will square off at UFC 137 in a shot at the welterweight title against mixed martial arts veteran, George St-Pierre.

Condit, who is currently on a four-fight winning streak, filled in for Nick Diaz after two "no show" press conference appearances. St-Pierre feels Condit is an all-around better challenge than Diaz.

Condit is destined to wear UFC gold in the near future.

Rory MacDonald

A GSP product, MacDonald has quickly taken center stage in the welterweight division.

At just 22 years old, MacDonald has won 12 of his first 13 fights, with the only loss of his career coming to Carlos Condit at UFC 115. Even then, MacDonald was knocked out and out-struck but still took Condit down three times.

It appears as if MacDonald is making it known that he is, in fact, the future of the 170 weight class.

Nick Diaz

Diaz is arguably the biggest disappointment in UFC history. Deciding not to show up for two press conferences is just an appetizer of Diaz's drama-filled career.

But while Diaz is an issue out of the Octagon, his skills are undeniable. Currently on a 10-fight winning streak, Diaz will get another shot at becoming the UFC Welterweight Champion.

Jon Fitch

Fans across the UFC feel that Fitch has gotten the shaft time and time again. Since entering the UFC in 2005, all Fitch has done is win.

Of his 15 career bouts, he's lost just one time to St-Pierre at UFC 87. Even so, Fitch has only received one title shot despite presenting himself as arguably the No. 2 fighter in the 170-pound division.

Jake Ellenberger

In the biggest fight of his career, Ellenberger rose to the occasion, knocking out highly-dangerous Jake Shields at UFC Fight Night 25 in New Orleans.

Many fans didn't give Ellenberger the benefit of the doubt prior to entering the Octagon. In fact, Ellenberger has now won five straight fights—four coming by knockout.

Ellenberger's future is bright and includes wearing gold.

Middleweight

Chael Sonnen

As if there was ever any doubt after his demolishing of Anderson Silva at UFC 117. Yet Silva still found a way to win, leaving Sonnen with something to prove.

No one has dominated the world's best fighter since he entered the UFC in June of 2006. An all-around exceptional fighter, Sonnen is destined to be declared the UFC Middleweight Champion.

Mark Munoz

The "Filipino Wrecking Machine" has been just that since losing to Yushin Okami at a UFC Live in 2010. Since then, Munoz has won three straight fights and six of his last seven bouts.

Even more impressive, Munoz has the capability to knock his opponent out, take them to a grueling decision and the occasional submission.

Michael Bisping

While many doubt if Bisping has what it takes to be a UFC champion, the potential is there.

Bisping won the first 14 bouts of his career, including his first four UFC fights. Bisping then went on a sub-par 4-3 streak before reeling off three straight wins.

If Bisping can continue to progress in his wrestling, he could very well be a future Middleweight Champion.

Light Heavyweight

Rashad Evans

Evans had only the slightest taste of what a UFC championship feels like after defeating Forrest Griffin at UFC 92.

In his first title defense, he was knocked out in the second round by Lyoto Machida at UFC 98. Arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, Evans will certainly have a belt around his waist in the near future.

Rampage Jackson

Much like Evans, Jackson's time as a UFC champion was short. Despite being victorious in his first title defense against Dan Henderson at UFC 75, Jackson lost his next bout to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86.

Since then, Jackson has won four of his last five bouts and has earned a shot at Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

Lyoto Machida

Machida entered the UFC on an absolute tear, winning his first 14 mixed martial arts bouts. He defeated Evans at UFC 98 to be declared the Light Heavyweight Champion, only to lose it two fights later to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 113.

Since then, Machida has underachieved but still demonstrates the skills. He is destined to be a future UFC champion.

Dan Henderson

Henderson, who hasn't fought in the UFC Octagon since July of 2009, will finally return to fight Rua at UFC 139.

"Hendo" is currently on a three-fight winning streak and coming off arguably the biggest victory of his career, defeating Fedor Emelianenko. An absolute powerhouse in wrestling, Henderson demonstrates all the ingredients to be a future Light Heavyweight Champion.

Phil Davis

Arguably the best wrestler in the UFC today, Davis has quickly emerged as a legitimate force in the 205 weight class. Davis has never been taken down and has posted a perfect mixed martial arts record at 9-0.

Davis has defeated notable opponents such as Brian Stann, Alexander Gustafsson, Tim Boetsch and Antonio Nogueira. Davis is destined to wear UFC gold.

Heavyweight

Junior Dos Santos

Dos Santos will get his chance to prove to the world that he is capable of being a UFC Heavyweight Champion when he takes on Cain Velasquez at UFC on Fox.

Dos Santos has been nothing less than amazing since entering the UFC in October of 2008. In fact, Dos Santos hasn't lost, posting a perfect 7-0 record inside the Octagon.

His vicious ground-and-pound game scream "Future Heavyweight Champion."

Shane Carwin

Carwin had a small taste of what it felt like to wear UFC gold when he defeated Frank Mir at UFC 111. In his next bout he gave the gold away, when he was tapped out by Brock Lesnar in the second round of action.

Carwin, who's recently fallen down the heavyweight charts, has what it takes to build himself back to a UFC champion.

Alistair Overeem

Overeem will finally get to show what he's fully capable of, fighting on the biggest stage of his mixed martial arts career. Arguably the best heavyweight in the world, Overeem must first get past Brock Lesnar.

Of his 35 career victories, Overeem has only allowed two to go to the judge's scorecards. Overeem is certainly destined to wear UFC heavyweight gold.

Brock Lesnar

Lesnar's also a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and is in the process of returning to the UFC after being off for nearly a year.

His opponent, Overeem, will be Lesnar's toughest test to date, as the two will square off at UFC 141.

If Lesnar can prove to the world and himself that he is back to his normal form, he definitely has what it takes to be crowned the UFC Heavyweight Champion once again.