UFC 137 Results: What a Matt Mitrione Win Would Mean for Heavyweight Division

Matt Mitrione has a golden opportunity to make the leap from prospect to heavyweight contender at UFC 137.

"The Ultimate Fighter" Season 10 standout faces French destroyer Cheick Kongo, in what should be the toughest test of his MMA career.

While the world looks the other way, Mitrione has been slowly crafting a name for himself, dispatching of experienced veterans Tim Hague and Joey Beltran. He is coming off a second-round knockout victory over Christian Morecraft.

Kongo presents some interesting problems for Mitrione in the striking and grappling departments.

He is an imposing striker and an underrated wrestler. Mitrione has to find a way to avoid the ground at all costs. If taken down, he could become a victim to Kongo's sword-like elbows, which have extracted pools of blood from opponents in the past.

Fans are used to seeing Mitrione push the pace and stay aggressive in the stand-up exchanges. He'll have to proceed with caution to avoid ending up like Pat Barry, who was left plastered on the canvas after eating a counter from Kongo during wild exchanges.

Kongo is the perfect opponent to finally put Mitrione over as a legit contender. If he wins this fight, there is no turning back for the former NFL player.

While he won't crack into the incredibly-stacked Top-10 heavyweight rankings, he would establish himself as a viable contender.

Kongo may not be a Top-10 opponent, but he definitely ranks on the bubble. A win could earn Mitrione a shot at one of the division's elite.

Is "Meathead" ready to swim with the upper-echelon sharks of the heavyweight division, or will he get sent back to the prospect pool for some more polishing?