On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC with August wins

Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.

This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

• After a near two-year hiatus, one of the best flyweight prospects in the world is back and hopes to join his teammates Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili in the UFC.
• An Australian regional champion hopes to be the next from City Kickboxing to take a step up to the UFC.
• A relentless Oklahoma-born up-and-comer looks to notch a win over a UFC alumnus and hopefully head to the big show thereafter.
• Piling up win after win, a Kazakh flyweight angles to be the next in an influx of fighters from his country headed to the UFC.
• One of the top pound-for-pound fighters in Texas had to rebuild against a loss to a top-tier opponent in 2023. Back on track, he hopes a win streak leads him into the UFC.