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Earning a title shot in the UFC is no small feat. Fighters must overcome immense odds to climb towards the top of a division. Even then other factors like timing, health and public attention often need to be just right to secure a shot at the gold.
Very few fighters ever earn this privilege and even making it to the UFC at all these days is a remarkable achievement. The same goes for becoming a ranked fighter as being in the top-15 in the world is incredibly impressive.
To put into perspective just how rare this is, there are over 750 fighters on the roster and there will be just 21 title fights in 2021. With that being said, the vast majority of fighters in the UFC have their sights set on one day fighting for a title.
Here are five fighters who might be on the verge of realizing this feat and may only need one more win to secure them the title shot all fighters seek:
#5. Khamzat Chimaev
While it's pretty unheard of for a fighter to get a title shot this soon in their UFC career, there may not be another fighter quite like Khamzat Chimaev. The undefeated Dagestani sensation may be one bout away from fighting for gold.
Chimaev burst onto the scene in 2020 when he finished two opponents just ten days apart. He's followed that up with three straight first-round finishes, including a big win over Ling Jingliang at UFC 267 that saw him enter the rankings.
Chimaev is now in a position to fight a top contender at welterweight. Should this fight line up with champion Kamaru Usman's next title defense, he will be in a great position to secure his status as the next number one contender.
#4. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is somewhat of a unique case in the UFC right now. While she is currently unranked, she is likely the greatest women's strawweight of all time. Her impressive resume means she is never far from her next title shot.
After not competing in 2021, Jedrzejczyk has stated her desire to return to the octagon in 2022. A win over a top contender in the division like Zhang Weili, Carla Esparza or Jessica Andrade would put her right back in the title conversation.
Jedrzejczyk was part of one of the greatest women's MMA fights of all-time in her last bout against Zhang Weili, and many felt she won that fight. It would not be surprising at all should she once again fight for UFC gold in late 2022.
#3. Andrea Lee
Few might have expected Andrea Lee to appear on a list like this even a few months ago. However, her big TKO victory over Cynthia Calvillo has elevated her to a legitimate contender at flyweight.
Lee had been on a three-fight skid not long ago but has been able to bounce back in a big way. She has shot up the rankings and could now be close to a title shot in a division in desperate need of contenders given how dominant champion Valentina Shevchenko has been taking out all-comers.
Lee, who has a win over Valentina's sister, Antonina Shevchenko, may be just one win away from getting her shot at the UFC women's flyweight championship.
#2. Aleksandar Rakic
Aleksandar Rakic has looked exceptionally good to this point in his UFC career, with his only loss coming via a split-decision to Volkan Oezdemir. Since then he has picked up wins over big stars Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos.
These fights have put him in a position where he is very much one win away from being the clear-cut number one contender at 205lbs. Rakic had been calling for a fight with Jiri Prochazka, but Prochazka has been sitting out for a title shot.
If that is the case, there does seem to be a couple of fights that could ensure Rakic is next in line. Both Anthony Smith and Jan Blachowicz are big names in the division that would give Rakic the opportunity to win the belt he so desperately wants.
#1. Islam Makhachev
Islam Makhachev has become a far bigger star in recent times, notably since the retirement of his friend and teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov. Makhachev appears to be improving at an impressive rate and is likely now one win away from a title shot.
Makhachev looked dominant in his recent first-round submission win over Dan Hooker at UFC 267. It is now being reported that he will face Beneil Dariush in February with the winner almost guaranteed a title shot after that.
While Makhachev has had a somewhat unspectacular start to his UFC career, he now has three straight submission victories. It appears he could be set to fill the void Khabib Nurmagomedov left at lightweight.
Poll : Who will fight for UFC gold first?
Aleksandar Rakic
Islam Makhachev
65 votes
