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The UFC is always searching for the promotion's next big star. Unfortunately, not everyone has the star potential of Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey. Even the likes of Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal are hard to come by.
While no fighter is close to taking the Irishman's place, there have been UFC fighters who have emerged to achieve significant attention in some form or another. In order for that to happen, however, the fighters in question need pivotal moments or key wins that earn them greater attention.
In that spirit, this list compiles five recent breakout performances.
#5. Belal Muhammad vs. Sean Brady, UFC 280
Belal Muhammad has never been regarded in fond terms by UFC fans. While 'Remember the Name' is a proven winner who hasn't lost in four years, his fighting style hasn't endeared him to anyone. His wins are often dismissed as boring or lacklustre. Thus, at UFC 280, most MMA fans expected more of the same.
But instead of the grappling-heavy, grinding approach they've come to see from Muhammad, they were treated to a fast-paced scrap. The streaking welterweight faced undefeated 170'er Sean Brady in the final prelim bout of the evening. He applied constant pressure, gradually causing his opponent to wilt.
In the second round, 'Remember the Name' punctuated his performance with a TKO win to earn his first finish in three years. It led to widespread praise and curiosity about the new and improved version of Muhammad that fans were treated to in Abu Dhabi.
#4. Marlon 'Chito' Vera vs. Dominick Cruz, UFC on ESPN 41
Marlon Vera has been operating under the radar for some time now. The Ecuadorian power puncher first became known for blemishing Sean O'Malley's undefeated record. The win, however, was dismissed by many, including 'Sugar' himself, which is only natural for a fighter trying to salvage his reputation.
Unfortunately, his subsequent bout was a loss against all-time UFC great José Aldo. While the loss would have discouraged any other fighter, it only ignited a fire inside 'Chito'. He subsequently embarked on a winning streak before securing a main event bout against former bantamweight titleholder Dominick Cruz.
Throughout his career, 'The Dominator' has received praise for his elusive striking style. However, once he crossed swords with Vera inside the octagon, he faced an opponent who was well-equipped to make him pay for exiting at angles from striking exchanges.
Cruz constantly dips his head low into an outside angle. In the fourth round of their bout, 'Chito' made him pay for it by intercepting him with a crushing high kick. The former champion was out cold; Vera had a signature win that launched him into true title contention.
#3. Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira, UFC 280
Khabib Nurmagomedov's heir apparent is Islam Makhachev. The two men are both from Dagestan, Russia and train under the same coaches. Furthermore, their fighting styles are fairly similar, having been refined through decades of training together. Despite Makhachev's lengthy win streak, his detractors were plentiful.
Prior to his title-winning performance at UFC 280, many doubted his true skill level. Many fans questioned the calibre of opponents he had faced. Up until his clash with Charles Oliveira, the Dagestani phenom's only high-profile matchups had been Bobby Green and Dan Hooker, both of whom were short-notice opponents.
There was ample criticism branding Makhachev as undeserving of a title fight, including from fellow lightweights. But at UFC 280, he proved all of his doubters wrong by dropping Oliveira and finishing him with an arm-triangle choke to capture UFC gold. The win was especially impressive as Oliveira had finished all the other challengers in his lightweight title fights.
#2. Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 2, UFC 278
Prior to his UFC title win, Leon Edwards was one of the most overlooked fighters on the promotion's roster. He was the subject of significant ridicule due to his apparently uninteresting personality and boring fighting style. He was neither a known trash-talker nor a reliable finisher.
Colby Covington, the most polarizing fighter in the welterweight division, mocked him for being unmemorable by labeling him 'Leon Scott'. The name itself is a play on how supposedly forgettable 'Rocky' is. High-level welterweights refused to face him due to his perceived lack of name-value.
Only Belal Muhammad was willing. Even then, their bout ended in a no-contest. Thus, barely anyone paid him any mind. After he secured a rematch against Kamaru Usman to finally challenge for the divisional throne, 'Rocky's chances were dismissed.
But in their rematch just a few months ago, Edwards mounted a comeback for the ages and punished Usman for his habit of slipping far on the outside of punches. In doing so, he became the first UFC fighter to defeat 'The Nigerian Nightmare'.
#1. Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya, UFC 281
Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya are no strangers to one another. The two 185'ers are former kickboxers who clashed twice in their previous combat sport. 'Poatan' emerged victorious in those two instances, but his wins were not without controversy.
'The Last Stylebender' asserts that his first loss to the Brazilian power puncher was a robbery due to its closely-contested nature. The second loss he suffered, which was due to a vicious knockout from Pereira's patented left hook, was also dismissed by the Nigerian, who claimed he himself was close to finishing him before the referee gave 'Poatan' a standing ten-count.
Their third bout took place years later in a different sport. It was Pereira's seventh MMA bout, and his inexperience was evident throughout the fight. He was behind on the scorecards for most of the fight due to Adesanya implementing a surprise wrestling-heavy approach.
However, once the final round began, 'Poatan' fought with renewed vigour. He pressured his foe to the fence and made him pay for circling away from his left hook by countering him with a right cross. Eventually, he rocked his opponent en route to unleashing a vicious combination that resulted in a TKO win.
Pereira had mounted an incredible comeback, much like he did in his second win against the Nigerian.
