5 UFC fighters who could soon become two-weight world champions

Every sport has its Superstars and MMA is no different. But a lot of people would agree that the UFC is witnessing a bit of drought in celebrities. The eras of the Light Heavyweight and Welterweight Superstars like Matt Hughes, BJ Penn, Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell are history and with Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor and Jon Jones mere specks on the horizon, the UFC is on the hunt for the next big thing. This urgency is compounded by the fact that its new owners, WME-IMG, are seeking quick returns on the $4 billion investment they've made.

So what's the solution and more importantly, how does this trickle down to the fans? We're hearing more trash-talk than ever between fighters, slam-bang barnburners and in the absence of bonafide Superstars, we have superfights between stars who are their own brands. Longtime fans might criticize this as excessive commercialization, but they need to be reminded that this is what got them hooked in the first place.

That being said, there will certainly come a time when merit gets swept under the red carpet to keep the footfall high for a freakshow fight. But what if the spectacle is justifiable, because of the lack of genuine, worthy challengers? It's happened before, with Randy Couture and BJ Penn, although in their cases there was a 4-year interlude before they won titles in different weight classes.

But this is the WME era and the last two years have had two new two-weight world champions and there are auguries that there might be many more to come. Let's take a look at a few fighters who are or were champions in one weight class but could soon have another division's title wrapped around their waist:

#5 Luke Rockhold

This pick was the runt of the litter - until Alexander Gustaffson called out Luke Rockhold on Twitter. Heading into UFC 221, the topic of Rockhold moving upto Light Heavyweight resurfaced and he confirmed it. After his loss to Romero, it was reported that he would make the jump within the year.

Let's look at the way the pieces are arranged. Having cleaned out the 205 lbs division, Daniel Cormier will challenge Stipe Miocic for the Heavyweight belt in July, making it a full year since his belt was on the line. Jon Jones' future is now in limbo and the 205 lbs throne can't be left empty, so a new champion must be crowned.

The only Light Heavyweight who can make a genuine case for the title is Gustaffson. But, like DC and Jones, he's cleaned out most of the division, so who will he fight? Enter Luke Rockhold. The former Middleweight Champion is old news in the 185 lbs division, having suffered humiliating losses to ageing fighters.

He's a natural 205er and having trained with Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez for the longest time is no stranger to tussling with bigger men. But Rockhold's stand up is porous and a crafty striker like Gustaffson will have no problem piercing his defence. The ground is a completely different story - Rockhold has dominated every UFC opponent who's gone to the canvas.

Granted, the odds are in Gus's favour. Rockhold's misplaced faith in the speed of is his right hook and his defensive boxing cost him the title against Romero. Gustaffson's athleticism is nowhere near Romero's, but his range is a formidable equalizer. The Mauler's stand up is only getting better and better, and his takedown defence is excellent. But we've seen him tire in the later rounds against Jones and Cormier.

This is Rockhold's biggest advantage, apart from the ground game. The Swede is gigantic, but he doesn't dwarf Rockhold, who's a massive 185er. Comparing records, Rockhold has actually beaten more high-calibre opponents than Gustaffson.

Gustaffson will go into this fight as the favourite, but if Rockhold can seriously restructure his stand up, we could be in for a surprise. Granted, he's suffered two humiliating losses and doesn't look the same fighter he was when he was making his way up the Middleweight ranks, but it is always hard to bet against someone as exceptional as Rockhold.

#4 Joanna Jedrzejczyk

After losing her Strawweight title in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, Joanna Jedrzejczyk parted ways with her nutritionists, whom she blamed for having to lose 16 pounds in 14 hours. She believes it weakened her to the point that it cost her the belt.

This isn't the first time we've seen JJ put herself through purgatory to make 115 lbs. In fact, she stated that she will move up to 125 lbs if the UFC creates a Flyweight division and claim that belt. It's no longer an "if", now that there is a Women's Flyweight division, a champion and a number one contender too. And did we forget, that contender, Valentina Shevchenko, has beaten Joanna in three Muay Thai contests?

But Joanna will first seek revenge against Rose Namajunas at UFC 223 and if she manages to wrest the crown, it could very well set up a trilogy. But hopefully, Joanna sates herself with the win and doesn't put herself through another hellacious weight-cut, instead choosing to challenge for the 125 lbs belt.

And if Valentina Shevchenko tops Nicco, a mouth-watering rematch in the octagon is a given. We've seen how JJ buzzsaws through opponents in a diminished state at 115 lbs, now imagine what she's capable of at 125 lbs. And considering that the three losses to Shevchenko were what motivated JJ to become a UFC champion, we don't need to hear her say the words to know what she's thinking.

#3 Rafael Dos Anjos

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Last month, Dana White said on Fox Sports that Rafael Dos Anjos will be Tyron Woodley's next challenger. It is inarguable that the Brazilian has earned a title shot, but the internet is buzzing with talk of a fight between Woodley and Nate Diaz and in the WME-IMG era, they could be more than rumours.

That fight will definitely sell more than one against Dos Anjos, and considering Dana White's credibility when it comes to public statements, it could very well happen.

But the former Lightweight Champion will be unruffled at this. Tyron Woodley is the one he must have in mind while training, but if Diaz jumps the queue and pulls off the upset, the new champion's first challenger is someone he has already lost to, albeit at 155 lbs.

Let's steer out of the bay of hyper-hypotheticals and focus on what seems the most likely scenario. Dos Anjos is one of the most methodical and well-rounded fighters in the UFC, while Woodley is a physical freak, whose ability to strategise is very underrated.

Dos Anjos has looked unbelievable at 170 lbs and his topmost priority will be to avoid Woodley's power while landing sharp Muay Thai combos. Woodley might be at an advantage when it comes to the takedown and top pressure, but lingering on the ground against a vaunted BJJ black belt like Dos Anjos could end up costing him dearly.

This is a deliciously tough fight to pick and has all the makings of a memorable contest, whether it ends quickly or goes the distance.

#2 TJ Dillashaw

Enter cap — The snake won't find this mouse easy prey

TJ Dillashaw vs Demetrious Johnson is yet another fight Dana White has confirmed. Both fighters are eager to throw down and the fans will watch unblinking if the UFC's 135 lbs champ can vanquish the125 lbs king.

Dillashaw's social media posts indicate that he's already monitoring his weight in preparation for the fight. Considering Demetrious Johnson's accomplishments and his place among the top 10 greatest fighters of all time, Dana White should loosen the strings of his bottomless purse and write him the $2 million dollar check he's justified in demanding.

Mighty Mouse will go into the fight the towering favourite, but he's never faced anyone as undecipherable as TJ Dillashaw. The Bantamweight champion's biggest hurdle will the weight cut and its aftermath. If he can manoeuvre that and go into the fight replenished, he will pose the biggest threat Demetrious Johnson has faced and could even be the first one to finish the man who holds the record for most title defences in UFC history.

#1 Daniel Cormier

On July 7th at UFC 226 Daniel Cormier could become just the 5th fighter in UFC history to become a two-division world champion. But he must first go through a man who shares the same tough-as-nails and never-say-die attitudes as him.

Stipe Miocic does have the size and power advantages over Cormier, but the Light Heavyweight champ was a former Heavyweight and has never been defeated in that weight class. More importantly, both embrace the grind and Cormier has a serious edge when it comes to cardio and wrestling.

Miocic will certainly sharpen those aspects of his game, but he will be facing an undiminished Cormier who didn't suffer a weight cut. The fireman has shown that he can finish an opponent, but Cormier's chin and the risk of overspending energy will keep that option away from the front of his arsenal.

Their styles predict a five-round slog, and even though Miocic has shown his determination to keep the belt as long as possible, the competition he's faced is far from Cormier's pedigree. So regardless of what the betting odds say, we think that come July, there will be a new baddest man on the planet.

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