Forgotten UFC Title Threats for Each Division

The UFC is comprised of an incomparable amount of different talents.

Derived from all corners of the globe, these admirable athletes take to the cage in their own unique fashion.

But along the way, through hard-fought Octagon battles and divisional shape-shifting, some names are lost in the sauce.

It is not a reflection of their skills, but more of the changing landscape around them that is often fueled by streaking opponents, popularity contests and media coverage.

However, the sport of mixed martial arts can serve as a catalyst in reminding the masses of one's potential and promise.

Here are forgotten, yet unwavering, UFC title threats for each weight class.

People tend to forget that Claudia Gadelha nearly defeated current UFC women's strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk just six months ago at UFC on Fox 13.

Her seven takedowns in 15 minutes of split-decision action were not enough to get past Jedrzejczyk's 38 significant strikes.

Now while many onlookers protested that the 26-year-old Brazilian won that contest, her defeat does not take away from her budding skill set.

With tremendous strength and grappling, Gadelha is one of the most feared contenders in the division when distance is closed.

She is young enough and relevant enough to warrant a rematch with the Polish Princess should she win her next Octagon outing against divisional newcomer and world-renowned champion Jessica Aguilar.

Having finished all 10 of her professional victories (three in the UFC), Amanda "The Lioness" Nunes is already a divisional fan favorite.

Her ability to overwhelm unsuspecting opponents with forward movement and demanding force has her climbing the divisional ranks as we speak.

With arguably the best ground-and-pound at 135 pounds, the Brazilian is capable of beating anyone standing in her way in hopes of challenging champion Ronda Rousey in 2016.

And with swarming size and power, Nunes seems like the most formidable opponent for the champ since Sara McMann's wrestling was supposed to do the trick.

It's difficult to rationalize a trilogy fight between current UFC flyweight kingpin Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson and former top contender Joseph Benavidez at this point in time.

But since his most recent defeat at the hands of the champ by way of vicious first-round knockout at UFC on Fox 9, Benavidez has racked off three straight victories opposite some of the division's most game opponents (John Moraga, Dustin Ortiz, Tim Elliot).

Needless to say, the Team Alpha Male mainstay is more than capable of fighting Johnson tooth and nail. He just has to earn the right to step inside of the cage with him one more time.

Now while such a fight wouldn't take place until 2016 considering Johnson is scheduled to defend his belt next against John Dodson for a second time, Benavidez should be able to lock down a shot at gold should he win his next fight.

Michael McDonald's absence from the UFC bantamweight title picture has been a truly dispiriting occurrence.

With some of the heaviest hands south of 155 pounds, McDonald has been unable to lay leather to skin on the heels of hand and wrist injuries since his loss to Urijah Faber back at UFC on Fox 9.

Now while Mayday remains just 24 years old, his once promising evolution has been slightly delayed following a lengthy and unfamiliar layoff from action.

But if McDonald heals correctly and continues to improve his grappling, 2016 could be the year of the Modesto Monarch.

Just imagine how satisfying a championship showdown between him and current titleholder TJ Dillashaw would be.

With the entire MMA world holding their breath for an up-in-the-air championship tilt between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor, the rest of the UFC featherweight division could invade North Korea tomorrow and nobody would bat an eye.

That's unfortunate, considering rising contenders like Hawaii's Max Holloway continue to improve and master their crafts.

As the current owner of an inconceivable six-fight win streak since the start of 2014, 23-year-old Holloway is making his case as the next big thing at 145 pounds.

Not to mention he remains the only fighter to ever take McGregor the distance, losing a fairly competitive decision to the Irishman back at UFC Fight Night 26.

There's little more than Holloway needs to do in order to throw his name in the mix with current title contenders Chad Mendes and Frankie Edgar, but a fashionable victory over red-hot Charles Oliveira this August could be his winning ticket.

With guys like Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone gracing the forefront of the lightweight division, guys like Eddie Alvarez often struggle to stick out.

And that's without mentioning current champion Rafael Dos Anjos and his meteoric rise to stardom.

But after a recent victory over former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez at UFC 188, Philadelphia's own Alvarez is starting to gain the recognition he once harnessed with Bellator.

Needless to say, the 31-year-old brawler is a scary sight for any fighter in the weight class, let alone a precision-driven striker like Pettis or a pressure-cooker like Dos Anjos.

If Alvarez can win his next outing, which should be against a guy like Showtime, his bid to fight the winner of RDA vs. Cowboy becomes more relevant than ever (unless Khabib Nurmagomedov can make it out of bed healthy).

The UFC without Carlos Condit is like steak with no potato.

That's why his recent return from a nasty ACL tear back at UFC 171 is a welcome sight for steak lovers everywhere.

His performance was not perfect, but a TKO (doctor's stoppage) over wily veteran Thiago Alves in front of a ravenous Brazilian crowd last month at UFC Fight Night 67 is a good way to re-enter the welterweight title scene.

As one of the best all-around finishers in MMA today, The Natural Born Killer is capable of defeating any fighter at 170 pounds.

His notoriety and world-class technique should be enough to propel him to the top of the heap in 2016, with a possible long-awaited showdown with Matt Brown in the works should The Immortal get past Tim Means at UFC 189. 

After Luke Rockhold and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, there aren't many middleweights for current divisional champion Chris Weidman to fend off.

And with unlikely returns to relevance circling all-time greats like Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida, the 185-pound roster is starting to thin out.

Newly discovered juggernaut Yoel Romero could rise to title prominence, but he'll most likely have to get past Souza to do so.

That leaves the uncanny and near-forgotten Gegard Mousasi as the true dark horse to work his way up the ranks and make a serious run at UFC gold in 2016.

Now while a promotional record of 3-2 doesn't warrant massive celebration, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion and former Dream middleweight and light heavyweight champion is capable of prolonging success.

As a calculated practitioner who strives on crisp boxing, timely Judo and top-notch finishing, the Iranian is one of the most dangerous outs when his stuff is working.

With champion Daniel Cormier riding in Jon Jones' driver seat (no pun intended), it may be tough for the current cast of 205-pound misfits to claim gold.

Hidden throughout the division's rather slim pickings is former top contender Glover Teixeira, who looks to shake off a two-fight losing streak when he takes on rising star Ovince Saint Preux next month at UFC Fight Night 73.

The Brazilian's most recent defeat came against Bellator defector Phil Davis at UFC 179, but Mr. Wonderful has notoriously beaten up more well-rounded fighters with his wrestling alone (i.e. Alexander Gustafsson and Lyoto Machida), suggesting Teixeira should rebound nicely.

Now while that sort of track record wouldn't bode well for Teixeira if he ever ends up challenging Cormier's Olympic pedigree, he remains as skilled and versed as any contender in the division today.

He just has to prove he can stay off his back in order to land his Chuck Liddell-approved striking in fashion.

While Cain Velasquez was an admirable champion with remarkable skills inside of the cage, his overall dominance was consequently depriving the MMA world of Junior Dos Santos.

Sure JDS was seen beating the brakes off Stipe Miocic at UFC on Fox 13 in one of the best five-round heavyweight fights you'll ever see, but he was never going to fight for the title again so long as Velasquez was at the helm.

Luckily for Dos Santos, the championship window subsequently re-opened when Fabricio Werdum defeated Velasquez at UFC 188 to claim the belt.

The victory has ultimately given Dos Santos another opportunity to work towards a title shot, one which he could very well win considering he beat Werdum back at UFC 90 via TKO.

Remember how Werdum's ears flopped like that of an elephant?

Evidently, Cigano's once iron-clad road block has officially been bulldozed and it's time to set him loose atop the division.

For more UFC news and coverage, Follow @DHiergesell