5 UFC fighters who will justify the hype behind them and 5 that won't

#2. Will justify: No.10-ranked UFC welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov

Shavkat Rakhmonov looks like he could be the next to ascend the UFC welterweight rankings. The No.10-ranked welterweight has been dominant throughout his MMA career, has a 16-0 MMA record, and has finished every single one of his opponents.

'Nomad' has 8 wins via KO/TKO and 8 wins via submission. He is an elite-level sambo fighter whose rise has struck similarities to Khamzat Chimaev. His last fight was a submission win against Neil Magny, who is the current No.12-ranked welterweight. Now that he is ranked No.10, another win against a ranked opponent could get him closer to a title opportunity.

Rakhmonov clearly has the skillset to be a future champion, and with more hype, he could gain more attention for his fights. He has won back-to-back Performance of the Night bonuses and is an exciting welterweight to keep an eye on.

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#1. Will justify: No.13-ranked UFC bantamweight Sean O'Malley

UFC bantamweight Sean O'Malley has become one of the biggest stars in the promotion in a short period of time. The No.13-ranked bantamweight earned a contract with the promotion following an impressive performance on Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series. He is known for his knockout power — 11 of his 15 wins have come via KO/TKO.

O'Malley is another charismatic fighter who has brought a lot of attention to his fights. He has a 15-1 MMA record, with his only career loss coming against current No.5 ranked bantamweight Marlon Vera. The Montana-born fighter continues to improve and looks to have made adjustments following the loss.

'Sugar' competes in one of the most stacked divisions in the promotion, yet he still receives an extreme amount of hype. He is scheduled to fight former bantamweight champion Petr Yan on October 22. This will be the toughest test of his MMA career and a win would surely make a strong case for a title shot.