UFC 182 is set to be one of the company’s biggest events in a long time. It boasts a championship main event between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier that is probably the biggest in the division because of the stakes, bitterness and challenge for Jones.
That main event will attract the eyes of many. It has the star power and implications that can draw massively.
That type of draw is also what can help other guys unintentionally. The other men and women performing on the card now have the stage and a wide audience with which they can leave an impression and make a name for themselves.
Who are some of the fighters that can truly make a name for themselves come Saturday night? Here are three candidates who can do that with impressive performances and big victories.
Myles Jury
In the co-main event slot, undefeated lightweight Myles Jury is set to face longtime contender and fan favorite Donald Cerrone. It’s his biggest test to date, and an impressive win could really add value to Jury’s name.
The 26-year-old has long been one of the top prospects at 155 pounds and has shown his talent while fighting increasingly tougher opponents. In looking at his impressive resume, he owns victories against top lightweight Michael Johnson, ultra-tough Diego Sanchez and Japanese legend Takanori Gomi.
Jury is underrated in so many ways, too. Nobody ever talks about his knockout power despite savage finishes of Ramsey Nijem and Takanori Gomi. Plus, his ground game is superb, making him a true all-around threat.
If Jury can add Cerrone to his resume under the win column, especially given the audience size, he can truly became a big-name fighter in the UFC.
Kyoji Horiguchi
The UFC flyweight division is not exactly brimming with contenders, so anybody can make a big splash with a victory. That especially goes for Japanese up-and-comer Kyoji Horiguchi, a true dark-horse contender at 125 pounds.
Horiguchi entered the UFC as one of the top flyweight prospects in the world, but has quickly turned into a top overall fighter in the division. His aggressive striking style and underrated grappling ability give him an edge in any fight he takes.
He is already 3-0 in the UFC since debuting in October of 2013. In that time, he has decisioned Darrell Montague while knocking out Dustin Pague and Jon delos Reyes.
With Demetrious Johnson waiting for his next title challenger and a lack of definitive names in the front of the line for a title shot, Horiguchi‘s stock can really rise with a win here on pay-per-view.
Josh Burkman
If there is a guy who can really get his name back in the ring come Saturday night, it’s Josh Burkman, a UFC castoff who used World Series of Fighting as his platform to return. He has a tall task in front of him in Hector Lombard, which, if successful, could skyrocket Burkman‘s stock.
Burkman re-entered the minds of fans with his massive WSOF upset of Jon Fitch. That win in itself skyrocketed Burkman‘s name, but imagine a main card victory over a top welterweight in Lombard.
He has the skill and grit to remain a top welterweight. However, given the platform, viewing audience and stakes come Saturday night, Burkman can really establish his name with a positive performance.
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