On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC with September wins

Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.

This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

• A “TUF 29” cast member hopes his battles inside the cage lead to a UFC contract as he continues to fight a different kind of fight to make his community safer outside of it.

• An explosive Brazilian out of Xtreme Couture sees knockouts as his way to get into the UFC – and he’s nearing closer and closer as the highlight reel expands.

• The front-runner candidate to be the next Tristar fighter to sign with a major promotion, an exciting lightweight travels into enemy territory against perhaps his biggest name to date.

• An Arizona-based, Sierra Leone-born bantamweight aims to be the first born in his country to grace the UFC, but he needs to pick up another win in Fury FC first.

• A 21-year-old undefeated phenom who already has double-digit pro wins faces his toughest test to date with major promotion circling the waters.

Dustin Lampros

Matheus Camilo

Michael Dufort

Abdul Kamara

Austin Bashi

Fighters worth watching who didn’t crack the list, yet are on the verge of something big:

• Jose Perez (8-1) – Sept. 1 def. Chris Vasil (6-4) via unanimous decision at LFA 166 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)

• Richard Martins (7-1) – Sept. 2 def. Joao Paulo Silva (6-2) via TKO in Round 2 at LFA 166 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)

• Marciano Ferreira (12-3) – Sept. 2 def. Wellington Mourao (11-4) via unanimous decision at LFA 166 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)

• Fernando Laurenco (17-3) – Sept. 2 def. Joao Pedro Saldanha (9-3) via submission (rear-naked choke) in Round 2 at LFA 166 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)

• Gerald Neto (18-6) – Sept. 2 def. Magnus Conrado (18-5) via unanimous decision at LFA 166 in Cajamar, Sao Paulo, Brazil (UFC Fight Pass)

• Nekruz Mirkhojaev (8-3) – Friday vs. Cristian Lopez (7-6) at ROC 81 in Atlantic City, N.J. (Airy TV)

• Armando Gjetja (7-3) – Friday vs. Jacob Bohn (13-10) at ROC 81 in Atlantic City, N.J. (Airy TV)

• Roberto Hernandez (7-1) – Friday vs. Toby Misech (12-7) at Cage Warriors 159 in San Diego (UFC Fight Pass)

• Ramil Kamilov (6-0) – Friday vs. Roberto Pixley (6-4) at Unified MMA 52 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (UFC Fight Pass)

• Maged Hammo (13-6-1) – Friday vs. John Nguyen (5-3) at Unified MMA 52 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (UFC Fight Pass)

• Jack Becker (10-3) – Saturday vs. David Martinez (10-5) at Eternal MMA 78 in Sydney, Australia (UFC Fight Pass)

• Adam Bramhald (12-2) – Saturday vs. Daniel Melo (9-4) at Caged Steel 33 in Doncaster, England (Internet Stream)

• Bahromjon Mashrapov (7-2) – Sept. 15 vs. Shaidkhan Magomedov (6-1) at LFA 167 in Niagara Falls, N.Y. (UFC Fight Pass)

• Ryder Newman (6-1) – Sept. 15 vs. Rocky Edwards (12-10-1) at Tuff-N-Uff 130 in Las Vegas (UFC Fight Pass)

• Harris Bonfiglio (5-1) – Sept. 16 vs. Blaine Shutt (8-6) at Combat FC 5 in Wilmington, Mass. (UFC Fight Pass)

• Jacobe Smith (6-0) – Sept. 17 vs. Brian Grinnell (12-11) at Fury FC 83 in Tulsa, Okla. (UFC Fight Pass)

• Josh Walker (7-1) – Sept. 17 vs. Aric Mercado (6-4) at Fury FC 83 in Tulsa, Okla. (UFC Fight Pass)

• Julius Holmes (8-2) – Sept. 17 vs. Jared McLoughlin (7-4) at Fury FC 83 in Tulsa, Okla. (UFC Fight Pass)

• An Tuan Ho (4-0) – Sept. 22 vs. Kendrick Latchman (9-9) at LFA 168 in Prior Lake, Minn. (UFC Fight Pass)

• Lucas Clay (9-2) – Sept. 22 vs. Bobby Lee (13-8) at LFA 168 in Prior Lake, Minn. (UFC Fight Pass)

• Sean McPadden (6-1) – Sept. 22 vs. Mitchell McKee (4-0) at LFA 168 in Prior Lake, Minn. (UFC Fight Pass)

• Joe Giannetti (14-4-1) – Sept. 23 vs. Michael Dufort (11-4) at Cage Titans 61 in Plymouth, Mass. (Spectation Sports)

• Luke Riley (7-0) – Sept. 29 vs. Alexander Loof (5-0) at Cage Warriors 160 in Manchester, England (UFC Fight Pass)

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie