SunSport picks out a quartet of combatants to keep an eye on at UFC Chicago
We highlight four UFC stars whose performances will be of particular interest at UFC on FOX in Chicago on Saturday night
UFC on FOX in Chicago on Saturday night will see a host of potential title contenders and rising prospects take centre stage in front of a national television audience in the States.
But which athletes should we be paying particular attention to? I've picked out 'Four to Follow' for this weekend's event in Chicago.
Francis Ngannou
The huge Frenchman is fast building a reputation as one of the most dangerous up-and-comers in the UFC's heavyweight division.
So far in the UFC we've seen a glimpse of his striking power, as he first knocked out Luis Henrique in Orlando, then battered Curtis Blaydes to a doctor's TKO stoppage in Zagreb.
But Ngannou's record suggests he's no one-trick pony, with three out of his seven career wins coming by way of submission.
The UFC heavyweight division is in serious need of some new talent, and in the form of Ngannou and Derrick Lewis, there could finally be some fresh talent moving up to challenge the established stars at the top of the division.
Ngannou takes on Serbian Bojan Mihajlovic, who goes into the bout riding a 10-fight win streak.
Alex Oliveira
Alex 'Cowboy' Oliveira may have lost to fellow 'Cowboy' Donald Cerrone last time out, but the Brazilian remains an entertaining presence in the UFC's 170lb division.
After succumbing to the world championship-level jiu jitsu of Gilbert Burns on his Octagon debut, Oliveira has impressed, with a submission win over KJ Noons, a decision victory over Joe Merritt and a knockout of scrappy Pole Piotr Hallmann marking him out as a rising prospect in the division.
That defeat to Cerrone may have derailed the hype a little, but that bout came a little too early for the Brazilian, who still has plenty more to give in the Octagon as he looks to rise up the ranks.
He takes on German-born taekwondo ace James Moontasri in what could turn out to be one of the fights of the night.
Edson Barboza
Mention the name Edson Barboza to any longtime MMA fan and they'll nod and mention his highlight-reel knockout of Brit Terry Etim back in 2012.
That spectacular wheel-kick KO of Etim remains one of the best knockouts ever seen in a UFC bout, and Barboza's ultra-aggressive striking style, led by his thumping kicks, make him must-see TV every time he steps into the Octagon.
Plagued by inconsistency throughout his UFC career, it finally feels like Barboza may be turning a corner and could soon be pushing himself right into title contention in the UFC's stacked lightweight division.
In order to make that a reality he'll need to follow up his recent win over former champ Anthony Pettis with victory over former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez this weekend.
If he can repeat the feat against Melendez, calls for a Barboza title shot will only start to get louder.
Holly Holm
Holly Holm's first defence of her UFC women's bantamweight title was going swimmingly. She dominated three out of the four rounds against Miesha Tate and headed into the final frame at UFC 196 looking set fair on the scorecards.
But then disaster struck. She was taken down and choked out by the gritty Tate and the world title she'd won so spectacularly from Ronda Rousey last November was gone in an instant.
Now looking to bounce back, Holm takes on fellow striker Valentina Shevchenko in the main event in Chicago looking to deliver a dominant performance against the woman who pushed the new champion Amanda Nunes all the way in her last outing.
If Holm can brush aside the challenge of Shevchenko in decisive fashion, she'll be right back in the conversation for a second title shot. Back to back defeats would be unthinkable.
Holm's career is poised on a knife edge, and her approach to he main event bout in Chicago will make for fascinating viewing.
