Rafael Cerqueira

Nobody hands you anything at light heavyweight. Rafael Cerqueira — "The Lion" to fight fans — has built a 11-4 record the hard way, one fight at a time since leaving Brazil's regional scene.

This is power striking with numbers behind it — 8 KO/TKO wins, 1.56 significant strikes landed per minute. Opponents don't get outpointed so much as dismantled. Add the southpaw stance and a 76" reach, and the puzzle gets harder still.

The last fight went to Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev (Submission (Rear Naked Choke) R1) — a setback, and the interesting question is always what a fighter does with one.

He's 36 now. Fighters at this stage aren't building toward something; they're spending what's left, and that usually makes for the best fights.