Rongzhu

Nobody hands you anything at lightweight. Rongzhu has built a 27-6 record the hard way, one fight at a time since leaving China's regional scene.

He fights at a pace most of the division can't hold — 6.02 strikes landed a minute, every minute. By round three, opponents are usually fighting his fight.

Last time out he beat Austin Hubbard (Decision - Unanimous) — the kind of result that keeps a career pointed in the right direction.

At 26 years old with 33 fights of experience already banked, the trajectory matters more than the current ranking.