The journey toward UFC gold can be a long, arduous path. The vast majority who manage to work their way into title contention typically do so after many years of paying their dues on the regional scene before incrementally clawing their way up the rankings.
Every once in a generation, a fighter debuts inside the Octagon and instantly exudes the talent, aura and charisma that lets everybody know they are bound for greatness, that they will bypass the rights of passage other fighters must endure in order to reach elite status.
When Anderson Silva decimated Chris Leben inside the opening minute of his UFC debut at the Hard Rock Hotel back in 2006, it was instantly clear that this was a generational talent we were watching.