In the last decade or so, the lightweight division has emerged as the highest-profile weight class in the UFC due to its unique mixture of historically high-level fighters and captivating personalities.
Meanwhile, the featherweight and bantamweight divisions cultivated reputations as the deepest weight classes with the toughest paths to and through the rankings. However, as of late, the guys at 170 pounds have turned the chapter on a couple eras of dominance between Georges St-Pierre's unparalleled run as champion followed with a half-decade or so defined by the trio of Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington and Tyron Woodley.
As Belal Muhammad prepares to make his first title defense at UFC 315 against Jack Della Maddalena, Kansas City hosts a main event between newer faces on the scene - Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates - keen on breaking into contention themselves.