UFC Denver preview: Can Shevchenko become No. 1 with a 'Bullet'?

The women's bantamweight division has been in flux ever since Ronda Rousey was unseated in brutal fashion by Holly Holm at UFC 193.

Hoping to take advantage of these uncertain times? Valentina "Bullet" Shevchenko.

The 28-year-old kickboxing specialist sports a deceivingly modest 2-1 record in the Octagon, with her two wins coming over Holm and former Strikeforce champion Sarah Kaufman. Her lone loss came at the hands of current 135-pound queen Amanda Nunes.

Shevchenko's impressive performances - combined with the decline of Rousey and the retirement of Miesha Tate - have vaulted her to the No. 1 spot in the contenders' rankings, but she has yet to register with the casual fan. That could change on Saturday when she headlines her second straight UFC on FOX show.

Standing in her way is Julianna Pena, a former "Ultimate Fighter" winner who has yet to taste defeat in the UFC. Unlike Shevchenko, she has been far more active at promoting herself and calling out her peers like Holm and Rousey.

Related: Pena not sold on Shevchenko's win over Holm, the 'Buster Douglas of MMA'

Shevchenko has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to familiarizing herself with the fans, not to mention having to get past the relentless Pena in the first place. However, as a marketable athlete who speaks multiple languages, Bullet could cement herself as the next star to emerge from the women's bantamweight ranks.

Related - UFC Denver predictions: Pena, Shevchenko vie for title shot

Two of MMA's finest scrappers face off

Considering the complete disregard that Donald Cerrone and Jorge Masvidal have for their well-being and their records, it's almost inconceivable that the two haven't crossed paths before. That matchmaking oversight will be corrected when they meet in the co-main event of UFC on FOX 23.

Masvidal has a legitimate beef with "Cowboy," as he was removed from a November bout with Kelvin Gastelum so that Cerrone could fight Gastelum at UFC 205 instead (a booking that also fizzled when Gastelum was unable to make weight). That slight motivated Masvidal to call for a fight with Cerrone himself, a suggestion that Cerrone was all too happy to oblige.

Both men have made a career out of taking on all comers and being equally as potent on the mat as they are on their feet, so this one has all the makings of a classic.

Ngannou knock you out, mama said knock you out

Popularly known as "The Predator," Francis Ngannou couldn't have picked a more fitting nickname.

The 30-year-old French heavyweight has been utterly voracious in his first four UFC appearances, dispatching all of his opponents by knockout or submission. Fighters with Ngannou's eye-popping physique don't always deliver, but so far he's passed the eye test and then some.

Just ask Anthony Hamilton, who narrowly escaped having his arm ripped off when he stepped into the cage with Ngannou in December.

Ngannou's impressive run has netted him the No. 10 spot in the UFC's rankings and he faces his first big name opponent when he meets former heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski on Saturday. With another fast finish, Ngannou will find himself knocking on the door of a title shot in a thin division.

Can Sterling get out of his 'Funk'?

Worrying about Aljamain Sterling's career after one loss may seem silly, but he's a promising young fighter who could find himself on a losing streak after butting heads with top contender Raphael Assuncao in the weekend's most intriguing preliminary bout.

"The Funk Master" is in a delicate place after dropping a split decision to Bryan Caraway, an opponent that Sterling had been calling out for months. While losing to Caraway was nothing to be ashamed of, it was definitely a letdown after Sterling had shown the makings of a future champion in his first four UFC bouts.

Every great champion has to learn to lose and how Sterling performs against Assuncao will go a long way to determining how far away he is from fighting for gold.