Mixed Martial Arts is the biggest growing sport in the world and every Thursday , Bleacher Report will bring you a buzzing story . Their five-star Mobile App “ Team Stream ” helps you follow the MMA 24-7 : DOWNLOAD NOW . UFC title shots do n't come around all too often . They are rarely earned without sacrifice and can serve as a fighter 's career-defining accomplishment . But as difficult as it is to cement a shot at promotional gold , it 's even tougher to take advantage of the opportunity . And for those challengers who taste defeat only to feel their time in the spotlight slip away , forging a divisional comeback is the only way to patch the wound . Here are three recently vanquished title threats who may be close to earning another shot at gold . Joseph Benavidez . Team Alpha Male standout Joseph Benavidez resides in a division dictated by arguably the most dominant champion around in Demetrious Johnson . But considering Benavidez is the flyweight version of Urijah Faber , meaning he does n't lose outside of a title fight , the two men should cross paths once more . Joseph Benavidez ( right ) kicks Dustin Ortiz in their flyweight bout during the UFC event in November . Ortiz ( right ) punches Benavidez in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event . Expected to take on fellow Mighty Mouse leftover John Moraga at UFC 187 , the 30-year-old has a chance to extend his current win streak to three . And in a weight class as shallow as a glass of water , Benavidez could once again find himself fighting for a title by the end of 2015 ( if not early next year ) . He 's a premier draw at 125 pounds , and one of only a few contenders who can actually instil some doubt about the champ 's unheralded reign . Benson Henderson . Despite a recent jump up to welterweight and an impressive finish over rising contender Brandon Thatch , former lightweight champ Benson Henderson is still in the mix at 155 pounds . Add in the fact that Anthony Pettis just handed his title over to Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 185 , and Henderson should have an easier track back to contention considering Showtime had beaten him twice . Benson Henderson ( left ) lands a kick to the body of Brandon Thatch in their welterweight fight . Henderson attempts a submission against Thatch in their welterweight fight last month . While RDA also defeated Smooth via knockout less than one year ago , it was a close contest before the Brazilian landed on unforeseen uppercut that shortly put Henderson on another planet . Needless to say , the 31-year-old is still in the pinnacle of his career and remains one of the most dangerous entities in the deepest division in MMA . He 'll be able to log two more Octagon appearances by the end of the year and will have enough momentum to earn a shot should he win both outings . Ricardo Lamas . With an epic showdown between featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo and Irish sensation Conor McGregor looming in the distance , guys like Ricardo Lamas are being drastically overlooked . While Aldo swiftly defended his title opposite The Bully at UFC 169 , Lamas did enough in the championships rounds to suggest an upset could happen should he dominate early . Ricardo Lamas punches Dennis Bermudez in their featherweight bout in Mexico City last November . Lamas knocks Bermudez to the mat with a kick in their featherweight fight . But in order to get back into the mix in a division ruled by two international dynamos , the 32-year-old Chicagoan must debunk the evolving arsenal of former title contender Chad `` Money '' Mendes when the two collide at UFC Fight Night 63 . Mendes is another name that could easily make this list , but he is at least two impressive victories away from a trilogy fight with the champion . Of course , if McGregor captures the title from Aldo in July at UFC 189 , then all slates will be wiped clean .
Joseph Benavidez could soon be set for another shot at a UFC title . The former bantamweight champion is currently on the sidelines recovering from an injury suffered in his last fight against Dominick Cruz back in February.