On paper, this week's UFC Fight Night main event between Jimmie Rivera and Marlon Moraes sure looks as if it will determine the next title contender in the bantamweight division.
But as Rivera and Moraes will tell you, title shots aren't determined on paper.
Rivera (21-1) and Moraes (20-5-1) each have a case to face the winner of an Aug. 4 championship bout between T.J. Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt. Rivera has won 20 consecutive fights, including five in the UFC. Moraes, a former WSOF champion, has won 15 of his past 16.
Both are optimistic a title shot is on the line when they meet Friday in Utica, New York -- but both are aware a win might not be enough. This performance has to impress.
"I believe if I beat Marlon impressively, I should get the next shot," Rivera told ESPN. "I believe I'm the next one, but anything can happen. At the end of the day, it's a business, and the UFC wants to make sure the next fight they put on for the champ will make a lot of money, but I'm not asking for a shot. I think I've earned it."
Moraes, who fights out of New Jersey, said, "It's all about the performance. If you put on a show, make a statement and everybody sees you are one of the best, the chance will come. We know in the UFC, everything is always changing. Guys get hurt. I want to have my name out there. I work hard for this, and I want my name out there."
The 135-pound bout has a personal element to it, as Rivera was involved in a brief confrontation with Moraes' manager Ali Abdelaziz in December.
Rivera, of New York, has accused Abdelaziz of disrespecting his wife, which Abdelaziz has strongly denied.
"I told him, 'Listen, you're a manager, you're not supposed to talk s---,'" Rivera said. "He's there to negotiate contracts and make sure his fighters are taken care of. He's talking s--- and calls my wife a name, then hides behind his fighters and the UFC staff. It is what it is.
"It's one of the things that helped me a lot during this camp. It made me put in even more. It's nice to have someone talk s---. I don't think he needs to be talking about someone's wife, but it's been fuel for the fire. I think they're f---ing idiots, and it makes me do the extra work."
Abdelaziz said Rivera's account of what happened is false and said, "I wanted Marlon to fight Jimmie because he's one of the best in the world, and if I'm his motivation for this fight, then he's already lost."
Animosity between camps always adds to a fight, but it's clear the stakes are already high enough for Rivera and Moraes. They both have spoken highly of the other's skill set, and they acknowledge that it will be a difficult night.
Considering both are looking to make a statement to cement a title shot, it has potential to be one of the top fights of the year so far.