Cynthia Calvillo

Cynthia Calvillo came out of Team Alpha Male as one of the more hyped grappling prospects in the women's lower weight classes. She won early and often, climbing the strawweight and later flyweight rankings on the back of an aggressive ground game.

The rise leveled off against the division's best. Losses to former champion Jessica Andrade and contender Andrea Lee slowed her momentum, and she eventually stepped away from competition. Her best wins, like a victory over former title challenger Jessica Eye, came during a genuinely promising stretch.

Calvillo's career is a reminder of how thin the margins are near the top, but at her peak she was a legitimate contender with a dangerous grappling base.