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The Ultimate Fighting Championship soon kicks off an unparalleled fight schedule with four events in a four-week period.

Among the 72 fighters who will compete at UFC 74 (Aug. 25), UFC 75 (Sept. 8), UFC Fight Night 11 (Sept. 19) and UFC 76 (Sept. 22), a handful are looking for more than a simple victory.

1. Georges St. Pierre in UFC 74 vs. Josh Koscheck for a title shot and his legacy.

He was once considered the UFC's top pound-for-pound fighter and one of the most well-rounded athletes in mixed-martial arts. However, St. Pierre then suffered a devastating TKO loss to 11-to-1 underdog Matt Serra at UFC 69. Soon, fans — and even UFC president Dana White — questioned his mental toughness.

The Canadian can redeem himself against top contender Koscheck on Aug. 25; the winner has been guaranteed a title shot in early 2008.

2. Chuck Liddell in UFC 76 vs. Keith Jardine for top-contender status.

First things first, Liddell has nothing left to prove. He's the most dominant champion in UFC history and a surefire hall-of-famer. However, after losing his belt to Quinton Jackson at UFC 71, and with a recent influx of talent in the light-heavyweight division, the 37-year-old Liddell desperately needs a win if he wants to fight for the title anytime soon.

3. Jon Fitch in UFC 74 vs. Diego Sanchez for a perfect UFC record.

It's been a tough — and almost unfair — road to the top for Fitch. Despite a remarkable winning streak in the UFC, he's rarely been billed as anything more than undercard filler.

Now, with a 14-2 record (and a perfect 6-0 mark in the UFC), Fitch has his toughest test to date: Sanchez (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC).

The winner takes a major step toward title contention; the loser likely gets lost in a crowded pool of 170-pounders.

4. Michael Bisping in UFC 75 vs. Matt Hamill for legitimacy of "TUF2" title.

Hamill said the only reason he didn't win the second season of "The Ultimate Fighter" was because he was injured and forced off the show. That didn't sit well with eventual winner Bisping.

When Hamill began campaigning for the fight, Bisping said it would be a step back in his career to take on the Cincinnati native, who has just three professional fights. However, the UFC booked the fight for UFC 75 in London anyway. Bisping now has little to gain — and everything to lose — in front of his fellow Brits.

5. Mike Swick in UFC Fight Night 11 vs. Jonathan Goulet for his pride.

When Chris Leben inexplicably backed out of a fight with Swick,

ex-UFC fighter Jonathan Goulet had a plan to get back in the organization: he'd goad Swick into a fight. At the urging of a teammate, Goulet called out Swick on MySpace.com and in MMA forums, and said he was too chicken to fight him.

Swick took the bait, the UFC approved the fight, and the two welterweights now meet Sept. 19. Swick has demanded that Goulet "back up that tough talk." If he does, it would mean Swick's first back-to-back losses.

Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of UFCjunkie.com. For your daily fix of UFC and MMA news, go to www.ufcjunkie.com.