The best fighter ever in the UFC who never won gold?

Discussion in 'MMA Forum' started by horst, Jul 6, 2011.


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  1. horst

    horst Guest

    I do not mean the best fighter in terms of the duration of their UFC career or their resume/opposition, I mean the best fighter in terms of ability, even if the guy was only in the UFC briefly. Who was the best fighting machine you've ever seen in UFC action that hasn't won a title? :bbb
     
    horst, Jul 6, 2011
    horst, Jul 6, 2011
    #1
  2. Stoo

    Stoo Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Hendo is the only one I can think of, but he did win the UFC 17 tournament

    Wanderlei and Cro Cop too I guess, but they werent the same guys we saw in PRIDE
     
    Stoo, Jul 6, 2011
    Stoo, Jul 6, 2011
    #2
  3. horst

    horst Guest

    Do you think the version of Hendo that fought Anderson & Rampage was better than, say, the best version of Jon Fitch?

    (I'm struggling to think of many answers to this question myself)
     
    horst, Jul 6, 2011
    horst, Jul 6, 2011
    #3
  4. horst

    horst Guest

    Agreed, they definitely would not be acceptable answers here IMO.
     
    horst, Jul 6, 2011
    horst, Jul 6, 2011
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  5. Stoo

    Stoo Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Yes, weight aside I think the best version of Fitch would struggle to go the distance with prime Rampage, and he'd have some success on the ground with Anderson but he'd not do the same kinda damage from the top as Chael did and Sonnen still lost that fight, as indeed did Hendo when he won the 1st round against AS in a similar fashion
     
    Stoo, Jul 6, 2011
    Stoo, Jul 6, 2011
    #5
  6. Stoo

    Stoo Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Having said that Fitch v Hendo at 170 would be interesting as Hendo isnt at his best on his back. But I have trouble seeing John getting him there without eating some right hands. Fitch got a really good chin, but those will have some effect and Fitch likes to get the TD from the clinch, and that's Hendos strength

    Hendo by UD for me
     
    Stoo, Jul 6, 2011
    Stoo, Jul 6, 2011
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  7. Ubersteve

    Ubersteve The Main Event Mafia Full Member

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    Fitch is the guy who's been the clear #2 in a division with a dominant champ the longest so I'd say him.

    After him I guess you're looking at Hendo and Florian.
     
    Ubersteve, Jul 6, 2011
    Ubersteve, Jul 6, 2011
    #7
  8. horst

    horst Guest

    Florian? :huh There have been many better fighters than Florian that have failed to win gold.
     
    horst, Jul 6, 2011
    horst, Jul 6, 2011
    #8
  9. Stoo

    Stoo Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Kenny is a decent shout, Im a big fan
    Name a few Popkins
     
    Stoo, Jul 6, 2011
    Stoo, Jul 6, 2011
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  10. thewinfella

    thewinfella The Golden Boy Full Member

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    Assuming they never win the title , the following would spring to mind :

    Faber

    Florian

    Fitch (although i think he'll have that gold one day)

    Karo Parysan (those who knew how good he was should agree with this)

    Diego Sanchez (been both a LW and WW #1 contender in his career)

    Koscheck (2 title shots , hand full of excellent wins)

    Miguel Torres (dating back to his best BW days he should of been nailed on to be a superstar in the UFC :huh)

    Thiago Alves (appears to be on the slide , but looked like he was going to go all the way around the time of his demolition job on Kos)

    Chael Sonnen (based on his performance against Silva , he has to be in there)

    Carlos Condit (i have a feeling Carlos will have a long and very entertaining career with some excellent wins down the line , however i dont see a title)

    Nick Diaz (considering he has been a UFC fighter , and is coming back , id add Diaz to this list)
     
    thewinfella, Jul 6, 2011
    thewinfella, Jul 6, 2011
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  11. James23

    James23 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Jon Fitch and Kenny Florian.
     
    James23, Jul 6, 2011
    James23, Jul 6, 2011
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  12. jimmie

    jimmie Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Considering the time in which he was at his peak id say Pedro Rizzo.
     
    jimmie, Jul 6, 2011
    jimmie, Jul 6, 2011
    #12
  13. horst

    horst Guest

    At least a few from this list:

    Dan Henderson, Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, Diego Sanchez, Jake Shields, Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia, Urijah Faber, Kazushi Sakuraba, Pat Miletich, Pedro Rizzo, Karo Parisyan, Frank Trigg, Gray Maynard, Jeremy Horn, Michael Bisping.



    And if we're not counting 'interim titles', then Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira as well.

    Also, guys who haven't challenged yet but are better fighters than Florian imo: Junior Dos Santos, Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, Jason Mayhem Miller.
     
    horst, Jul 6, 2011
    horst, Jul 6, 2011
    #13
  14. Stoo

    Stoo Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Pat was WW champ, and Saku won the UFC Japan tourney

    I wouldnt put Chael, Bisping or Trigg any where near that list.
     
    Stoo, Jul 6, 2011
    Stoo, Jul 6, 2011
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  15. Ubersteve

    Ubersteve The Main Event Mafia Full Member

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    Bisping?! ****ing hell.
     
    Ubersteve, Jul 6, 2011
    Ubersteve, Jul 6, 2011
    #15
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