UFC Champions who don't get enough credit
In this topic we take a look at UFC Champions who either most don't know were champion or fighters who simply don't get enough credit for their accomplishment.
One of the top LightWeights to ever compete in the UFC, Sean Sherk was the second person in UFC history to become LW Champion. He first won the LW Belt at UFC 64 vs. Kenny Florian. He would go on to defend the belt at UFC 73 against Hermes Franca in a fight that was deemed Fight Of The Night. He was then stripped of the tittle due to a failed drug test which led us to one of the most anticipated fights of the UFC LW division vs the newly crowned champion B.J. Penn. Sean Sherk's record stands at an impressive 36 - 4 with his four losses being against elite fighters Matt Hughes , George St. Pierre , B.J. Penn and Frankie Edgar.
Tim Sylvia never gets the credit he deserves. Former two time UFC Heavy Weight champion, Tim Sylvia defended the belt a total of three times, a record no-one has been able to surpass in the Heavy-Weight division. He first won the belt at UFC 41 against Ricco Rodriguez. He went on to defend his belt vs Gan McGee to later be stripped for a failed drug test. He regained champion status at UFC 59 where he defeated Andrei Arlovski to regain the UFC HW Championship. He then defending the belt two more times against Andrei Arlovski and Jeff Monson before losing the strap to Randy Couture at UFC 68.
Maurice Smith won the UFC title with an impressive win over Mark Coleman. At UFC 15 he defended his championship against Tank Abbot winning via submission. He lost the championship belt in his following fight to Randy Couture at UFC Japan. Maurice Smith had an impressive Kick Boxing Record of 53 wins 13 losses and 5 draws. He retired from MMA with a record of 14 -14. He has fought some of the toughest competition of his time which included bouts against Ken Shamrock , Bas Rutten , Mark Coleman , Tank Abbot , Kevin Randleman , Marcos Ruas and more.
One of the most dominate and most forgotten about UFC champions has to be Frank Shamrock. Likely due to his fallen out he had with the UFC, he rarely gets the credit he deserves. He first won the UFC title in just 16 seconds vs. Kevin Jackson at UFC Japan. He went on to defend the belt a total of four times before leaving the UFC. His last defended the belt at UFC 22 vs. Tito Ortiz in a fight that was deemed Fight Of The Year. Frank Shamrock is truly one of the most forgotten legends of the UFC.
Murilo Bustamante became UFC champion after defeating Dave Menne at UFC 35. He went on to defend the belt at UFC 37 against Matt Lindland. After he won and defended the Middle Weight Championship he vacated the belt to compete in PRIDE, which was widely considered the number 1 MMA organization at that time. He finished his career with a 15 - 8 - 1 record with his last fight in 2012 being against the very man he won the UFC championship from, Dave Menne.
Carlos Newton won the UFC welter weight championship at UFC 31 against Pat Miletich. He lost the championship belt very shortly after to Matt Hughes in a very controversial loss. Many believed that Carlos Newton won this fight via submission when Matt Hughes fell to the mat unconscious from a choke. While others believe Matt Hughes "slammed" Carlos Newton to the mat causing Newton to be KO'd. This is one of the most controversial fights in UFC history.
If someone was to ask you who was the first UFC middle weight champion would you have guessed it was Dave Menne ? He became the first UFC Middle Weight champion at UFC 33 when he faced Gil Castillo for the honor. He lost the belt to Murilo Bustamante at UFC 35. Menne finished his Mix Martial Art's career with a record of 45-17-2. His last bout was in 2012 against the very man who won the UFC strap from him so many year's earlier, Murilo Bustamante.
Did any on the list surprise you ? Did you recognize them all ... if so kudos to you. Who do you think was the most forgotten about fighter in UFC history ? Maby it was someone not on my list. .... Voice your opinion in the comment section below.
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nice body..
Thanks but your not my type .....
The headless man that shows in my thumbnail was done on purpose. Since my topic is about UFC champions who don't get enough credit .... I was hoping people would click the thumbnail / topic to find out who the person was.
Thanks for reminding me..
I would also throw in Kevin Randleman guy was basically a WW who was unbelievably athletic and became a HW
Good Pick ... I will likely include him in the next installment. He past away a couple year ago at the young age of 44. May the Monster rest in peace. He certainly was unbelievably athletic as you pointed out.
He was a good friend to my trainer, guy was very nice, heard from this guy was about to commit suicide on twitter and he tweeted to him asking for his number and called him and talked to him for like an hour or so and the guy is living his life happily with a family and all that now.
Wow, what an awesome story ... thank you for sharing that.
I would love to hear any other stories about him that you are willing to share.
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Great post! The muscle shark is one of the best for sure! He’s been thought some wars that helped pave the way to today! I remember the Hughes vs newton slam! It’s crazy looking back at all of this now :) very true about frank shamrock, he was awesome, ken was a much bigger start but frank was great and doesn’t get much credit
Frank gets next to no credit. Him and the UFC had a fallen out and that is likely the reason why.
What is your opinion on that Hughes / Newton fight ? I think Hughes was out and Newton should have retained the belt.
So it does look like Matt slammed him down and it was with some serious force, it doesn’t look like he drops to the ground unconscious it looks like he slams him BUT when big John breaks it up it looks like Matt was out too... it’s definitely a really close one and I can see how at the time (Matt getting up first and newton out) that they give it to Matt
Both were out IMO, Hughes went unconscious from the triangle choke causing him to fall to the canvas. Carlos was picked up pressed against the octagon at the time so gravity + body weight and how they landed also caused Carlos to be KO'd.
To me it boils down to ... is the winner the person who first made their opponent go unconscious or the person who woke up first. Below is a clip from directly after the fight. Sounds like Matt Hughes says,
"I was out - He got me "
Wow yea he does say that! Your right, Matt is really pressing him into the cage at an angle and then just drops down, and it should be the guy who goes out first! It’s definattely a tough one to call! There has been some bad decisions and robberies in the past, but I can see how at the time and in the early days big john would have given it to Matt.... still crazy tho! They didn’t rematch after did they?
UFC 38 : Brawl at the hall ---- Hughes vs Carlos 2
I won't spoil who won.. just in case you want to go watch it.
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