UFC
The 15 greatest fighters who never won a UFC title
UFC fighters Alexander Gustafsson and Jon Jones. Photo: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Since the dawn of the UFC, the promotion produced champions that mesmerized fighting fans all over the world with their stunning performance and dedication.
However, there are also a bunch of top dogs and pioneers who for different reasons couldn’t reach the coveted championship during their careers.
Let’s take a closer look at the 15 greatest fighters who never won a UFC title!
15. Wanderlei Silva
Photo via Instagram
- Record: 35-7-1-1
- Notable wins: Keith Jardine, Michael Bisping
- Status: Retired
Wanderlei ”The Axe Murderer” Silva fought just about everyone in his way but never got the chance to fight for a UFC title.
14. Alistair Overeem
Alistair Overeem. Photo: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
- Record: 47-19
- Notable wins: Sergei Pavlovich, Fabrício Werdum, Junior dos Santos
- Status: Retired
Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem fought just about everyone in the top of the UFC heavyweight division but suffered a first-round KO against Stipe Miocic in his only title fight.
13. Donald Cerrone
Donald Cerrone. Photo via Twitter (UFC)
- Record: 36-17
- Notable wins: Edson Barboza, Eddie Alvarez, Benson Henderson
- Status: Retired
After winning eight fights in a row in under two years, Donald ”Cowboy” Cerrone earned his only UFC lightweight title shot. He faced Rafael dos Anjos on December 19, 2015, but lost via a quick first-round TKO.
12. Anthony ”Rumble” Johnson
Anthony ”Rumble” Johnson. Photo: Bellator MMA
- Record: 23-6
- Notable wins: Glover Teixeira, Alexander Gustafsson, Ryan Bader
- Status: Deceased
Heavy hitting Anthony ”Rumble” Johnson was a multiple time light heavyweight title challenger, before ending his career with a single fight in Bellator.
Johnson passed away at 38 on November 13, 2022.
11. Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz. Photo: USA Today Sports
- Record: 21-13
- Notable wins: Tony Ferguson, Anthony Pettis, Conor McGregor
- Status: Retired from UFC
Legendary UFC lightweight and welterweight Nate Diaz is one of the biggest stars in combat sports right now.
On December 8, 2012, he challenged Benson Henderson for the UFC lightweight championship but lost the fight via unanimous decision.
10. Kenny Florian
- Record: 14-6
- Notable wins: Clay Guida, Joe Lauzon, Takanori Gomi
- Status: Retired from UFC
Kenny Florian defeated some great fighters but fell short in his three UFC title bouts against Sean Sherk, B.J Penn, and Jose Aldo.
He retired after losing the title fight against Aldo at UFC 136.
9. Dan Henderson
Photo via Instagram (@danhendo)
- Record: 32-15
- Notable wins: Mauricio Rua, Fedor Emelianenko, Michael Bisping
- Status: Retired
Two-division Pride champion and Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson fought three times for UFC titles but never succeeded to win.
8. Mirko Cro Cop
- Record: 38-11-2-1
- Notable wins: Pat Barry, Josh Barnett, Wanderlei Silva
- Status: Retired
Croatian heavyweight Mirko Cro Cop fought in K-1, RIZIN, Bellator and UFC, but never won a UFC heavyweight title.
7. Demian Maia
Demian Maia. Photo via Instagram
- Record: 28-11
- Notable wins: Ben Askren, Jorge Masvidal, Carlos Condit
- Status: Retired
Demian Maia fought just about everyone in the UFC’s welterweight and middleweight divisions, and challenged for both division’s titles.
In 2010 he lost a middleweight title bout against Anderson Silva, and in 2017 he challenged Tyron Woodley for the welterweight gold.
6. Joseph Benavidez
Photo via Instagram (@joejitsu)
- Record: 28-8
- Notable wins: Jussier Formiga, Henry Cejudo, Tim Elliott
- Status: Retired
Flyweight Joseph Benavidez fought four times for the UFC title, against Demetrious Johnson and Deiveson Figueiredo, but failed to win gold.
5. Gray Maynard
Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar. Photo via Instagram
- Record: 13-7-1-1
- Notable wins: Kenny Florian, Nate Diaz, Jim Miller
- Status: Retired
Two-time lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard had a draw and a loss against legendary UFC champion Frankie Edgar back in 2011.
4. Yoel Romero
Yoel Romero. Photo via Instagram (@yoelromeromma)
- Record: 15-7
- Notable wins: Luke Rockhold, Chris Weidman, Lyoto Machida
- Status: Active in Bellator
Middleweight Yoel Romero defeated champions like Luke Rockhold, Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida, but never won a title fight or interim title fight in the promotion.
3. Chael Sonnen
Photo via UFC
- Record: 31-7-1
- Notable wins: Quinton Jackson, Wanderlei Silva, Michael Bisping
- Status: Retired
Trash talking genius Chael Sonnen was just two minutes away from dethroning one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time in Anderson Silva at UFC 117.
2. Urijah Faber
Urijah ”The California Kid” Faber. Photo via YouTube
- Record: 35-11
- Notable wins: Alex Caceres, Francisco Rivera
- Status: Retired
Urijah ”The California Kid” Faber had four title shots in the UFC, two of them against Dominic Cruz and the other two against Renan Barao.
1. Alexander Gustafsson
Photo: Stefan Romare/Frontkick.online
- Record: 18-8
- Notable wins: Glover Teixeira, Jan Blachowicz, Mauricio Rua
- Status: Active in UFC
Legendary light heavyweight Alexander ”The Mauler” Gustafsson fought for the title three times, against Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, and could arguably have come out as the winner in two of them.
Read more: List of all current and former undisputed UFC champions