By Alistair Hendrie
As Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje gear up to meet for the interim lightweight title bout on Saturday at UFC 249, they share an interesting anomaly: although they’re two of the most skilled fighters in the world, neither has held a full UFC title. Ferguson in particular stands out in this regard. Riding a lightweight-best twelve wins on the bounce, “El Cucuy” has seen six contests with champion Khabib Numragomedov fall through and despite that, many consider Ferguson to be number one at 155lbs. With that in mind, ahead of UFC 249, let’s scan over the five greatest UFC fighters to never win full UFC gold.
5 – Nate Diaz
Not many gave Nate Diaz a chance when he returned from three years out to face Anthony Pettis in November 2019. Still, harnessing his never-say-die philosophy and willingness to come to fight, the Californian rebel swarmed Pettis from the get-go, boxing beautifully to earn a decision. He may have lost his tilt at the BMF belt to Jorge Masvidal, but his wins over the likes of Pettis, Conor McGregor and Michael Johnson – plus a UFC-best record of seven 155lbs submission wins, tied with Jim Miller – make him a justifiable addition to this list after thirteen years of battling the best in the Octagon.
4 – Urijah Faber
Despite grabbing 11 bantamweight victories in the UFC, a record he shares with Raphael Assuncao, it’s easy to forget about The California Kid’s feats in the UFC because he lost each of his three cracks at the belt. There was no shame in dropping those bouts to Dominick Cruz (twice) and Renan Borao, but with a roll-call of victims including Eddie Wineland, Scott Jorgensen, Michael McDonald and Brad Pickett, Faber was more than worthy of his induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2017.
3 – Demian Maia
Between 2014 and 2017, it’s fair to say Brazilian submission specialist Demian Maia was one of the most feared mixed martial artists on the planet. During that period the former IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships gold medallist tore through a murderer’s row of welterweights, besting the likes of Masvidal, Neil Magny, Gunnar Nelson, Matt Brown and former title challenger Carlos Condit. Maia may have faltered in title shots against Anderson Silva (middleweight) and Tyron Woodley (welterweight), and although many don’t enjoy watching his style of working methodically from the back, try arguing with his accomplishment of 11 UFC submissions, more than even the great Royce Gracie.
2 – Dustin Poirier
This 31-year-old who was placed in a juvenile detention centre as a youngster has come a long way since making his UFC bow in January 2011. Since then he’s added seventeen entries to his “W” column and put paid to one-time UFC titlists such as Pettis, Max Holloway and Eddie Alvarez. A textbook striker who boasts 19 finishes from 25 victories overall, Poirier was in the form of his life before he succumbed to Nurmagomedov in their September 2019 title match. That said, the Lafayette-born fan-favourite has an enviable training station at American Top Team and is improving all the time, so we can expect Poirier to stay in the mix for years to come.
1 – Tony Ferguson
It’s difficult to avoid mentioning Ferguson when discussing the finest athletes to pull on the UFC gloves, regardless of the fact that he hasn’t captured a UFC title. Ferguson is racking up the (tied-for) third-longest win streak in UFC history (12) and remains one of the most versatile athletes and maniacal trainers in the sport. Whether it’s his blood-spattered beatdowns over Donald Cerrone and Pettis or his opportunistic submissions over Edson Barboza and Gleison Tibau – a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, no less – Ferguson has a back catalogue to rival any UFC titlist. He holds the record for the most D’Arce choke finishes in the UFC (three) and will likely provide Nurmagomedov with his sternest assignment yet if that clash does happen.
Honourable mentions
Donald Cerrone owns the most UFC bouts (43), wins (23), finishes (16) and post-fight bonuses (18) – add in victims such as Alvarez, Barboza, Benson Henderson and Al Iaquinta and his credentials become even clearer. Raphael Assuncao must join Ferguson as the strongest competitor yet to even contest a full belt – just ask TJ Dillashaw, Aljamain Sterling and Marlon Moraes who’ve all fallen to the Brazilian. Finally, Stephen Thompson should be acknowledged for his 10 promotional wins over esteemed company, Robert Whittaker, Johny Hendricks and Rory MacDonald among them.
Check out Alistair Hendrie’s Kindle book, Fight Game: The Untold Story of Women’s MMA in Britain, featuring insight from Rosi Sexton, Joanne Calderwood and more