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| Photo Credit: Josh Hedges - Zuffa LLC |
Picking my Top 10 UFC Fighters Of The 2010's list throughout the last week was quite tough. Some huge names were left behind, and while I'm sure not every one of you agrees with my opinion I feel I've put together quite a respectable list all round. We've got the likes of gold-laden champions, Demetrious Jones, Conor McGregor, Amanda Nunes, and Jon Jones to name a few. In this article, I'll discuss five fighters who just missed out - all five fighters; former UFC champions.
T.J. Dillashaw:
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
Like my Jon Jones feature article - there's bound to be some controversy surrounding the placement of former two-time UFC bantamweight champion, T.J. Dillashaw on this list. The Bang Muay Thai striker is currently banned from active-competition, having received a two-year suspension by USADA after testing positive for EPO in his unsuccessful siege of Henry Cejudo's flyweight throne in January gone by. The former Team Alpha MMA ace has an incredibly impressive résumé nonetheless. The Sacramento native holds two massive stoppages of Renan Barao during his reign as champion, before a razor-thin defeat to Dominick Cruz in 2016. Dillashaw's last four Octagon victories are also quite eye-catching, as he lodged victories over Raphael Assuncao, John Lineker, and twice knocked out arch-rival, Cody Garbrandt.
Michael Bisping:
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| Photo Credit: Josh Hedges - Zuffa LLC |
The career of Michael 'The Count' Bisping is simply a once in a lifetime career. The Manchester native has been competing at the highest level at middleweight for an incredible eleven years. The brash Brit began the decade with a four-fight win streak. Wins over Dan Miller, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Jorge Rivera, and Jason Miller launched Bisping to championship challenger status. Fast-forward four years and Bisping not only relaunched his title aspirations but was finally crowned world champion - in a victory over his biggest career rival. Victories over recent RIZIN FF signing, C.B. Dollaway, Thales Leites, former middleweight champion, Anderson Silva on home soil, gave Bisping the opportunity to meet then-incumbent champion, Luke Rockhold on short notice. Avenging a guillotine defeat previous, Bisping managed an opening-round knockout - sealing one of the biggest underdog stories in Octagon memory.
Joanna Jędrzejczyk:
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| Photo Credit: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC |
There's no doubt about it; Poland striker, Joanna Jędrzejczyk is the most successful strawweight champion the UFC has ever had. Put aside inaugural champion, Carla Esparza, Rose Namajunas, Jéssica Andrade, and current gold-holder, Zhang Weili - the Muay Thai practitioner is the most dominant strawweight in the promotion's history. With incredible output and polished technique, during Jędrzejczyk's reign as queen of the 115-pounders, the Pole managed a notable five consecutive successful title defenses, beating Jessica Penne, Valérie Létourneau, Cláudia Gadelha, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Jéssica Andrade. The Olsztyn native will look to reclaim her throne at UFC 248 against the previously mentioned Zhang Weili in April, following her title-eliminator victory over Michelle Waterson at UFC Fight Night Tampa recently.
Tyron Woodley:
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| Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie |
The former welterweight titleholder, Tyron 'The Chosen One' Woodley was simply fantastic during his run as division king from 2016 to 2019. The St. Louis powerhouse flattened Robbie Lawler inside just three minutes of their UFC 201 meeting, before twice retaining his title against Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson in two exciting close-fought affairs. Against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert, Demian Maia - Woodley prevented takedown after takedown on his way to a unanimous, but forgettable, decision win. In a huge meeting with the then-undefeated Darren Till, Woodley tackled the situation from the outside, launched a massive right hand in the opening moments of the second round to drop the Liverpudlian. In a submission that earned him his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Woodley locked up a D'Arce choke to score his final successful title defense. The veteran will look to reinstate himself into title contention at UFC Fight Night London in February, as he meets surging contender, Leon 'Rocky' Edwards in the main event.
Ronda Rousey:
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| Photo Credit: Josh Hedges - Zuffa LLC |
Former UFC bantamweight champion, 'Rowdy' Ronda Rousey, has only ever been bested in the Octagon twice - something that unfortunately comes to memory first, despite her fantastic success during her time with the promotion. Up until 2015, Rousey was the UFC's only ever 135-pound gold-holder. The Californian has a poised Judo background, and a patented armbar to boot - something she utilized in almost all of her UFC title defenses. In 2013, the 32-year-old, alongside recent Bellator MMA signee, Liz Carmouche, became the first two female competitors to headline a UFC event. Six wins later, Rousey was the clear cream of the crop that women's mixed-martial-arts had to offer. Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano, Bethe Correia, Alexis Davis, Sara McMann all tried - and failed to pry the bantamweight championship from Rousey. Against striking standouts, Holly Holm, and Amanda Nunes - Rousey became rather unsightly unstuck. It's quite unfortunate how fickle fans can be, but the fact remains; without Ronda Rousey's dominance and sky-rocketing stardom, women's mixed-martial-arts simply wouldn't be as prominent in the current day.
➜Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ross_Markey
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