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.