5 Strikeforce champions who didn't clinch gold in the UFC

#4 Former UFC middleweight Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza

UFC Fight Night Jacare v Hermansson

Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza won the Strikeforce middleweight championship in his third fight with the promotion against Tim Kennedy and defended it against Robbie Lawler. After Luke Rockhold ripped the belt away from him, he won three on the trot and then signed with the UFC.

Souza made a good start to his UFC career, winning his first five fights in the promotion. A controversial loss to Yoel Romero set him back slightly before he went on another two-fight win streak. But the Brazilian never even competed for a UFC title as he lost six of his last eight fights and subsequently retired from MMA.

An accomplished grappler who always treated his opponents with utmost respect, Souza was unlucky to never participate in a UFC championship fight.

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#3 Former UFC contender Dan Henderson

UFC 157: Henderson v Machida

The final Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, Dan Henderson beat Rafael Cavalcante to hold the title at the time of the UFC merger. He had already fought in two UFC championship fights before his Strikeforce stint, losing to Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson and Anderson Silva.

Henderson made a return to the UFC for his third spell with the promotion, but it didn't go very well for him. He beat Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua on his comeback, but dropped six of his next nine fights. An undeserved title shot against UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping ensued, largely due to the two men's history, and 'The Count' won by unanimous decision.

Despite three attempts, Henderson was unable to win a title in the UFC. The UFC 17 middleweight tournament remains his only piece of official success under the banner.