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Becoming a UFC champion isn't easy, and the accomplishment usually comes with a heap of money, fame and adulation.
Current champions like Charles Oliveira, Brandon Moreno and Francis Ngannou have had inspirational runs to the title and are now household names in the sport of MMA. However, other title holders like Jan Blachowicz and Alexander Volkanovski are arguably not as renowned for their feats in the UFC as they should be.
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UFC champions flying under the radar isn't a new phenomenon in a sport dominated by marketing and promotion. Here are the five most underappreciated champions in UFC history.
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#5 Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman
Chris Weidman has won only two of his last eight fights in the UFC, most recently breaking his leg in brutal fashion against Uriah Hall. The fact that all of his losses have come via KO or TKO hasn't helped his case.
However, Weidman remains one of the most underappreciated champions in UFC history. 'The All-American' made his UFC debut in March 2011 as a 4-0 fighter and quickly amassed a five-fight win streak to challenge Anderson Silva for the middleweight title. Silva was in his prime at the time and hadn't lost in over six years, amassing title defense after title defense in authoritative fashion.
But Weidman made the most of his opportunity as he capitalized on Silva's cockiness to become the first man to knock out 'The Spider' in professional MMA competition. He also defended his title against Silva in his next fight, with the Brazilian breaking his leg.
Weidman went on to defend his title two more times, against Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort, before falling to Luke Rockhold in December 2015. The 37-year-old may not be as credentialed as the other champions on this list, but he ended Silva's dominance and ushered in a new era in the middleweight division. He will go down as one of the most underrated champions in UFC history.
#4 Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar
Another fighter whose reputation has taken a hit in the recent past, Frankie Edgar has only two wins in his last six fights, including knockout losses to Brian Ortega, 'The Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung and Cory Sandhagen. But in his prime, 'The Answer' was a fearsome competitor who excelled across weight classes against a variety of opponents.
Edgar clinched the lightweight title in his eighth UFC fight with a unanimous-decision win over BJ Penn in April 2010 before defending it against the same opponent months later. The famous rivalry against Gray Maynard then saw its second and third installments as Edgar held on to the strap by the skin of his teeth.
Eventually, Benson Henderson dethroned him and controversially edged him out again in 2012, before Jose Aldo put Edgar on a three-fight losing skid the next year. But the 39-year-old has fought for a UFC title twice since then and has notched up wins over Charles Oliveira, BJ Penn, Cub Swanson, Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes and Yair Rodriguez.
Edgar's small stature made it highly improbable for him to win at lightweight, but he defied the odds to make history. He really does deserve more recognition for his incredible achievements in the UFC.
#3 Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz
The fact that Dominick Cruz was the inaugural UFC bantamweight champion might have worked against him when discussing the greatest champions of all time. 'The Dominator', who made the switch from the WEC, beat highly skilled fighters like Urijah Faber, Demetrious Johnson and TJ Dillashaw before falling to Cody Garbrandt in December 2016.
Injuries have hampered Cruz's progress throughout his career, but he was one of the pound-for-pound greats in his prime. Known for his unorthodox style, splendid footwork and fight IQ, he is firmly in the conversation when it comes to the greatest bantamweights of all time.
Cruz has fought only twice in the last five years, but his career isn't over yet. We could see him turn in a couple of vintage performances before he calls it a day.
#2 Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley
Tyron Woodley has been in the news in the recent past for his boxing bout against Jake Paul, somewhat taking away from his legacy in the UFC. The former welterweight champion, who parted ways with the promotion earlier this year after a string of losses, remains one of the greatest welterweights of all time.
Apart from Georges St-Pierre, Matt Hughes and arguably Kamaru Usman, no one has had more success in the welterweight division than Woodley. An explosive, well-rounded fighter in his prime, 'The Chosen One' racked up wins over talented fighters like Darren Till, Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, Robbie Lawler and Demain Maia.
The insipid performances he turned in towards the end of his UFC stint have darkened the glow of his MMA career, and the fact that he has never been eloquent on the mic has also contributed to his neglect. But Woodley is one of the greatest UFC champions of all time and must be respected if not admired.
#1 Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic
Undoubtedly No. 1 on the list of underappreciated UFC champions, Stipe Miocic hasn't been adequately recognized for his achievements in the toughest division in the promotion. The all-time leader in heavyweight title defenses, the Cleveland native is arguably the greatest of all time in the weight class.
Miocic, who clinched the title with a knockout win against Fabricio Werdum, went on to beat world-class heavyweights like Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos and Francis Ngannou. Daniel Cormier put the brakes on his heavyweight juggernaut, but he recovered well to collect a pair of victories in a famous trilogy.
Miocic lost the title to Ngannou earlier this year, but he is intent on reclaiming his throne. It might not be long before we see the 39-year-old, whose lack of trash talk and fanfare makes him severely underrated, compete in another UFC title fight.
