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#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.
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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.
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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.
