Four MMA legends who never won a UFC tournament

#3 Kimo Leopoldo

Kimo: UFC legend but not a tournament winner

Kimo Leopoldo burst onto the MMA scene at UFC 3 when he battered two time defending UFC tournament champion, Royce Gracie in the first round.

The opportunistic Gracie did find a way to win by reversing a rear waist lock into an arm-bar for the win by submission. The crowd went wild for Kimo's performance as post-fight he looked in great shape whereas Gracie had to be carried out of the Octagon. Gracie, in a classless move also refused to shake Kimo's hand.

Kimo would not compete in another UFC tournament until Ultimate Ultimate 1996 wherein he bested Paul Varelans in a thrilling encounter. The six foot three inch, 250 Ibs Kimo was dwarfed by the six feet eight inch tall, 340 Ibs Varelans, who kept him pinned to the mat for several minutes. Kimo hung in there and as Varelans tired, he escaped from the big man's grasp and reverse mounted him and pounded away with strikes for the come from behind victory.

Unfortunately, Kimo extended so much energy with this victory that he withdrew from the tournament due to exhaustion. That robbed the world of a Kimo versus Don Frye semi-final which would have been something extraordinary.

Kimo never competed in a UFC tournament again but his performances inside the Octagon were nothing short of legendary.