The best fighter to never win a title

It has been awhile since I've put a post together. Since my last post I have graduated and have started a great new job at AM 1530 here in Chicago. One thing that hasn't changed has my passion for sports, especially mixed martial arts. UFC 136 is this weekend and has a stacked card featuring two title fights.

Kenny Florian fights Jose Aldo in the co-main event for the featherweight title in only his second fight in the division. It is no secret that Florian has struggled in title fights in his past but this fight got me thinking where he ranks among the best fighters to never hold the belt. 

For the record, I am talking about major promotions (UFC, Pride, Strikeforce), sorry EliteXC.

I finish fights... Unless its
one of those title fights.

His 12-4 record in the Octagon, 16-5 overall, is very impressive. The more interesting fact is that he came into the UFC on the first season of the Ultimate fighter as a middleweight and now finds himself fighting as a featherweight. His success has spanned multiple weight classes but at age 35 this could be Florian's last chance at a title.


He faces a very tough this weekend and I personally think he will come up short again but losing to the 145 pound version of Anderson Silva should not tarnish his legacy.


Another current fighter that deserves to be on everyone’s pound for pound rankings is Jon Fitch. His record of 23-1-1 includes 13 wins in the UFC. But despite all his success he has only been given one title shot and his next fight against Johny Hendricks probably isn't going to get him any closer one.

Fans are known to be very critical of Fitch's style of fighting which has known to out even the worst insomniac into a daze. But in the end the only stat that matters is W and Fitch has put plenty of those on the board.

The last fighter is a living legend of the sport and has the respect of everyone in the industry. Jeremy Horn has fought all over the world and his 88 wins prove how successful he has been. He has beaten Chael Sonnen three times in three different ways. Other notable names on his record include Dan Severn, Chuck Liddell, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Randy Couture and Anderson Silva.

He lost his only two chances at UFC title glory against Frank Shamrock at UFC 17 and seven years later against Liddell at UFC 54. Horn is also a great instructor as well. He has been an integral part of Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin each winning titles.

I hope to have another post up soon, comment below with what you think of the article and some UFC 136 predictions   I'm off to Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend to hang out with my rugby guys and hopefully see Nebraska get their first Big Ten win.