9. Ben Askren | Bellator Welterweight -- 1,120 Days
Askren is one of the top fighters in the sport who has yet to compete under the Zuffa banner. A decorated amateur wrestler who reached the Olympics in 2008, he has yet to taste defeat as a mixed martial artist. Askren’s talents allowed him to capture the Bellator welterweight championship, and his reign at 170 pounds remains the longest in the promotion’s history.
The “Funky” wrestler pummeled Lyman Good at Bellator 33 on Oct. 21, 2010 and never looked back. He kept the title for three years, successfully defending it against Jay Hieron, Douglas Lima, Karl Amoussou and Andrey Koreshkov. Only Hieron was competitive against him, losing a controversial split decision. Askren might still be Bellator’s welterweight champion had he not left the company in a contract dispute. He has since found a home in Singapore’s One Championship, where has been the promotion’s welterweight titleholder for more than a year.
Number 8 » Demetrious Johnson