Sherdog’s Top 10: Fighters Without UFC Gold

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4. Jon Fitch

In the 1990s NBA, hall of fame-caliber players such as Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley all had their title hopes dashed because of the enduring greatness of one man: Michael Jordan. Uncrowned NBA champions, Fitch feels your pain.

While it is nearly impossible to say whether or not life would have been different in the welterweight division for Fitch had Georges St. Pierre not existed, it was always pretty clear that, for a time at least, the gritty Purdue Boilermaker was the best 170-pounder in the world not named GSP.

Fitch began his Octagon tenure with eight straight wins, setting up a title showdown with St. Pierre at UFC 87. The American Kickboxing Academy product displayed admirable toughness but did little to threaten the champion in absorbing a five-round beating. Despite the setback, Fitch remained firmly entrenched as the world’s No. 2 welterweight for approximately two more years, even regaining No. 1 contender status following a win over Thiago Alves at UFC 117 -- a designation that proved fleeting.

At that point, Fitch was 13-1 in the UFC, but he was often derided for a lack of flair in victory. He would never get another shot at St. Pierre, and after winning just once in his next four bouts, was jettisoned from the promotion. Fitch may not have been one of the UFC’s most exciting talents, but he was undoubtedly one of its most effective -- just not effective enough to take down the greatest welterweight of all time. There is no shame in that.

Number 3 » Urijah Faber