Longest, Toughest Path To Title Shot?

[Ridian]

Who had the longest and/or toughest path to their first title shot?

Had to have a lot of fights and/or

Had to fight all very good fighters on their way?

 

[HHJ]

Donald Cerrone

(if we are talkin about an uninterrupted series of wins )



28–6 (1) John Makdessi TKO (broken jaw) UFC 187 May 23, 2015 2 4:44 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 27–6 (1) Benson Henderson Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver January 18, 2015 3 5:00 Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 26–6 (1) Myles Jury Decision (unanimous) UFC 182 January 3, 2015 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 25–6 (1) Eddie Alvarez Decision (unanimous) UFC 178 September 27, 2014 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 24–6 (1) Jim Miller KO (head kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Miller July 16, 2014 2 3:31 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 23–6 (1) Edson Barboza Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne April 19, 2014 1 3:15 Orlando, Florida, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 22–6 (1) Adriano Martins KO (head kick) UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson January 25, 2014 1 4:40 Chicago, Illinois, United States Knockout of the Night.
Win 21–6 (1) Evan Dunham Submission (triangle choke) UFC 167 November 16, 2013 2 3:49 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Submission of the Night.

 

[Degen Gambler]

Jake Ellenberger's last 11 fights: Saffiedine, Wonderboy, Koshcheck, Gastellum, Lawler, Rory, Marquardt, Hieron, Kampman, Diego, Shields.

Still nowhere near a title shot but when he gets there it will have been a pretty damn hard road.

 

[AceCooch]

Max Holloway (still hasn't had one, arguably as tough as Cerrones if you take out Eddie Alvarez)
Wonderboy is getting up there
If Maia beats Condit, and then needs another win

Renan Barao before Cruz was stripped

 

[TobikanJudan94]

Machida had a long way befre they gave him a shot.
Johny Hendricks got screwed when they made him fighting Condit and gave the TS to Diaz.
Max Holloway is up there too with his 9 fight win streak and still no title shot guaranteed.

 

[Leinster Rugby]

Alvarez

 

[HHJ]

Machida had a long way befre they gave him a shot.
.

Its true,but it was easy for him, he barely got hit in any of those fights. Cerrone actually had to work really hard and stay sharp through the gauntlet.

 

[countswagula]

JDS had a crazy run in the HW division

 

[shaffmeister]

Bisping

 

[Johnny Rosa]

Romero or Jacare as well.

 

[SirKratos]

Max Holloway and its not even close.

Dude is on a 9 fight winning streak, beat 3-4 top10 fighters (Which most other fighters get a title shot after beating 2 of them)

And still a couple of wins away from a title shot.... poor guy

 

[Ridian]

I'd say Cerrone, Holloway and Bisping

 

[illegalnature]

Reem has fought Lesnar, trtfoot, Browne, Mir, Nelson, Struve, JDS, and Arlovski and is just now fighting Stipe for title.

Almost the entire UFC HW division

 

[HHJ]

Reem has fought Lesnar, trtfoot, Browne, Mir, Nelson, Struve, JDS, and Arlovski and is just now fighting Stipe for title.

Almost the entire UFC HW division

Its arguable that if Reem wasnt so popular hedve been cut by now

 

[Aluminati]

Who had the longest and/or toughest path to their first title shot?

Had to have a lot of fights and/or

Had to fight all very good fighters on their way?

Obviously Michael Bisping.

 

[snw10mm]

feeling bad for Maia here

 

[Elvis.]

Bisping

 

[illegalnature]

Its arguable that if Reem wasnt so popular hedve been cut by now

The Lesnar win in his debut helped him out through that skid.

 

[HHJ]

The Lesnar win in his debut helped him out through that skid.

Well nothing at this point can stop the reem's fans from believing in him. If him getting killed by bigfoot,rothwell and browne didnt do it,nothing will. In that,hes like Vitor.

 

[juncito]

Its arguable that if Reem wasnt so popular hedve been cut by now

I didn't even think UFC cut heavyweights.