Who is the best #2 fighter in the MMA history?

AimedWithV

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Fighters who actually had titles are not included here.

1. Mirco Filipovic
Attempt to become #1 - one:
- Fight vs Fedor for Pride HW championship;
Highest high: Winning Pride GP
Lowest low: head kick KO loss from Gonzaga
Currently: Retired, comes out of retirements when he wants to

2. Pedro Rizzo
Attempts to become #1 - three:
- Fights with Kevin Randleman and Randy Couture (2) for UFC HW title.
Highest high: even fight (1st one) with Randy Couture, endind in controversial decision
Lowest low: 0-2 stint in Pride, ending with 2 brutal KOs
Currently: Retired, running a gym (?) in Brazil (?)

3. Alexander Gustafsson
Attempts to become #1 - two;
- Fights with Jones and DC for UFC LHW title, both ended with close decisions.
Highest high: Close fight with Jon Jones.
Lowest low: 1st round KO loss to Anthony Johnson
Currently: Still active, still top 5 LHW in the world

4. Chael Sonnen
Attempts to become #1 - three:
- Fights with Anderson Silva for UFC MW title
- Fight with Jon Jones for UFC LHW title
Highest high: Nearly cruising to dominant decision against Anderson in the first fight
Lowest low: Unsure. The guy had a lot of low points in his career
Currently: Still active in Bellator, mostly in "money" fights

5. Kenny Florian
Attempts to become #1 - three:
- Fight with Sherk for UFC LW title;
- Fight with BJ Penn for UFC LW title;
- Fight with Aldo for UFC FW title.
Highest high: Winning streak prior to BJ fight, with a win and hype train derail of Roger Huerta
Lowest low: FW stint, 1-1, uneventful and irrelevant
Currently: Retired, MMA sports persona, commentator journalist and whatnot.

6. Chad Mendes
Attempts to become #1 - two:
- Fights with Aldo for UFC FW title
Highest high: winning streak leading to second fight with Aldo, with first stoppage of Guida due to strikes etc.
- Lowest low: 1st round KO loss to Frankie Edgar and steroid ban
Currently: suspended for roids, unsure whether he's coming back or not

7. Joseph Benavidez
Attempts to become #1 - four:
- Two fights with Cruz for WEC BW title;
- Two fights with Mighty Mouse for UFC FlW title
Highest high: beatdown of Miguel Torres prior to second Cruz fight, passing of a torch in some way.
Lowest low: 1st round KO loss to Mighty Mouse , second fight.
Currently: Still active, still #2 FlW in the world.

8. Jon Fitch
Attempts to become #1 - one:
- GSP fight for the UFC WW title
Highest high: Finally winning WSOF WW title
Lowest low: 1st round KO loss to Johny Hendricks
Currently: WSOF/PFL champ

9. Donald Cerrone
Attempts to become #1 - four:
- Title fight with Varner for WEC LW title
- Two fights with Benson for WEC LW title
- Fight with RDA for UFC LW title
Highest high: Very hot win streak from WEC to UFC
Lowest low: Last fight :-(
Currently: Broken nose

So who is the best one here?
Who has the best career?
 
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Mirko was considered the scariest striker in mma history during his pride run. KO'd Igor, Wand. Gotta say crocop.
 
Fitch is a good contender for this as well, had a sick, sick win streak prior to GSP.

But my vote goes to either Florian or Benevidez.
 
artem-lobov-ufc-202.jpg


Because he's best friends with the #1 fighter.
 
Rizzo is my favorite. Cro Cop is best

With 4 failed shots idk how Cowboy isn't on the list.
 
Jon Fitch. And if you don't like it, go have a smoke...
 
Oh, just realized that the OP said "Fighters who actually had titles are not included here."

I guess what threw me off was the mention of tournament wins,.
 
Fighters who actually had titles are not included here.

1. Mirco Filipovic
Attempt to become #1 - one:
- Fight vs Fedor for Pride HW championship;
Highest high: Winning Pride GP
Lowest low: head kick KO loss from Gonzaga
Currently: Retired, comes out of retirements when he wants to

2. Pedro Rizzo
Attempts to become #1 - three:
- Fights with Kevin Randleman and Randy Couture (2) for UFC HW title.
Highest high: even fight (1st one) with Randy Couture, endind in controversial decision
Lowest low: 0-2 stint in Pride, ending with 2 brutal KOs
Currently: Retired, running a gym (?) in Brazil (?)

3. Alexander Gustafsson
Attempts to become #1 - two;
- Fights with Jones and DC for UFC LHW title, both ended with close decisions.
Highest high: Close fight with Jon Jones.
Lowest low: 1st round KO loss to Anthony Johnson
Currently: Still active, still top 5 LHW in the world

4. Chael Sonnen
Attempts to become #1 - three:
- Fights with Anderson Silva for UFC MW title
- Fight with Jon Jones for UFC LHW title
Highest high: Nearly cruising to dominant decision against Anderson in the first fight
Lowest low: Unsure. The guy had a lot of low points in his career
Currently: Still active in Bellator, mostly in "money" fights

5. Kenny Florian
Attempts to become #1 - three:
- Fight with Sherk for UFC LW title;
- Fight with BJ Penn for UFC LW title;
- Fight with Aldo for UFC FW title.
Highest high: Winning streak prior to BJ fight, with a win and hype train derail of Roger Huerta
Lowest low: FW stint, 1-1, uneventful and irrelevant
Currently: Retired, MMA sports persona, commentator journalist and whatnot.

6. Chad Mendes
Attempts to become #1 - two:
- Fights with Aldo for UFC FW title
Highest high: winning streak leading to second fight with Aldo, with first stoppage of Guida due to strikes etc.
- Lowest low: 1st round KO loss to Frankie Edgar and steroid ban
Currently: suspended for roids, unsure whether he's coming back or not

7. Joseph Benavidez
Attempts to become #1 - four:
- Two fights with Cruz for WEC BW title;
- Two fights with Mighty Mouse for UFC FlW title
Highest high: beatdown of Miguel Torres prior to second Cruz fight, passing of a torch in some way.
Lowest low: 1st round KO loss to Mighty Mouse , second fight.
Currently: Still active, still #1 FlW in the world.

8. Jon Fitch
Attempts to become #1 - one:
- GSP fight for the UFC WW title
Highest high: Finally winning WSOF WW title
Lowest low: 1st round KO loss to Johny Hendricks
Currently: WSOF/PFL champ

9. Donald Cerrone
Attempts to become #1 - four:
- Title fight with Varner for WEC LW title
- Two fights with Benson for WEC LW title
- Fight with RDA for UFC LW title
Highest high: Very hot win streak from WEC to UFC
Lowest low: Last fight :-(
Currently: Broken nose

So who is the best one here?
Who has the best career?
Cro Cop and it is not even close...
 
Benavidez. Only ever lost to champs and never failed a drug test.
 
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