Which fighters did you have high hopes for once upon a time?

[Gilday]

I thought Bobby Green was going to be a top contender and fight for the title.

 

[michi972]

Choi, Erick Silva

 

[bambammccoy]

Nick Denis. Canadian bantamweight who was fun to watch.

If you know who he is then post that damn gif. You know which one.

 

[Cantona7]

After UFC38 I thought we’d be seeing Ian Freeman and Mark Weir in contention with the top fighters in their weight classes for years to come. Had even higher hope for Lee Murray...

 

[Rygu]

Joe Lauzon. Broke into the UFC with an upset KO of Jens Pulver, had some spectacular performances/finishes, but just couldn't keep that momentum consistent.

I think Lauzon spent too much time on his computer and not enough time on his conditioning. If he had a better gastank he would have reversed a few of those L's into W's

 

[IVovchanchyn]

phil brooks its real to me dammit!

 

[bufetadanacara]

Phil Davis, I thought he could be champion.

TJ Grant

Way back in the day, I thought Ralph Gracie would be a killer.

 

[Ufc1son]

Mike QUICK Swick!
Patrick Cote!

 

[JN9000]

I thought Steve Cantwell was a future contender after his knockout of Stann in WEC and nasty submission of Al-Hassan in his UFC debut.

I also thought that Brandao was a special talent after he beat Caraway and Bermudez on TUF, like a Thiago Alves with a ground game.

Cantwell is a good one. I met him a long time ago when he was in the WEC and was really excited because i though he was a future UFC champ. lol

 

[Deleted member 509215]

I thought Guillard was a future champion when he was kneeing everybody

I loved watching Guillard fight back in the day, always brought it. Just had a glass jaw and weak ground game.

 

[Malik Andre]

For Sherdog as a whole:

Feel this on a spiritual level.

 

[Martialarts123]

I would’ve bet a million dollars Brandao and Rony Jason would be title contenders

 

[Malik Andre]

Hector Lombard. The first fight I saw from him was vs. Jay Silva in Bellator. Watched the whole building up, Jay was talking that mess hard then 6 seconds in I was sold in him. Then he came to the UFC, though he'd be the champ in no time. Lost all faith once he fought Dan Henderson. It's super depressing if I really think about it.

 

[90 50]

Mike QUICK Swick!
Patrick Cote!

Those for sure

Add David lousiau, joe Lauson , Jason mayhem miller, Nate marquart , Scott Smith

Going further back patt Smith , after his destruction. Of Scott Morris thought he would be unstoppable

And the greatest let down of all time


Lightning Lee Murray. It’s a shame we never got to see a rematch with Anderson Silva.

Honorable mention for James Irvin

 

[Brom Bones]

Soak-a-jew. I didn't remember how to spell it, so I went phonetic. You know who I'm talking about. This guy after the Arona fight.

http://m.sherdog.com/fighter/Rameau-Thierry-Sokoudjou-17010

 

[Taco Loco]

Thiago Silva, almost like a nastier version of Ricardo Arona dudes.

Way more character and Silva is a legit thug crazy mother fucker. Not that I respect that kind of behavior but in a fight I do.

Sepultura entrance music is a plus.

 

[MMAandBOXINGfan]

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I thought Tyson Griffin would be LW champ at one point.

Tyson Griffen was badass.. I remember when some little dude named Frankie Edgar made his debut and won that decision against him I was pissed lol but became a Frankie fan from that point on.

 

[MMAandBOXINGfan]

Thiago Alves
Thiago Tavares
Tyson Griffin
Spencer The King Fisher
Rory MacDonald
Michael McDonald
Miguel Torres
Matt Brown
Roger Huerta

 

[moreorless87]

Kid Yamamoto..

Ruined his career chasing his dads approval trying to get into the Olympic team, got his sholder messed up and generally looked stale afterwards.

 

[chubbman]

Soa Palelei on his second ufc run, with his size, power and GnP I thought a more mature Soa would do some serious damage in the HW division.

I said many times, I genuinely believed... to the point of putting it in my sig, that terry etim would be champ by 2017