Hot Take Champions with most losses before becoming champion

[fractal]

I got Charles @ 8, and Bisping @ 7.
Neither guy seemed like champion material for a large part of their career. Bisping, imo lucked out and was protected after, while Charles really maxed out for a while.

Does anyone have more?

 

[ArtardFiesta]

you should ask this to chatgpt

• Robbie Lawler — reportedly had 10 career losses when he won the UFC welterweight title for the first time. Sherdog Forums
• Maurice Smith — some records indicate he also had around 10 losses before winning the heavyweight title (though this varies by source). Sherdog Forums
• Bisping, Glover Teixeira, and Dave Menne — are also frequently cited as champions with high loss totals (≈7–8 losses) before their first title victories. Sherdog Forums

​

Robbie Lawler appears to hold (or share) the distinction of having the most loss defeats before finally winning UFC gold (around 10 losses). This is based on fight record discussions from MMA forums and statistical archives, though officially curated records vary slightly by database. Sherdog Forums

Context & Notes​

 

[TITS]

Pennington
Moreno?

 

[fractal]

you should ask this to chatgpt

• Robbie Lawler — reportedly had 10 career losses when he won the UFC welterweight title for the first time. Sherdog Forums
• Maurice Smith — some records indicate he also had around 10 losses before winning the heavyweight title (though this varies by source). Sherdog Forums
• Bisping, Glover Teixeira, and Dave Menne — are also frequently cited as champions with high loss totals (≈7–8 losses) before their first title victories. Sherdog Forums

​

Robbie Lawler appears to hold (or share) the distinction of having the most loss defeats before finally winning UFC gold (around 10 losses). This is based on fight record discussions from MMA forums and statistical archives, though officially curated records vary slightly by database. Sherdog Forums

Context & Notes​

Nice. But it's more fun having a conversation with real people.

 

[jsbx45]

Couture had a lot of losses. I'm not sure how many of them he had before he became champ. His record belies how good he was because he fought so many championship level fights. Then he got caught with his pants down. What are you going to do?

 

[Pierced7681]

Couture had a lot of losses. I'm not sure how many of them he had before he became champ. His record belies how good he was because he fought so many championship level fights. Then he got caught with his pants down. What are you going to do?

Huh? Randy was 3-0 when he won the ufc heavyweight title for the first time.

 

[Mr.Maelstrom]

Meisha, Dern and Belal probably?
Gotta be 4 or 5 losses respectively, I'd look it up but they're definitely late bloomers/ overachievers

 

[sonhow]

Michael Johnson is about ro win a title in 2026 and he has 19

 

[Mr.Maelstrom]

you should ask this to chatgpt

• Robbie Lawler — reportedly had 10 career losses when he won the UFC welterweight title for the first time. Sherdog Forums
• Maurice Smith — some records indicate he also had around 10 losses before winning the heavyweight title (though this varies by source). Sherdog Forums
• Bisping, Glover Teixeira, and Dave Menne — are also frequently cited as champions with high loss totals (≈7–8 losses) before their first title victories. Sherdog Forums

​

Robbie Lawler appears to hold (or share) the distinction of having the most loss defeats before finally winning UFC gold (around 10 losses). This is based on fight record discussions from MMA forums and statistical archives, though officially curated records vary slightly by database. Sherdog Forums

Context & Notes​

Robbie fought like a force of nature, and when it lined up with his age and experience and he went on his run, that was fucking white heat in terms of a career line his getting that great of a chapter.

He even out crunked prime Conor with 2 words. That guy was in rare form

 

[Trupsi]

Jan Błachowicz - 8 losses

 

[jsbx45]

Huh? Randy was 3-0 when he won the ufc heavyweight title for the first time.

Well, like I said I wasn't sure how many he had before he became champ. I should have looked it up...

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Condit and Poirier had 5 when they won the interim

you should ask this to chatgpt

AI can't count properly.

Pennington
Moreno?

8
5

Meisha, Dern and Belal probably?
Gotta be 4 or 5 losses respectively, I'd look it up but they're definitely late bloomers/ overachievers

5, 5, and 3 for Belal.

Well, like I said I wasn't sure how many he had before he became champ. I should have looked it up...

to be fair, it was 5 by the time he won LHW for the first time

 

[SteveColdStone]

RDA had 7 losses before beating Pettis

 

[fractal]

Jan Błachowicz - 8 losses

This is a good one

 

[Brood]

Eric Silva is a future champ, and has 11 losses, but they shouldn't count as he was very young when they happened, and is even younger now.

 

[rear naked ankle pick]

Nice. But it's more fun having a conversation with real people.

Any proof you are real?

 

[Pierce 34]

Any proof you are real?

Im his dad

 

[Spath]

RDA had 7 losses before beating Pettis

So did Teixeira, I think. Robbie would’ve been one of my picks here, too.

 

[fractal]

Any proof you are real?

Cannot compute. Please try again.

 

[fractal]

Im his dad

Hello father....we meet again