i don't think Rory reached his prime. i think the Lawler fights he got it beat out of him before he could realize it. had he waited around and let Woodley fight Lawler and win he could've still been in the UFC. styles make fights and i think that wasn't the right fight for Rory to take. of course i'm saying this with the benefit of hindsight, but from hindsight i think he should've sat it out or avoided the Lawler fights. they were great fights, but he was never the same after that and i feel like he hadn't reached his full potential and most likely never will now.
that's the brutality of the sport.