Most underrated champs in UFC history

[randumo24]

As far as current champions go, it's definitely Rose. The girl is constantly either the underdog or very barely favored in fights. Despite the fact that she is essentially a prodigy. I mean, she is tied with Nunes for most knockdowns among all women in UFC history. Not to mention the fact that she had already essentially won a straight up kickboxing fight with a former pro champion in JJ 49-46; yet for some reason many people thought Weili was going to run through her.

Many people still seem to believe it, even though she KO'd her in just over a minute in their first fight ffs. If that isn't a fighter who is underrated, I don't know what is.

 

[1BadMF]

Marco Ruas

 

[pankrat]

I try to be as real as I can when its gets to the version on Andy thst came over and obliterated Rich 2x, made hendo quit and finished a good version of vitor in record / devastating fashion. Of course , in that era, people will point to certain fights and say " well, I dont know" . Travis Lutter started the blue print but he failed at the end because he didnt have the gas tank. Thst counts. Chael followed up on that with his size/ style/ timing ..... but he failed.That counts.
I'd take prime Andy over prime Chris and I say this because Chris focused on his positives as a stand up fighter than his wrestling/ grappling background. This happens alot - look at Yoel.
The animal that beat Chris for title ( Luke ) , I could see him possibly beating Andy if he got his large frame on top of him. He was just fucking nasty ( top game). I love the mousasi who fought Chris. That guy could offset prime Andy standing and has the smarts to know when and put Andy on his arse .... and then Silva in trouble more ways than one.
Gegard has admitted that Anderson would be too much for " young mousasi ". Another reason why the longevity of a mousasi is not mentioned enough. At 36, hes still in prime ( towards the end albeit but still .... you would think) and you have sites like fightmetric (x) that have him inside top 10 pound 4 pound.

Everyone knows I'm a big mousasi guy so I take some backlash with a grain of salt.
In fairness , who knows on spot I am OR NOT.

I fully believe, styles wise, that 33-34 year old Andy beats Israel but that's me . Adesanya beats who they currently put in front of him so I dont/ cant fault him. His striking is crazy good.

I think Andy vs Israel is a close match at any point but yeah, I give the edge to Silva especially after watching their fight.

If Luke gets on top I think is over. But he wasnt good at doubles or singles which is where Silva's TDD was more flawed. So the question is if he could get the TD from the clinch - which is posible but not sure about it - and if he can force the clinch in the first place without getting starched in the process because Luke likes to play the long range in the feet which is where Silva is deadly and then his striking defense is pretty flawed with no head movement, lead hand too low, and not much lateral movement.

I think Weidman did pretty good in grappling exchanges, in both fights. I really think is one of the worst matchups if not the worst that Silva could face. Mousasi is as game and talented as they come but he obsiouly doesnt have the wrestling prowess of Weidman so not sure if he could find the advantages vs prime Silva. It would be interesting in the feet although not sure if that much entertaining for the casual fan

 

[ironfist05]

Barao doesn't get a whole lot of love these days but he really looked like a phenom for a while

 

[NDiaz209]

Past their primes ?
Belfort had just brutalised Bisping, Rockhold and Hendo and before that went 4 rounds with Jones and almost subbed him.
Silva hadnt lost in 7 or 8 years
Machida had just beaten Munoz and Moose.
Add that up and it = you're a clown.

You do know Belfort was deflated and post USADA right? Anyway Rockhold exposed him and Weidman is 2-6 in his last 8 with all 6 losses by brutal stoppage. I hope he makes a full recovery so he can get knocked out again. It's a thing of beauty.

 

[RollSonnenRoll]

 

[Koro_11]

Yes, Chris was a -540 fave over Vitor so your post / cogent.
However the other side of career vitor still handled other middleweights and was able to sustain a top half dozen standing for a good bit.

Weidman one of the tougher champs to rank on account of alot of issues. A real champ though and fought who they put in front of him.

A real champ sure, he earned his title and put it on the line several times.

 

[DatSamboKid]

I still think Demetrious Johnson is the most criminally underrated champion in UFC history. "Manlets don’t count" or "He fought journeymen" is all I hear. He is dominantes the top fighters in his career and set a record for the most title defenses in UFC history. He TKO’d Henry Cejudo in the first round in their first and arguably won the rematch. Henry Cejudo went on to beat Dillashaw and win the BW title.

Put some respect on Cejudo’s name.

 

[Oozing BDE]

Stipe. Most HW title defenses.

 

[Hatorade]

Timmeh is insanely underrated.

There's just certain match ups with mediocre fighters that he doesn't win, but there's all time greats he does well against.
Someone said that he's the most overrated and underrated, and I totally feel the same. He doesn't do well against faster fighters, but some of the slower plodding fighters like Big Foot or even Stipe, he holds his own. Some people consider Stipe the GOAT as far as HW fighters go, and Stipe probably wouldn't run right through prime Timmeh. Providing Stipe didn't get clipped, he would beat Timmeh no doubt, as Stipe is litterally better everywhere. With that said, I could see Timmeh holding his own with Stipe in a decision, especially if Stipe didn't try to wrestlefuck him.

 

[Olenac12]

People saying Bisping are kidding themselves.

Bisping belongs with Forrest and Serra as probably the worst champs in history.

 

[koquerelle]

I respect ping as a UFC calibur fighter

Yeah, your posts reek of respect.

 

[BigGing]

Bustamante
Barao
Sylvia
Newton

Frank Sham historically seems underrated but at the time he was champ he was rated very highly maybe higher than he shouldve been at the time TBH

Barao is a great choice...only time an interim champion has done shit from what I can remember. Fell off so goddamn hard though