Name a great fighter whose career didn't look very promising

[The Accuser]

like who had problems at the start of his career but who turned out really good

or someone who went through a really bad phase in the middle of his career and then had a great resurgence

Off the top of my head:

Oliveira
Overeem (slump in the middle)
Holloway (went 3-3 in his first six in the UFC)

 

[Mr.Maelstrom]

Belal, Werdum, Wanderlei

 

[Cameron]

For me it would be TJ dillashaw

 

[cold_spring_harbor]

For me it would be TJ dillashaw

Right on the money

 

[McSpikes]

Charlie Olives is another obvious answer

 

[LEWIS540]

Bisping, kinda.

 

[Natural Order]

...

 

[John makfresshi]

TJ Dillashaw was a different man once he moved into the top 10!

 

[Natural Order]

Glover Texeira

 

[RainyMonday]

Above posters pretty much nailed it, but if I had to add one it has to be Robbie Lawler.

I don't think anyone expected him to win the belt, especially after his loss to Hendricks.

 

[LEWIS540]

CM Punk. Didn’t look promising. Boy was that an understatement…


Oh you said great. Disregard!

Guys like an 8 time world champ.

Probably like a top 10 richest MMA fighter, too, truth be told.

 

[tornado362]

Would DDP count? Everyone wrote him off as a bad technique brawler who would get styled on by a much more skilled precise fighter.

Look at him now

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

I don't think anyone expected him to win the belt, especially after his loss to Hendricks.

I didn't expect him to beat Josh Koscheck! The Ruthless Era was incredible.

 

[jooohnmatrix]

Robbie Lawlor didn’t look that good before going on a tear in his mid thirties.

 

[LEWIS540]

Robbie Lawlor didn’t look that good before going on a tear in his mid thirties.

Love Robbie, but he timed it well.

Imagine what GSP would do to him.

Actually, you don’t have to. 50-45.

 

[Necrocrawler]

Robbie Lawler
Leon Edwards (he lost his debut to a very awkward fighter)
Buckley
Larkin

 

[shunyata]

Anderson at the time of the Ryo Chonan fight.

 

[BJJ4Tone]

I mean, Masvidal certainly made the most out of a middling, journeyman career.
Multiple title shots, despite never really being that good.

 

[rorschach51]

RDA, losing to Guida

 

[Koala]

As a TUF noob, I have to say Diego
Also BJ Penn