The Worst Champions (Historically) in Each Division

[lsa]

But is Conor worse than Alvarez, who also never defended the belt, and was defeated pathetically easily by Conor?

I would put Eddie over Conor, since Eddie actually put the belt on the line.
Conor never did.

 

[sonhow]

Good picks. Agree with everything.

 

[Bullitt68]

Just to nerd out for a moment, having already defended Bas while making my case for Mo as the worst HW champ...

Ricco Rodriguez

Ricco Rodriguez

...I now want to defend Ricco. First and foremost, he lost by getting knocked out by the surging (and roided up lean and mean) 6'8'' 265-pound monster sprawl-and-brawler Tim Sylvia. Absolutely no shame in that. If styles make fights, Ricco having to fight Tim is the definition of a nightmare. Before he ran into The Maine-iac, let's not forget that Ricco's run through the UFC HW division is maybe the most impressive title run in UFC history. (Obvious #1 contender is GSP tearing through the WW division, but it's a solid debate.) Including his victory over Randy to claim the then-vacant UFC HW title, Ricco was 14-1 overall and undefeated in the UFC at 5-0. He didn't just beat his opponents, he fucking mauled them. He was a freight train. He dominated the Sambo youngster Andrei Arlovski, steamrolled the veteran Pete Williams, beat the utter fuck out of the gorilla Jeff Monson, destroyed Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, and didn't just pulverize but even outwrestled Randy. Ricco Suave was amazing, and most impressive of all was the way that every single fight he got better technically and got in better shape. He was new and improved each and every time he stepped in the cage in every facet of the game. Oh and he was also competing in ADCC and fucking kneebarred the ostensibly invincible HW submission GOAT Big Nog while racking up a 14-6 overall ADCC record which included winning the +99 kg division gold medal in 1998 and silver medal in 1999 as well as the 1999 absolute division bronze medal.

No way Ricco is worse than Mo Smith or Dan Severn or even Kevin Randleman. I'd even put him above Josh Barnett who while legit got stripped for roids. Far from the bottom of the barrel.

 

[RockyLockridge]

But is Conor worse than Alvarez, who also never defended the belt, and was defeated pathetically easily by Conor?

yes, He is IMO. Alverez is still a LW legend and has won major titles in multiple orgs, you might even argue that He was post prime most of his ufc career.

 

[CasualBot]

Aljo

Hill

Jones

Leon

BLOL

 

[VinceArch]

Great breakdowns in this thread. I gotta go with Tyron for WW though. I know he won the belt fair and square and he was busy for a few fights. But he was so whiny. And petulant. And played the race card every time he didn't like something. He sucked in the end. Then got KTFO by a YouTuber. LOL

His tenure as champion really was an awful time.

 

[NovaJon93]

Just to nerd out for a moment, having already defended Bas while making my case for Mo as the worst HW champ...




...I now want to defend Ricco. First and foremost, he lost by getting knocked out by the surging (and roided up lean and mean) 6'8'' 265-pound monster sprawl-and-brawler Tim Sylvia. Absolutely no shame in that. If styles make fights, Ricco having to fight Tim is the definition of a nightmare. Before he ran into The Maine-iac, let's not forget that Ricco's run through the UFC HW division is maybe the most impressive title run in UFC history. (Obvious #1 contender is GSP tearing through the WW division, but it's a solid debate.) Including his victory over Randy to claim the then-vacant UFC HW title, Ricco was 14-1 overall and undefeated in the UFC at 5-0. He didn't just beat his opponents, he fucking mauled them. He was a freight train. He dominated the Sambo youngster Andrei Arlovski, steamrolled the veteran Pete Williams, beat the utter fuck out of the gorilla Jeff Monson, destroyed Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, and didn't just pulverize but even outwrestled Randy. Ricco Suave was amazing, and most impressive of all was the way that every single fight he got better technically and got in better shape. He was new and improved each and every time he stepped in the cage in every facet of the game. Oh and he was also competing in ADCC and fucking kneebarred the ostensibly invincible HW submission GOAT Big Nog while racking up a 14-6 overall ADCC record which included winning the +99 kg division gold medal in 1998 and silver medal in 1999 as well as the 1999 absolute division bronze medal.

No way Ricco is worse than Mo Smith or Dan Severn or even Kevin Randleman. I'd even put him above Josh Barnett who while legit got stripped for roids. Far from the bottom of the barrel.

Great points about Ricco.

I had Mo, Randleman, Bas, and Barnett in consideration but factored in the title defenses for Mo and Randleman, and the overall career of Bas and Barnett despite their controversial UFC reigns with the debatable decision and positive test, respectively. But Ricco definitely gets slept on by many when considering the strength of his prime performances and overall combat sports career.

 

[Doughie99]

But is Conor worse than Alvarez, who also never defended the belt, and was defeated pathetically easily by Conor?

I have always had my suspicions that the Alvarez VS Conor fight was, in some way, a 'work'. Maybe Alvarez was, paid a handsome 7figure Losing Bonus.

 

[Dr. Rose]

HW - Maurice Smith
205 - Jamahal Hill
185- Strickland
170- Carlos Newton
155- Conor
145- Conor
135- Aljo*
125 - Van


Wmma-

145- Cyborg by default because I don't consider GDR a champ she won by cheating and refused to fulfill the role of champion
135 - Tate edit: Pennington - she sucks so much my brain did not register her paper machete belt
125 Nico Monatno (worst "champ" period pfp D4C )
115- Esparza



Edit- I did this off the top of my head... OMalley is a worse choice than Aljo. My beef with Aljo is all his fights have an asterisk of sorts. Yan DQ Yan split Old Henry Split (right?) 1 arm TJ
But still it is 4 wins and some good names. Yan rematch was a big win and aged well with Yan winning the belt back
Omalley had a legit title win to KO aljo but his chito defense was bullshit Dana White privilege garabge and Merab whooped his ass twice.

Great points my friend. But it is paper mache. If she had a machete, even a paper one, her fights might be more interesting.

 

[KungFuCow]

Steve Jenum is the worst UFC champ in history.

 

[orca]

I think you forgot that Conor was also a LW champion. Let’s consider him the worst two division champion of all time.

you believe brawler gaetche is better than prime sniper conor?
or did you only started watching conor only after the floyd fight

 

[orca]

Worst LHW champ is definitely Hill.

Worst HW champ is Jon Jones. Talked about moving up to HW for years, but didn't actually do it until Francis left. I do give him credit for winning the belt against Gane, but trying to pass off Stipe as a legitimate title defense is beyond insulting.

I used to think the worst MW champ was Bisping but after learning he was fighting with one eye it gave me new respect for him. So yeah I guess I'd go with Menne.

WW would be Covington. I think Serra deserves props for beating the goat in his prime. Colby didn't accomplish anything near that difficult.

last time i checked nganou left the ufc even though he knows jones was already in the HW roster
do you believe nganou is better than jones though

jones made the HW division so weak beating gane like he was a baby

the same gane who should have won the belt if he didnt go for the submission
and the same gane who tom cant beat

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

that Native American chick is for sure for whatever weight class she was in, and De Randamie for literally giving up her belt just to avoid Cyborg

 

[Pierce 34]

Aljo BW run as a champ was a joke. Didnt like Woodley at WW

 

[Mmmmmmma1234]

Just to nerd out for a moment, having already defended Bas while making my case for Mo as the worst HW champ...




...I now want to defend Ricco. First and foremost, he lost by getting knocked out by the surging (and roided up lean and mean) 6'8'' 265-pound monster sprawl-and-brawler Tim Sylvia. Absolutely no shame in that. If styles make fights, Ricco having to fight Tim is the definition of a nightmare. Before he ran into The Maine-iac, let's not forget that Ricco's run through the UFC HW division is maybe the most impressive title run in UFC history. (Obvious #1 contender is GSP tearing through the WW division, but it's a solid debate.) Including his victory over Randy to claim the then-vacant UFC HW title, Ricco was 14-1 overall and undefeated in the UFC at 5-0. He didn't just beat his opponents, he fucking mauled them. He was a freight train. He dominated the Sambo youngster Andrei Arlovski, steamrolled the veteran Pete Williams, beat the utter fuck out of the gorilla Jeff Monson, destroyed Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, and didn't just pulverize but even outwrestled Randy. Ricco Suave was amazing, and most impressive of all was the way that every single fight he got better technically and got in better shape. He was new and improved each and every time he stepped in the cage in every facet of the game. Oh and he was also competing in ADCC and fucking kneebarred the ostensibly invincible HW submission GOAT Big Nog while racking up a 14-6 overall ADCC record which included winning the +99 kg division gold medal in 1998 and silver medal in 1999 as well as the 1999 absolute division bronze medal.

No way Ricco is worse than Mo Smith or Dan Severn or even Kevin Randleman. I'd even put him above Josh Barnett who while legit got stripped for roids. Far from the bottom of the barrel.

All are wrong.

Worst ever HW Champion Steve Jennum.

 

[Bullitt68]

All are wrong.

Worst ever HW Champion Steve Jennum.

Technically, he was a no weight class tournament champion, not a belt holder and certainly not a HW champion. But yeah, Royce and Ken pulling out made a mess of that tournament.

 

[ChessJitsu]

If anyone ever questions how far MMA has come in the last 20+ years.... Show them Dave Menne.

45-17 doesn't seem bad

 

[ChessJitsu]

wins over Carlos Newton, Chris Lytle, Dennis Hallman (notable names for anyone who remembers).

not that bad.

 

[MMACro]

Winning 2 titles in amazing fashion

Sherdog:Worst champion!!

Lmao

 

[Pierce 34]

Ping was a drama queen but he was legit and KOd Rockhold