What are some of the most egregious cases of fighters leapfrogging more deserving fighters for a title shot?

[FrankDux]

Thread title does says it all. Also, exclude injuries obviously.

 

[Fergelmince]

Sonnen getting a LHW title shot off his 2nd loss to Silva. He leapfrogged all of humanity. But proved without a doubt that the UFC is sports ENTERTAINMENT, and not a tournament where you earn your opportunities in the cage. Some people will never get that.

 

[cws80us]

Colby sitting out nearly 2 years after beating washed up Masvidal and getting a title shot against Edwards.

 

[Reptile_Bong_Hit]

Colby over Belal; Hendo against Bisping (it was his last fight—and a rematch—but Romero had quite a hot streak at the time); Chito’s shot over Merab is up there too.

 

[gonads20]

Jon Jones. But the hype was real.

 

[Oddmonster]

Thread title does says it all. Also, exclude injuries obviously.

Lesnar.
Gane
Pereira.
Colby.

 

[Eric Silva 2.0]

Thread title does says it all. Also, exclude injuries obviously.

Hendo leapfrogging Weidman, Rockhold, Jacare and Yoel to get a title shot.

 

[IDGETKTFO]

Sonnen getting a LHW title shot off his 2nd loss to Silva. He leapfrogged all of humanity. But proved without a doubt that the UFC is sports ENTERTAINMENT, and not a tournament where you earn your opportunities in the cage. Some people will never get that.

Chael was one toe away from winning that belt.

 

[jefferz]

Edgar Aldo.

 

[Fergelmince]

Chael was one toe away from winning that belt.

Sonnen later tested positive for anal sexual assault so his victory would've been overturned.

 

[mkt]

Hendo vs. Bisping and it's even close. Hendo was 3-6 in his prior 9 fights and 46-years old. Jacare, Yoel, Whittaker, Mousasi and even guys like Weidman (just starting a losing streak), Rockhold (rubber match) or Machida were more deserving.

Bisping's next title defense vs. GSP was similar, though at least GSP wasn't as old. He was coming off a 4-year layoff and multiple ACL injuries/surgeries, though...and had never fought at MW...and still won.

 

[pick999]

nick diaz vs gsp

 

[Last Falconry]

Cody Garbrandt got a title shot after beating Takeya Mizugaki. No fights with Aljo, Marlon Moraes, TJ, and I'm pretty sure Lineker was still around then too. Pretty sweet deal if you can get it

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

Conor at 155

 

[Shaolin Alan]

Anderson "The Bug" Silva, coming from the minor league and "defeating" a chinny Christopher "The Boy Next Door" Leben, for an immediate title shot vs "America's Son" Richard Benjamin Franklin!!
#Egregious

 

[Nathan LaMontagne]

Masvidal. Twice in a row.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Hendo leapfrogging Weidman, Rockhold, Jacare and Yoel to get a title shot.

Then GSP leapfrogged all those people + Mousasi right after, causing the Moose to leave the UFC

 

[ChickenBrother]

McNuggets getting booked for Aldo after beating... Dennis Siver without going through Mendes or Edgar was a goddamn travesty. But Aldo injured his ribs and McG at least ended up having to beat 2 week replacement Mendes. We all know what happened when he fought Aldo but Edgar was right there and even KOed Mendes himself that same weekend.

 

[nostradumbass]

Colby over Belal; Hendo against Bisping (it was his last fight—and a rematch—but Romero had quite a hot streak at the time); Chito’s shot over Merab is up there too.

Belal hadn't beaten Burns when Colby was announced as next in line, and Colby was the highest ranked contender.

There's been a lot, but most blatant recent one is making a HW interim title, then giving the next shot to a different guy who hasn't won a fight in approaching 4 years.

 

[Jawth]

Jon Jones. But the hype was real.

Was a injury replacement and he had just dismantled 12-0 Bader.