5 MMA fighters who could have become UFC champions if they didn't retire early
Most fighters who sign with the UFC never become world champions. The majority of the promotion's fighters spend their careers in unranked territory. Some, though, break into the rankings of their weight classes, surging as high as they can before encountering a skill wall separating the division's elite from the best of the rest.
Alas, even those who possess the right combination of skill, dedication, and natural talent do not always fulfill their destiny. MMA has seen many fighters come and go.
Whether it is caused by health concerns, a string of injuries that cannot be overcome, a waning passion for the sport, old age, or no discernible reason, fighters inevitably retire from MMA. Many of those who do, do not leave any questions about their legacy unanswered. There are, however, the elite few who retire early, dashing their potential to become world champions.
This list examines fighters who could have become UFC world champions had they not bowed out of the sport before their time.
#5. Cole Konrad (9-0)
The two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion and Bellator's first-ever heavyweight champion was a phenomal wrestler.
Highly credentialed, Konrad has an impressive collegiate and international wrestling record. His effectiveness as a wrestler was aided by his massive nature, strength, and membership in Brock Lesnar's now-defunct MMA team DeathClutch.
Today's UFC heavyweights dwarf their counterparts from the early 2010s, seeming more like superheavyweights as the majority hover around 6 feet 4 inches tall.
What was Cole Konrad’s ceiling?
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Konrad, however, would not even be out of place among today's UFC heavyweights. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall, he'd be dwarfed only by Alexander Volkov, who stands at 6 feet 7 inches. Thus, between 2010 and 2012, which was the duration of Konrad's MMA career, he'd have been a giant among men in the UFC heavyweight division.
His combination of high-level wrestling and sheer size would have troubled many foes. As Konrad transitioned from wrestling to MMA, fans and MMA media members alike awaited his career with high expectations.
After watching him claim the Bellator heavyweight championship, the sky was the limit. Instead, after successfully defending the title once, Konrad vacated it, retiring from the sport before ever signing with the UFC, leaving behind a legacy as Bellator's first-ever heavyweight champion, a 9-0 record, and disappointment in place of excitement.