Aljamain Sterling and 4 other UFC fighters the fans once rejected as champions
Winning a UFC championship is the dream of every fighter that signs with the promotion. Every mixed martial artist with serious competitive ambitions aspires to capture their division's resident title.
Even the more monetary-minded fighters understand that their pay will experience an exponential increase once they achieve championship status.
However, the circumstances by which a fighter captures UFC gold can massively impact how the fans perceive them. As a result, becoming a UFC champion can be a double-edged sword when fans express their displeasure or outright rejection over a particular fighter rising to the throne of their respective division.
While fight fans eventually warm up to some fighters after a successful title defense or two, that is not always the case.
Some fighters were only rejected as champions during the inception of their title reigns, while others were shunned by fight fans for their entire tenure as title-holders. This list looks at 5 UFC fighters who embody both of those archetypes.
#5. Germaine de Randamie
An undefeated kickboxer who remains one of the few women to outstrike the reigning women's bantamweight and featherweight queen Amanda Nunes, Germaine de Randamie was once the UFC women's featherweight champion.
However, the manner in which she captured the title did not endear her to any spectators. 'The Iron Lady' faced fan-favorite Holly Holm at UFC 208 for the inaugural women's featherweight title.
UFC officially strips Germaine De Randamie of 145 pound women's featherweight belt #MMA #UFC uproxx.it/2sK8z8T https://t.co/uYdN2C0vY0
In a controversial bout, de Randamie earned the ire of fight fans around the globe for punching Holm well after the end of the second and third rounds. Many claimed that one of the punches — which rocked Holm — affected the remainder of the bout.
Germaine de Randamie drew further fury when she refused to honor her duties as a champion by opting against facing top contender Cris Cyborg due to the latter's past PED usage.
Accusations of ducking ensued and de Randamie was stripped of her title without ever having the chance to defend it or being accepted by the fans as a champion.