5 unluckiest UFC fighters in history
In the UFC, skill reigns supreme. Most fighters owe their success to their insurmountable work ethic and exceptional mixed martial arts skills. However, there are occasions when a mere shift in probability is enough to damn a fighter to a fate they could do nothing to stop.
In more extreme cases, certain fighters suffer from repeated incidents that pop up from seemingly nowhere to stand in the way of their journey as MMA fighters in the sport's premier organization.
Thus, a poor run of luck can be a major factor in any fighter's career. Some, however, are more plagued than others by a streak of bad luck.
Some fighters have lost championship opportunities and even the biggest fights of their careers due to a bizarre run of misfortune. While some recover, others do not.
In honor of Leon Edwards, a mixed martial artist once known for his poor luck due to canceled fights and an ill-timed no-contest against Belal Muhammad, who finally captured the UFC welterweight title, this list looks at 5 of the UFC's unluckiest fighters, past and present.
#5. Dominick Cruz
Arguably the greatest bantamweight in MMA history, Dominick Cruz is a two-time UFC bantamweight champion and a former WEC bantamweight champion. Despite his recent loss to Marlon Vera ending his final bid for a third title run, Cruz has had a predominantly successful career compared to many of his peers.
However, it is clear that Cruz's success came despite his poor run of luck, as 'The Dominator' has suffered from an inexplicable streak of injuries over the years.
Injuries have plagued Dominick Cruz's career. https://t.co/D9PoKQUgYa
Thus far, the former champion has broken his hand, torn his ACL (which required a second surgery after his body rejected a replacement from a cadaver), torn his groin (which forced him to vacate his UFC title), torn his other ACL (an injury that came in the aftermath of his return fight after a near-three year absence), broken his arm, and injured his shoulder.
The sheer volume of injuries Cruz suffered is such that even though the former champion signed with the promotion 11 years ago, he has only fought 10 times for the company. Fate deprived both him and the fans of enjoying an all-time great fighting spree in the prime of his youth.