by - soumya ranjan
The UFC is undoubtedly the biggest MMA promotion in the world, and fighters from all over the world come here to showcase their skills. Due to its level of competition, it is expected to have the best fighters in the world. However, that's not the case with some fighters. Here's the list of the best MMA artists who never joined the UFC.
Douglas Lima Lima is one of the prominent faces in Bellator MMA and has the record of having the highest number of knockout finishes in the promotion. The fighter has defeated former UFC fighters such as Paul Daley, Lorenz Larkin, and Ben Saunders. Limas is one of the best welterweights in the world and has never stepped foot inside the UFC octagon.
Shinya Aoki Aoki has the reputation of being one of the most dangerous grapplers in MMA history. The fighter has wins over former UFC fighters such as Joachim Hansen and Eddie Alvarez. Aoki in his prime was unstoppable and undefeated for years. UFC fans never got to see the potential of Aoki in his prime fighting days.
Igor Vovchanchyn Vovchanchyn is a Russian heavyweight MMA fighter who terrorized fighters wherever he went throughout his career. He made his name after joining Pride, but before that, he already had an amazing record of 31-2.
Rickson Gracie The Gracie family is just legendary in the MMA community, and Rickson Gracie was one of the most popular fighters in the mid-90s. He has a great deal of respect and also has a mysterious myth around his name.
Fedor Emelianenko Fedor is the greatest MMA fighter to never fought in the UFC. 'The Last Emperor' spent most of his professional career in Strikeforce and was a force of nature inside the cage. Many consider him the greatest heavyweight in the history of MMA, and it was a shame that he never fought in the UFC.