The UFC failed in its attempt to court coveted legend of the sport and former pound-for-pound king Fedor Emelianenko.
But in other cases, like that of unbeaten former Bellator MMA welterweight champ Ben Askren, company president Dana White simply passed on a high-profile free-agent signing.
Fascinated with the Russian’s aura and extraordinary killer instinct, White spent years trying to land Emelianenko—the heavyweight he believed would change the UFC—only to ultimately fail in his conquest.
Askren, conversely, met with White in November, but apparently didn’t impress the UFC’s czar enough to get a spot in the company’s deep 170-pound division.
Regardless of how it unfolded, the following fighters possessed the ingredients to consistently flourish in the UFC, but for one reason or another, got left out in the cold by White and company.
Here are the five best fighters who’ve never graced the Octagon.