When Tito Ortiz exited the Octagon on July 7, 2012, he did so for the 27th—and final—time of his career.
Ortiz’s 27 Octagon appearances signify the greatest number ever put in by a UFC employee, eclipsing the marks of legendary champions like Matt Hughes, Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture.
But, records are, as they say, made to be broken, and the odds of Ortiz’s appearance record standing the test of time are not particularly great. Indeed, there are a handful of still-active fighters rapidly closing the gap, threatening to supplant “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” as the most recurring figure in UFC history.
Here, we’ll take a look at some candidates that may eventually meet or surpass Ortiz’s mark.
From elder-statesmen coasting on fumes toward the record, to fresh faced youngster riding the strength of a healthy head-start, the following list details the 10 guys who have the best chance to take on Tito.