MMA: The 15 Biggest Pretenders in the UFC

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There are many great fighters in the UFC today. 

What separates those that are great and those that are just good, though, is winning UFC gold. Many fighters have had a chance to win a UFC title. Some have had multiple chances. 

But getting close to a title just doesn't cut it. 

Here's a look at current UFC fighters who may never have UFC gold. 

Clay Guida

Clay Guida is one of the most scrappy and exciting fighters in the UFC. 

Despite this, he may just be a good lightweight gatekeeper. 

Guida has had a few chances to get himself in a title fight. Sadly, Guida has lost to Diego Sanchez, Kenny Florian and Ben Henderson; all three fighters have or will fight for a UFC championship. 

Josh Grispi

Before UFC 125, Josh Grispi was the No. 1 contender for the UFC featherweight title. 

An injury forced Jose Aldo off the card, and Grispi was left with the decision to either wait for his title shot or fight someone else. 

Grispi chose option B and fought Dustin Pririer. Grispi would not only lose that fight but he lost his next one as well, to George Roop. 

Perhaps he was a fluke after all.

Cheick Kongo

Cheick Kongo has long teetered with being a heavyweight contender and gatekeeper. 

Kongo has defeated younger fighters and holds a victory over Mirko Cro Cop. But Kongo has lost to former champions Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir

Kongo is in a division where he could climb to the top. But at age 36, the door for a title could very well be closing for him.

Roy Nelson

TUF season 10 winner, Roy Nelson, has had an up-and-down UFC career. 

Nelson does have three wins, all by knockout. His two losses, though, have come to former champ Frank Mir and current champ Junior dos Santos. 

If anything Nelson has shown that he has one hell of a chin and is a great showman. 

Despite that, he may just be the fat guy who never won UFC gold. 

Thiago Alves

Thiago Alves has the ability to be one of the most dangerous welterweights in MMA today. When Alves makes weight and has his game face on, he's one of the division's best. 

Alves has not been so hot as of late, though.

He's 2-3 in his last five fights. This includes losses to Georges St-Pierre and Jon Fitch, Nos. 1 and 2 in the division.

As long as those two are on top, Alves won't get a title shot.

Melvin Guillard

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When Melvin Guillard is at the top of his game, he looks like a top contender. 

When he's not, though, you have to wonder why. 

Guillard was on a five-fight winning streak before Joe Lauzon submitted him in 47 seconds. 

Guillard is still young, but until he can take his game to the next level, he will always be an exciting fighter who never even reached a title fight.

Kenny Florian

Three title matches and no title.

Sadly, this is one thing that Kenny Florian will always be remembered for.

Florian is a great fighter who finishes his opponents. But getting to the big fight and not winning it almost means nothing. 

To Florian's credit he did get to a title fight three times in two different weight divisions. But when Florian lose to Jose Aldo at UFC 136, he may have well kissed any hopes of fighting for a title again. 

Jim Miller

Before Jim Miller fought Ben Henderson, he was riding a seven-fight winning streak and only had losses to Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar. 

Miller was very close to having a title fight and getting his revenge against one of the two men. And then Henderson dominated Miller.

Miller looked like a completely different fighter in the Henderson fight. 

Once a title contender, Miller now has to climb his way back up.

Brandon Vera

Brandon "The Truth" Vera started out his career 8-0, with a heavyweight title shot on the way. 

Vera was not only suppose to take over the heavyweight division, but he was also going to move down and become light heavyweight champ. 

Of course none of this ever happened. 

Vera never got that title shot, thanks to a contract dispute. 

He has since gone 4-5 (1), nearly got cut from the UFC, and has become an undercard fighter. 

Chris Leben

From his time on season 1 of the Ultimate Fighter, Chris Leben has been one of the UFC's most memorable fighters. 

His tough chin, knockout power and red hair have all made Leben one of the most recognizable fighters in the UFC today. 

Through his first 16 fights, Leben was 15-1. Then he met Anderson Silva and things changed. 

Since the Silva fight, Leben is 7-7.

Although Leben has had a couple of winning streaks, he has not been able to beat top-level fighters. 

Jon Fitch

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Jon Fitch's lone UFC loss is to Georges St. Pierre. Since that fight, Fitch won five straight, then fought to a draw with B.J. Penn. 

Why isn't Fitch getting a rematch with St. Pierre anytime soon?

For one, he has one of the most boring fighting styles in the history of MMA. 

Not only has Fitch not won any of his recent fights by impressive fashion, he's openly stated that he wouldn't fight a teammate, something UFC president Dana White is against. 

Fitch has also not shown any signs that a rematch with St. Pierre would end any differently than the first one.

Yushin Okami

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Yushin Okami has been Japan's most successful fighter in the UFC. 

Okami is 10-3 in the UFC, (26-6 overall) and has defeated title contenders such as Nate Marquardt and the late Evan Tanner. 

Okami got the title shot he earned, but because of the way he lost to Anderson Silva, it may be his last.

Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen may have the biggest mouth in MMA history. He talked his way into his first fight with Anderson Silva, and he nearly backed it up. 

The problem is Silva was injured and Sonnen had high levels of testosterone in his body. 

Many believe as long as Silva is healthy, there's no way Sonnen will become champion. 

Dan Henderson

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Dan Henderson is one of the best fighters in MMA history. 

Henderson held Pride's middleweight and welterweight titles at the same time. 

Henderson was also Strikeforce light heavyweight champ before returning to the UFC this year. 

It's hard to call Henderson a pretender because he is still one of the best fighters in MMA today. 

Despite this his chances of regaining a title are slim. 

He's already fought for a UFC title twice. If Kenny Florian's history tells us anything, the third time is not the charm. 

Michael Bisping

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Since winning The Ultimate Fighter 3, Michael Bisping has become one of the biggest names in the middleweight division. 

Bisping is 21-3 and has only lost to former world champions. 

That, of course, is the problem. 

Bisping has been on decent winning streaks but can never defeat the top fighters. 

Until Bisping can prove he's ready for a step up in competition, he'll never fight for a title.