MMA: 10 Fighters Who Should but Won't Be All-Time Greats

MMA is home to a variety of different fighters who have vast differences from one another—where they were born, their fighting styles, their personality and, of course, their legacy.

In mixed martial arts right now, there are many fighters who will go down as some of the greatest to have ever stepped foot inside the Octagon. However, there are also some fighters who should go down as the greatest of all time but for some reason or another won't.

The following slides display 10 fighters who should but won't be all-time greats.

Melvin Guillard

Melvin Guillard is one of the most dangerous knockout artists in the UFC today.

Over the years, Guillard has shown signs of greatness but also signs of collapsing.

And we know this won't cut it in the all-time-great discussions.

Thiago Alves

Thiago Alves was on the fast track of becoming great, as he earned himself a welterweight title fight against George St-Pierre at UFC 100.

However, despite his exceptional skill set, Alves has since fallen off the map.

Lyoto Machida

Lyoto Machida is one of the best fighters in the UFC light heavyweight division today, as we just saw him challenge current champion Jon Jones.

However, despite an electrifying start to his career, Machida is slowly beginning to display a dose of falling off the tracks.

Machida has lost three of four and will have to improve to become one of the greatest of all time.

Gray Maynard

Gray Maynard certainly has the skill set to become an all-time great someday, but it hasn't been shown lately.

In fact, unfortunately for Maynard, he continues to come up short when it matters and when the title is on the line.

Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen may be the most talked-about man in MMA, but that doesn't make him one of the best ever.

Despite a never-seen-before type of performance at UFC 117 against Anderson Silva, Sonnen still came up on the losing end.

Nick Diaz

It's hard to deny just how successful Nick Diaz has been over the course of his past several years in mixed martial arts.

However, it's also hard not to take a look at his track record and see that nearly every opponent has been a mid-tier Strikeforce challenger.

Diaz is a great all-around fighter, but he won't go down as a best of all time.

Kenny Florian

Kenny Florian is a respected and well-liked fighter. However, unfortunately for Florian, he is 0-3 in title shots.

And while Florian may have another run left in him, he'll certainly have to capitalize on the opportunity to be considered in this elite category.

Frank Mir

Frank Mir has been squaring off inside the cage for 10 years en route to becoming one of the best heavyweight fighters in the UFC.

And while Mir has scored impressive victories and has held the heavyweight title, it won't be enough for him to remembered as a top fighter of all time.

Josh Koscheck

Josh Koscheck has all the ingredients to one day become a UFC champion.

Unfortunately for Koscheck, we are yet to see his skills implemented in a championship fight.

There's a good chance we never will, either.

Jake Shields

Jake Shields was one of the most hyped-up fighters when he entered the UFC from Strikeforce.

However, Shields hasn't been as nearly as good as some fans have expected him to be.

No "all-time" remembrance for Shields.

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