Two UFC Superstars Who Avoided Top Contenders

There are plenty of blockbuster fights on the horizon in the UFC, with contests such as Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway and Khamzat Chimaev vs Robert Whittaker looming large; the talk of the town at present is centered around the heavyweight championship. All-time great Jon Jones is the champion, a title he claimed in his debut in the division back at UFC 285, with a first-round submission victory against Cryil Gane last March.

However, since then, Jonny Bones has been waiting for a clash with former champion Stipe Miocic. The two had a proposed bout scrapped last November, and there has been no movement on a possible bout since. In the meantime, British star Tom Aspinall has risen to the rank of interim champion, even successfully defending his title, while Jones has been sitting on his couch in New Mexico. Aspinall has repeatedly called out Jones for a unification clash that would probably be the biggest bout the UFC can make at present, but the American remains unfazed, instead continuing to wait for the 42-year-old Miocic.

Despite a bout not yet being penned, the bookies are already wondering who will win. The latest UFC odds currently have Jones as a +107 underdog for a potential clash with Aspinall, with the Brit being a surprising -128 betting favorite. Perhaps the American also considers himself as an underdog for any potential matchup and as such, is avoiding a money-spinning bout between the pair. And if he is, that wouldn't be surprising, as many top stars have avoided their toughest competition over the years.

Georges St. Pierre and Johnny Hendricks

Georges St. Pierre is often heralded as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the UFC. He dominated the welterweight division unlike anything seen before, with his combination of impeccable technique and unparalleled fighting IQ leading him to a five-and-a-half-year title reign with nine successful title defenses. Rush's reign was marked by a series of legendary battles against the likes of Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz, but one name stands out as an opponent he seemingly avoided: Johnny Hendricks.

The anticipation for a bout between the two welterweight superstars reached a fever pitch in the early 2010s. Hendricks had risen through the ranks with his ferocious knockout power and wrestling pedigree leading him to victories against the aforementioned Condit, as well as Josh Koscheck. Big Rig was bulldozing his way through the competition, making him the obvious number one contender to GSP's crown, with many wondering if he could be the one to take down the seemingly invincible champion.

The Canadian eventually caved and penned a deal to face Hendricks at UFC 167 in November 2013. After a back-and-forth five-round war, the reigning champion was awarded a controversial split-decision victory, much to the dismay of the fans in attendance in Las Vegas, who rained down boos on the Octagon.

Such was the controversial nature of the victory, fans immediately clamored for a rematch, but lingering doubts about St. Pierre's willingness to face Hendricks intensified when he announced a hiatus after his controversial split-decision victory. Many believed that GSP had dodged a potential rematch, as Hendricks seemed to be the kryptonite to his fighting style. This decision left a blemish on St. Pierre's otherwise pristine legacy, sparking debates about what could have been had they squared off once more at the peak of their careers.

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson

Khabib Nurmagomedov's career in the UFC is marked by his unblemished record and his dominance in the lightweight division. The Russian wrestling supremo cemented his legacy with the final three fights of his career by destroying Conor McGregor, as well as picking up dominant victories against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje to bring the curtain down on a glittering career. However, before that trifecta of victories, there was one fight that the world wanted to see.

That was, of course, a long-anticipated clash with Tony Ferguson, which fans were robbed of on no fewer than five occasions due to injuries and unforeseen circumstances. While Nurmagomedov was on the rise, so too was El Cucuy, with his unorthodox style and relentless pressure being seen as the perfect foil to Khabib's grappling-heavy approach. Between 2012 and 2019, he embarked upon a 12-fight winning streak that culminated with the interim championship with an October 2017 victory against Kevin Lee.

However, that clash was supposed to be against Khabib, who had to withdraw with an injury. The same was the case when the Russian claimed the title in April the following year, but this time around, it was the American that withdrew, surrendering his interim title in the process.

Each time the fight was scheduled, the anticipation grew, only to end in disappointment for fans. While Khabib never explicitly avoided Ferguson, the frequent cancellations led to speculation about whether the fight would ever materialize. Following the death of his father Abdulmanap, Khabib retired undefeated and Ferguson probably should have followed suit because he is currently in the midst of an eight-fight losing streak. A proposed bout between the two remains one of the biggest "what ifs?" in UFC history.