1- Georges St-Pierre vs. Anderson Silva
Fighter Profiles
- Georges “Rush” St-Pierre: Welterweight (170 lbs) | 26-2 record (8 KOs, 6 SUBs) | 9 consecutive title defenses | 13-fight win streak
- Anderson “The Spider” Silva: Middleweight (185 lbs) | 34-11 record (23 KOs, 3 SUBs) | 10 consecutive title defenses | 16-fight UFC win streak
The Backstory & Context
During the height of the Zuffa era, Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva were the undisputed kings of their respective divisions. GSP systematically dismantled the welterweight division with his wrestling, range control, and tactical approach, while Silva terrorized the 185lbs division with his creative striking, devastating counters, and highlight-reel finishes.
For years, fans dreamed of seeing the two dominant champions finally share the Octagon.
Facts, Figures, and Stats
- Pound-for-Pound supremacy: From 2009 through 2012, Silva and GSP consistently occupied the top two spots in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
- Dominance: Silva’s historic title reign lasted 2,457 days, while he put together 16 consecutive UFC victories. GSP recorded nine consecutive welterweight title defenses and accumulated 2,523 minutes inside the Octagon.
- Massive financial potential: Dana White believed a GSP-Silva showdown at a major stadium, potentially Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, could surpass 1.5 million PPV buys and generate more than $15 million at the gate.
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Why It Never Happened
- The weight difference: Silva was naturally the much bigger fighter, regularly walking around above 200 pounds and even competing at light heavyweight. GSP, meanwhile, was reluctant to make a permanent move to 185 pounds because of the physical toll it could take on his body and athleticism.
- Risk vs. reward: GSP’s coach, Firas Zahabi, also pointed to the difficulties of moving up temporarily against a naturally larger and highly dangerous striker like Silva.
- Timing and injuries: By the time GSP vacated his welterweight title in 2013, Silva had already lost the middleweight championship to Chris Weidman at UFC 162 and then suffered a devastating leg injury in their rematch at UFC 168.
2- Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson
Fighter Profiles
- Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov: Lightweight (155 lbs) | 29-0 record (8 KOs, 11 SUBs) | 29-fight unbeaten career
- Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson: Lightweight (155 lbs) | 25-10 record (12 KOs, 8 SUBs) | 12-fight UFC win streak at his peak
The Backstory & Context
Few fights in MMA history have been as cursed as Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson. The UFC booked the matchup five separate times, and somehow, every single attempt fell apart because of injury, illness, or circumstances completely outside the fighters’ control. It became the fight that simply could never happen.
Facts, Figures, and Stats
- Five failed bookings:
- TUF 22 Finale (December 2015): Khabib withdrew with a rib injury.
- UFC on FOX 19 (April 2016): Ferguson pulled out because of a lung issue.
- UFC 209 (March 2017): Khabib was hospitalized because of complications from his weight cut.
- UFC 223 (April 2018): Ferguson tore his LCL after tripping over a cable during a media event.
- UFC 249 (April 2020): The matchup collapsed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting travel restrictions.
- Unmatched momentum: Going into their planned UFC 249 fight, both men had built 12-fight UFC winning streaks, making the matchup even more anticipated.
Why It Never Happened
The final opportunity disappeared when Justin Gaethje stepped in for Ferguson at UFC 249 and snapped his 12-fight winning streak with a fifth-round TKO. Nurmagomedov later defended his lightweight title against Gaethje at UFC 254 before retiring undefeated at 29-0.
The matchup between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson was finally left in the history books as one of MMA’s greatest “what ifs.”
3- Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brock Lesnar
Fighter Profiles
- Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko: Heavyweight | 40-7 record (16 KOs, 15 SUBs) | 28-fight unbeaten streak
- Brock Lesnar: Heavyweight (265 lbs) | 5-3 record (3 KOs, 1 SUB) | Former UFC Heavyweight Champion
The Backstory & Context
In the late 2000s, Brock Lesnar was the UFC’s heavyweight king and one of the biggest stars in MMA. Outside the UFC, Fedor Emelianenko was widely regarded as the best heavyweight on the planet, having dominated PRIDE and built one of the most impressive unbeaten runs in MMA history.
Naturally, fans wanted to see the two giants collide. Dana White was also desperate to make the matchup happen, viewing Fedor vs. Lesnar as a massive cross-promotional blockbuster.
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Facts, Figures, and Stats
- Box-office potential: Lesnar’s UFC 100 showdown with Frank Mir generated 1.6 million PPV buys, setting an MMA record at the time. A Lesnar-Fedor event at Texas’ AT&T Stadium was even projected to attract more than 80,000 fans.
- Fedor’s dominance: From 2001 to 2009, Fedor went 28 fights without a loss, defeating several former UFC champions along the way, including Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman.
Why It Never Happened
- Contract negotiations: Dana White famously traveled to Curaçao to negotiate with Fedor Emelianenko and his management team led by M-1 Global founder, Vadim Finkelchtein. However, the Russians wanted the UFC to agree to a co-promotion arrangement, something White refused to accept.
- Career timing: Fedor eventually signed with Strikeforce and suffered a shocking submission loss to Fabricio Werdum in 2010. Lesnar, meanwhile, lost the UFC heavyweight title to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121, and the once-massive matchup quickly lost momentum.
4- Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva
Fighter Profiles
- Jon “Bones” Jones: Light Heavyweight | 28-1-0-1 record (10 KOs, 7 SUBs) | Youngest UFC champion in history
- Anderson “The Spider” Silva: Middleweight | 34-11 record (23 KOs, 3 SUBs) | Longest UFC title reign in history
The Backstory & Context
When Jon Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history at just 23 years old at UFC 128, Anderson Silva was still ruling over the middleweight division. Jones quickly established himself as the dominant force at 205 pounds, beating legends such as Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans and Vitor Belfort.
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Silva, meanwhile, had already proven that he could compete at light heavyweight, picking up impressive wins over the likes of Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar. That naturally led to calls for a champion-vs.-champion showdown.
Facts, Figures, and Stats
- Physical advantages: Jones had an 84.5-inch reach, while Silva’s reach measured 77.5 inches.
- Championship dominance: At the height of the hype, both men were unbeaten during their respective title reigns and were widely considered two of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.
Why It Never Happened
- Mutual respect: Both fighters repeatedly expressed tremendous respect for each other and even discussed the possibility of training together rather than fighting.
- Size and style: Silva acknowledged the problems Jones’ size, wrestling and reach could create, making the matchup a particularly risky proposition.
- The window closed: Chris Weidman ended Silva’s historic middleweight reign at UFC 162 in 2013, effectively killing any realistic chance of the two champions ever meeting.
5- Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg
Fighter Profiles
- Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey: Bantamweight (135 lbs) | 12-2 record (3 KOs, 9 SUBs) | 6 UFC title defenses
- Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino: Featherweight (145 lbs) | 26-2 record (20 KOs, 1 SUB) | 13-year unbeaten run
The Backstory & Context
When women’s MMA exploded onto the UFC scene, Ronda Rousey quickly became one of the biggest stars in the sport. She famously ran through opponents with her trademark armbar, often finishing fights within minutes.
At the same time, Cris Cyborg was destroying opponents at featherweight with her terrifying power. With Rousey ruling at 135 pounds and Cyborg dominating at 145, fans wanted to see who was truly the best female fighter in the world.
It never came together.
Facts, Figures, and Stats
- Rousey’s incredible finishing rate: During her championship run, Rousey routinely finished fights in minutes, including a 14-second submission of Cat Zingano and a 16-second knockout of Alexis Davis.
- Cyborg’s dominance: Cyborg remained unbeaten for more than a decade from 2005 to 2018 and built a reputation as one of the most devastating knockout artists in women’s MMA.
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Why It Never Happened
- The weight-class problem: Weight was always the biggest sticking point. Rousey’s camp wanted Cyborg to make 135 pounds, while Cyborg argued that the cut was unhealthy and pushed for a 140-pound catchweight.
- No UFC featherweight division: The UFC did not introduce a women’s 145-pound division until 2017, making it difficult to accommodate Cyborg without forcing her down in weight.
- Rousey’s downfall: Before the rivalry could reach its conclusion, Holly Holm stunned Rousey at UFC 193 in November 2015, changing the trajectory of both fighters’ careers.
6- Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou
Fighter Profiles
- Jon “Bones” Jones: Heavyweight | 28-1-0-1 record (10 KOs, 7 SUBs) | Two-division UFC champion
- Francis “The Predator” Ngannou: Heavyweight | 19-3 record (12 KOs, 4 SUBs) | Former UFC Heavyweight Champion
The Backstory & Context
When Jon Jones announced his move to heavyweight, there was one fight almost everyone wanted to see: Jones vs. Francis Ngannou. The matchup was almost too perfect. Jones brought elite wrestling, fight IQ and arguably the most complete skill set in UFC history.
Ngannou, meanwhile, possessed frightening knockout power and had established himself as the most dangerous heavyweight in the sport. When Ngannou captured the UFC heavyweight title by knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260, the fight became even bigger.
Facts, Figures, and Stats
- Ngannou’s power: Fourteen of Ngannou’s 17 victories came by knockout, with the Cameroonian-French star building a reputation as one of the hardest punchers in combat sports.
- The money involved: Reports suggested the UFC offered Ngannou a substantial payday for a potential Jones fight, but negotiations ultimately broke down over issues that went far beyond his fight purse.
Why It Never Happened
- Contractual fallout: Ngannou wanted greater control over his career, including issues surrounding co-promotion, insurance and his desire to pursue boxing. The two sides could not reach an agreement, and Ngannou left the UFC in January 2023.
- Bad timing: Ngannou’s knee injury following his final UFC fight against Ciryl Gane delayed his return. By the time Jones finally debuted at heavyweight against Gane at UFC 285, Ngannou was no longer with the promotion.
7- Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall
Fighter Profiles
- Jon “Bones” Jones: Former Undisputed Heavyweight Champion | 28-1-0-1 record | Two-division UFC champion
- Tom Aspinall: Current Heavyweight Champion | 15-3-1 record (11 KOs, 3 SUBs) | Former Interim Heavyweight Champion
The Backstory & Context
Tom Aspinall’s rapid rise through the heavyweight division created the perfect recipe for a showdown with Jon Jones. After Jones captured the heavyweight championship in 2023, Aspinall emerged as one of the division’s fastest-rising contenders. The Brit eventually claimed the interim title at UFC 295 and later defended it against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
With Aspinall holding interim gold and Jones possessing the undisputed belt, a unification fight seemed like the obvious next step.
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Facts, Figures, and Stats
- Speed and efficiency: Aspinall became known for blitzing opponents with a combination of explosive boxing, athleticism and submission skills. Eight of his first nine UFC victories came inside the opening 2.5 minutes.
- Interim champion status: Aspinall became one of the few fighters in UFC history to successfully defend an interim championship, further strengthening his case for a title unification bout.
Why It Never Happened
- Legacy vs. risk: Jones repeatedly made it clear that he was more interested in legacy fights against established names like Alex Pereira than taking on a younger and dangerous contender like Aspinall.
- Injuries and delays: Jones’ torn pectoral tendon in 2023 forced him out for an extended period and delayed his heavyweight title plans. By the time he returned, the UFC still struggled to get Jones and Aspinall into the Octagon together.
- Moreover, “Bones” even backed out of a reported $30 million payday before ultimately retiring ahead of UFC Baku in 2025. However, Jones’ desire to return for the White House card remained strong for some time. Unfortunately for the former champion, the UFC no longer appears interested in bringing him back.
For fans, the matchup represented one of the most intriguing heavyweight fights of the modern era. For Jones, however, the risk-reward equation never appeared compelling enough to make it a priority.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
