'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4. Anderson Silva - Former UFC middleweight champion
Not long ago, Anderson Silva was the promotion's number one pound-for-pound fighter. 'The Spider' was one of the most well-rounded fighters of his time and faced some of the best on his way to greatness.
Fans like to matchup champions across different weight classes, and in Silva's case, it also included one with Lyoto Machida. While it's natural for fighters to seek newer challenges to further their careers, Silva was against the idea of facing his compatriot in the octagon.
He even announced that he would rather stop fighting than fight the former light heavyweight champion. He said:
"I've already said it and I'll say it again, Lyoto and myself, we are brothers, Lyoto and myself...We have a code of honor amongst ourselves, which is we don't fight against ourselves regardless of wins or losses, or money, fame or not. I would give up fighting if necessary if I had to fight against Lyoto."
Although 'The Spider' did mention that he might reconsider his stance on not fighting Machida, the fight never materialized.
#3. Daniel Cormier
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier is easily one of the best fighters in the promotion's history. Although he came from a wrestling background, he was just as good on his feet. While there was a long list of fighters 'DC' faced in the octagon, he refused to fight his friend Cain Velasquez.
A two-time UFC heavyweight champion, Velasquez was also a teammate of Cormier's at American Kickboxing Academy. The two were sparring partners and were well acquainted with each other's fighting styles. That's one of the reasons why Cormier never fought Velasquez. He never contested for the heavyweight as long as Velasquez reigned at the top.
During an interview with MMA Weekly, 'DC' was asked about a possible fight between him and Velasquez. He, however, immediately squashed all rumors by saying:
"I become the heavyweight champion of the world, he wins a comeback fight and is in line to fight for the title, I'd walk away again. There is no way I would ever fight him. This is his division."
Watch the full interview here:
