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#4. UFC welterweight Nate Diaz
The Stockton Slugger has not won a fight in two years. His last victory came via unanimous decision against Anthony Pettis at UFC 241. At UFC 244, Diaz faced Jorge Masvidal for the BMF title, a signature belt seemingly tailor-made for the triathlete.
Sadly for Diaz, a cut over his right eye prompted the ringside doctor to stop the fight after three rounds. Incensed, a bloodied Diaz let the world know what he really thought of Dwayne Johnson before leaving the octagon for two years. Diaz went on a similar lay-off following his UFC 202 majority decision loss to Conor McGregor in 2016.
When he finally returned this year, it was not without hiccups. Diaz’s return fight had to be postponed after he sustained an injury while training. When he did face Leon Edwards at UFC 263, Diaz found himself on the receiving end of heavy punishment in the early rounds.
While he did make a hard-hitting comeback in round five, it was too little, too late for the fan favorite. Despite his scattershot record at this point (20-13), Diaz continues to pull a crowd and maintain a large and vocal fanbase.
Astoundingly, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu second degree black belt has never even challenged for the welterweight title. As honest and as real on the mic as modern MMA gets, the cardio machine will likely a remain a box office sensation until he hangs up the gloves.
#3. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell
‘The Ice Man’ was another key figure in the UFC’s entry into the mainstream during the mid-noughties. Over the course of 23 fights in the UFC, the kajukenbo black belt used his mastery of hybrid fighting to utterly decimate his rivals. The ruthless light heavyweight ace racked up an impressive 13 knockouts during his time in the fighting world.
Between his explosive, high octane striking and larger-than-life personality, Liddell was a superstar. Audiences flocked to his ultraviolent wars in droves and he quickly became the face of the UFC.
Sadly for Liddell, as intense and intimidating as he was, time came for him as it does for everyone. ‘The Ice Man’ lost six of his final seven bouts, including first round knockout losses to Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and Rich Franklin.
While his bloodthirsty aura was slightly tainted from the sudden surge in losses, Liddell remained a big-money name for MMA. Even his ill-advised 2018 comeback fight against Tito Ortiz stirred up more interest than anything else Oscar De La Hoya could’ve done for his one MMA show.
A seminal fighter and a key legend in the UFC’s growth into the conglomerate it is today, Chuck Liddell’s pull with fans ultimately outlived his athletic prime.
