5 UFC fights we can't believe never happened

#4. Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez vs. Alistair Overeem

(Left) Alistair Overeem (Right) Cain Velasquez

One of the most interesting heavyweight bouts that never took place was Cain Velasquez vs. Alistair Overeem. There was plenty of excitement when Overeem finally joined the UFC. ‘The Demolition Man’ had been unbeaten in his last 11-fights and was the Strikeforce heavyweight champion.

Although they both competed in the UFC for years, timing wasn’t on their side for a potential bout. Velasquez lost the heavyweight championship and Overeem was handed a suspension for a failed drug test in 2012.

When ‘The Demolition Man’ returned, he lost back-to-back fights, while Velasquez regained the heavyweight championship. The performances and where they were at in their respective careers put any chance of the fight happening in doubt.

This was unfortunate because their fighting styles would have made for an interesting matchup. Overeem had elite-level striking, while Velasquez had great wrestling and unmatched cardio.

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#3. Jon Jones vs. Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson

The light heavyweight championship bout between then-champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones and Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson unfortunately never happened. The bout was originally scheduled to headline UFC 187, however Jones was stripped of the title following his hit-and-run incident. Daniel Cormier then replaced Jones and defeated Johnson by submission to win the vacant light heavyweight championship.

The promotion missed the perfect opportunity to book Jones vs. Johnson in 2016. ‘Rumble’ had bounced back from his loss to Cormier and won two straight fights by knockout. ‘Bones’ defeated Ovince Saint Preux in his return fight to become interim light heavyweight champion.

Looking back, the promotion should’ve booked Johnson as Jones’ opponent instead of Saint Preux. ‘Rumble’ was on his way to getting another title-shot, while Jones was the former champion and never lost the title. It would have been a win-win scenario but like other fights, it wasn’t meant to be.