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#7 Robert Whittaker (TUF: The Smashes) – UFC Middleweight title
2012 saw the UFC branch TUF out internationally, with the first edition of TUF: Brazil airing that summer. Later in the year, another series of the reality show – subtitled The Smashes – took place, and featured fighters from the UK and Australia facing off.
The winner of the show's Welterweight tournament was Aussie Robert Whittaker. But when a good start to his UFC career was halted with two straight losses, it seemed like he'd become just another TUF washout.
That couldn't have been further from the truth. 'The Reaper' decided to bulk up to 185lbs, and the move suited him well. He retained the speed he'd shown at Welterweight, but added some serious punching power – and reeled off seven straight wins to rocket to the top of the Middleweight division.
UFC 213 saw Whittaker matched with top contender Yoel Romero for the interim Middleweight title. And following a classic war, 'The Reaper' came away with his hand raised to claim the gold. By the end of 2017, Whittaker was promoted and became the UFC's undisputed Middleweight champ, and a year later, he defeated Romero in a rematch to defend his title.
2019 saw him dethroned by Israel Adesanya, who currently holds the title. But thanks to his win over Darren Till this past July, there's every chance that Whittaker could find himself back in the title picture in the near future.
#8 Rose Namajunas (TUF 20) – UFC Strawweight title
The 20th season of TUF featured a 16-woman tournament to decide the inaugural UFC Strawweight champion. And in the end, it came down to Carla Esparza and Rose Namajunas. It would be the more experienced Esparza who came out on top, choking 'Thug Rose' out in the third round to become the UFC's first 115lbs queen. But that wasn't the last we'd hear from Namajunas.
Esparza lost her title to Joanna Jedrzejczyk in her first defense, and the Polish fighter went on to cut a path of destruction through the division. By late 2017, she'd made five straight title defenses. And so when Namajunas – who'd put together a solid 4-1 record since losing to Esparza – was handed a title shot, nobody really gave her much of a chance.
At UFC 217, though, 'Thug Rose' shocked the world by knocking Jedrzejczyk out in the first round, claiming the UFC title that she'd missed out on three years prior. To cement herself as a true champion, she also out-pointed the Polish fighter in a rematch, proving her status as one of the best fighters on the planet.
Namajunas' second title defense didn't quite go to plan, as despite a strong start, she was TKO'd by challenger Jessica Andrade in the second round. But after spending more than a year away from the sport, she returned this summer to out-point Andrade in a rematch.
It's now expected that she will challenge current champion Weili Zhang for the title at some point in 2021 – giving her the chance to become a two-time UFC champion.
#9 Kamaru Usman (TUF 21) – UFC Welterweight title
2015's TUF 21 saw a format change, as rather than a single-elimination tournament, top MMA camps American Top Team and the Blackzilians did battle for a prize of £500k. $200k of that went to American Top Team, who picked up more wins during the reality show taping. But the destination of the remaining $300k was to be decided in a fight on the show's finale.
That fight saw ATT's Hayder Hassan choked out by the Blackzilians' Kamaru Usman, a hulking wrestler who'd beaten both of his opponents easily during the show's tapings. It was clear that 'The Nigerian Nightmare' was destined for big things – and he quickly began to reel off more UFC wins.
By 2019 – despite a reputation for somewhat dull fights – it was hard to deny Usman his shot at the UFC Welterweight title. He'd put together a run of nine wins in the UFC, but his title shot against long-time champ Tyron Woodley would be even more impressive.
Usman dominated 'The Chosen One' over five rounds to claim the gold in one of the most one-sided title fights in UFC history. And since then, 'The Nigerian Nightmare' has proven himself to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
His first defense saw him break the jaw of top contender Colby Covington – stopping him in the fifth round. Most recently, Usman comfortably defeated Jorge Masvidal to secure his second successful defense. Judging by his performances thus far, he could go onto be recognized as the greatest UFC Welterweight champion since the legendary Georges St-Pierre.
