'%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)
#2 Randy Couture (Heavyweight Champion 1997-98, 2000-02 and 2007-08, Light Heavyweight Champion 2003-04 and 2004-05)
"Captain America" was the most popular fighter in UFC during his peak years of 2000 to 2008. Those years encompassed four of his five title reigns: two at Heavyweight and two more at Light-Heavyweight.
Couture was the clear crowd favourite in his trilogy of bouts with Chuck Liddell and his UFC 44 clash with another hugely popular superstar, Tito Ortiz.
The crowd was deafening when Couture finished Liddell off via TKO at UFC 43 and won via Unanimous Decision versus Ortiz at UFC 44.
UFC 68 which was built around Couture's comeback from retirement to face Heavyweight Champion, Tim Sylvia drew an incredible 520,000 pay per view orders.
His successful title defence versus Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 74 also pulled 520,000 buys. Make no mistake, it was Couture who earned those numbers.
UFC 91 which featured Couture's final return in a title defence versus Brock Lesnar smashed UFC's pay per view record, with over a million orders. Not bad for a 45 year old in the winter of his career.
Couture is a living legend and has a strong case for the most popular fighter ever. However, there is one man who just edges him out.
