'%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. Henry Cejudo
Before his days as 'The King of Cringe', Henry Cejudo was a wrestler proud of his Olympic success with his eyes set on capturing the UFC flyweight title from Demetrious Johnson.
Cejudo's first attempt was about as unsuccessful as it could have been. Within two minutes of the first round, Cejudo was TKO'd by a knee to the body in a shutout performance by the then reigning champion.
The Olympic gold medalist lost his subsequent bout to Joseph Benavidez in what could have been the beginning of a downward spiral. Fortunately, Cejudo turned things around, embarking on a two-fight win streak to earn a second shot at the championship held by 'Mighty Mouse'.
The second bout was far more competitive, with Cejudo capturing the title by way of split-decision. Many fans contested the decision, convinced that Johnson had done enough to retain the belt.
Thus, in the immediate aftermath of his title victory, Cejudo was dismissed and disregarded by fight fans around the world. In their first meeting, Johnson had TKO'd him, while Cejudo controversially won the second matchup with a split-decision win that many contested.
It was only after the Olympic gold medalist's successful title defense against TJ Dillashaw that fans began warming up to him as champion.
#3. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Right now, Khabib Nurmagomedov is enjoying his retirement as the owner of an undefeated 29-0 record with three impressive title defenses against Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje.
However, prior to those bouts, a large percentage of fans were dismissive of Nurmagomedov's undefeated record. This was due to the long stretch of extraordinarily weak competition he faced prior to signing with the UFC.
Even his initial UFC run was subject to scrutiny. So, when 'The Eagle' captured the UFC lightweight title against Al Iaquinta, who was the second short-notice replacement for an injured Tony Ferguson, fans were quick to dismiss Nurmagomedov's status as a champion.
Many, even MMA journalists, questioned the strength of the Russian's win by describing Iaquinta as a real estate agent.
Simultaneously, observers pointed out that Nurmagomedov had not, at the time, faced Conor McGregor. The latter was, in many people's eyes, the rightful champion due to having never lost the title inside the octagon as he was instead stripped of it over his inactivity.
It was only when Nurmagomedov defeated McGregor at UFC 229 that he earned his long overdue respect.
