Sherdog’s Top 10: Fighters Without UFC Gold

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9. Nick Diaz

Despite losses in back-to-back UFC title bouts, Diaz still remains the promotion’s uncrowned welterweight champion in the eyes of his loyal fans -- as well as Diaz himself. How else do you explain the supposedly retired Stockton, Calif., native showing up at recent UFC pay-per-view events, holding court in media scrums and claiming that it will take nothing less than another shot at gold to lure him back.

Love him or hate him, you have to respect the way Diaz was able to reinvent himself -- as both a superstar and serious title contender -- after his initial UFC go-around. The Cesar Gracie pupil exited the promotion in 2006 with a middling 6-4 mark, with the majority of his losses coming against opponents capable of controlling him with their wrestling.

Diaz would lose just once in his next 17 outings. Along the way, he captured a devoted following, as well as the Strikeforce welterweight strap. Diaz enhanced his reputation in part because Strikeforce rarely paired him with dominant wrestlers. However, he also raised his profile by simply improving. Few could match him blow-for-blow on the feet, and venturing into his active guard on the mat was no recipe for success, either.

After a dominant three-round verdict over B.J. Penn in his return to the Octagon, Diaz fell short in an interim welterweight championship showdown against Carlos Condit; some still refuse to accept the verdict. As a testament to his drawing power, Diaz was granted another title shot -- despite no wins in the interim -- against reigning champion Georges St. Pierre in his very next outing. Again, Diaz’s wrestling deficiencies were exposed in a unanimous decision defeat.

No matter what he does, Diaz always inspires passion. If he does indeed make a comeback, another UFC title run might not be far out of reach for that very reason.

Number 8 » Takanori Gomi