Sep 8, 2018; Dallas, TX, USA; Zabit Magomedsharipov (red gloves) reacts after defeating Brandon Davis (not pictured) during UFC 228 at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Sports history is filled with talented athletes whose careers ended before reaching their full potential. Injuries, personal issues, bad decisions, and terrible timing have derailed countless promising futures. The UFC is no exception to this cruel reality. Some fighters had everything needed to become champions but never got their moment.
These stories haunt fans who wonder what might have been if circumstances were different. What if that injury never happened? What if they made better choices outside the cage? What if timing worked in their favor just once? The top 5 “what if” careers in the UFC represent the most painful missed opportunities in MMA history. These warriors showed championship potential but never fulfilled their destiny.
5. Todd Duffee
Todd Duffee burst onto the UFC scene in 2009 with the fastest knockout in heavyweight history. He demolished Tim Hague in just seven seconds, immediately establishing himself as a terrifying prospect. His combination of size, speed, and knockout power seemed destined for championship glory.
But red flags appeared almost immediately when injuries kept him sidelined for nearly a year after his debut. Duffee returned in May 2010 but suffered an embarrassing knockout loss to Mike Russow in a fight he was dominating. That derailment combined with management disputes got him released from the UFC. He would return in 2012 and knock out two opponents impressively, but a laundry list of injuries limited him to just four appearances over several years.
A serious nerve condition along with constant other health problems essentially ended any hopes of sustained success. Duffee remains technically on the UFC roster at age 38, but he hasn’t fought in years. The window of opportunity slammed shut long ago. Fans are left wondering what this physical specimen could have accomplished if his body hadn’t betrayed him so completely.
4. Lee Murray
Lee Murray was a complete lunatic whose personality attracted millions of fans despite limited UFC experience. Murray possessed exceptional hand speed, devastating boxing skills, and a bad-boy persona that made him a promotional dream. He also allegedly knocked out Tito Ortiz cold outside a bar after UFC 38 in 2002, cementing his street fighting legend.
Murray had all the skills needed to reach the top of the middleweight division if he’d focused on fighting instead of crime. His ground game improved constantly, and his striking was among the best in MMA. What truly ended his career wasn’t even the bank heist that eventually landed him in prison. A stabbing incident left Murray with a punctured lung and severed artery that he never fully recovered from physically.
He represents the ultimate what-if scenario: a fighter with championship talent who destroyed his own career through terrible life choices. Murray is currently serving time in a Moroccan prison for his role in a massive robbery, ensuring his fighting days are permanently finished.
3. Gegard Mousasi
Gegard Mousasi signed with the UFC carrying an incredible 33-3 record as a champion in Strikeforce and Cage Warriors. The Dutch striker seemed destined for middleweight title glory. However, his UFC rise hit unexpected turbulence early. Mousasi went 4-3 in his first 7 UFC fights, losing to elite competition like Lyoto Machida and Jacare Souza. After getting finished by Uriah Hall in 2015, most wrote him off as a gatekeeper.
Then something clicked. Mousasi scored five incredible wins in just 14 months. He destroyed contenders like Vitor Belfort and avenged his loss to Hall. Mousasi beat Chris Weidman in a title elimination bout at UFC 210 in 2017, putting him on a five-fight win streak with three post-fight bonuses. He looked absolutely unstoppable and earned his title shot.
But instead of fighting for UFC gold, Mousasi left for Bellator due to contract disputes. He wanted more money and better treatment than the UFC offered. Mousasi went on to become Bellator middleweight champion, but fans forever wonder what would have happened if he’d stayed and fought for the UFC title.
2. TJ Grant
TJ Grant spent years as an average welterweight who couldn’t crack the division’s upper tier. Dropping to lightweight completely transformed his career trajectory. Grant suddenly looked like a world-beater with improved striking complementing his wrestling base. Victories over Matt Wiman and Evan Dunham established him as a legitimate contender worth watching closely.
Everything culminated at UFC 160 when Grant destroyed Gray Maynard with brutal punches in the first round. That knockout performance earned him a lightweight title shot against Benson Henderson. Grant entered training camp confident about beating Henderson and capturing championship gold. Then a seemingly minor concussion during training derailed everything completely.
The symptoms wouldn’t go away no matter how long Grant rested. His scheduled title fight got canceled and rescheduled multiple times. Eventually the UFC removed him from rankings due to inactivity. Grant spent years dealing with headaches, memory problems, and mental fog. He worked at a potash mine in rural Canada just to support his family while recovering. Grant eventually opened a martial arts academy after overcoming his symptoms, but his fighting career ended without ever getting that title shot. One training room accident stole what could have been a championship reign.
1. Zabit Magomedsharipov
Zabit Magomedsharipov represents the most frustrating “what if” story in modern UFC history. The Dagestani featherweight fought like nobody else in the sport. His style combined flashy striking, flying submissions, and suffocating wrestling in ways that seemed impossible. Spinning techniques, acrobatic kicks, and creative grappling made every Zabit fight must-watch television for hardcore fans.
Six straight UFC victories with four performance bonuses pushed Zabit to #3 in the featherweight rankings. His decision win over Calvin Kattar in November 2019 cemented his status as the division’s next title challenger. One more victory would guarantee a championship opportunity. The UFC matched him with Yair Rodriguez to determine who would face the winner of Alexander Volkanovski vs Max Holloway.
But that fight never happened despite being scheduled multiple times. Rodriguez kept pulling out with various injuries, leaving Zabit stuck in promotional limbo. Meanwhile, serious autoimmune system problems emerged that required surgery. Zabit couldn’t train consistently or recover properly between sessions. His body was betraying him at the worst possible time. After two years of canceled fights, health problems, and broken promises, Zabit’s passion for competition completely died. He officially retired in June 2022 at just 31 years old.
Zabit left the UFC undefeated with an 18-1 overall record during what should have been his physical prime. His unique abilities, exciting style, and championship-level skills make him the ultimate what-if story. The featherweight division never got to see whether Zabit could capture gold. That’s why he stands as the most heartbreaking missed opportunity in UFC history.
(Image Credit: Kevin Jairaj – Imagn Images)
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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!
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