Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has given us many memorable fights, but sometimes, the most anticipated matchups fail to materialize, leaving fans to wonder “what if?” From contractual disputes to strategic miscalculations, here are the top five UFC superfights that got away.
The Ultimate Showdown Denied: Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou
Jon Jones’s switch from light heavyweight to heavyweight was one of the most eagerly awaited transitions in UFC history. The potential clash between him and Francis Ngannou, then the reigning heavyweight champion, was touted as a fight for the ages. Unfortunately, negotiations fell apart spectacularly. The standoff between Jones and UFC President Dana White over financial terms was highly publicized, with Jones reportedly pricing himself out of the fight. The situation deteriorated further when Ngannou left the UFC for the Professional Fighters League (PFL), frustrated over his own contractual disagreements and eager to pursue boxing opportunities. This dream matchup is now a high-profile casualty of the business side of MMA.
Women’s MMA’s Lost Treasure: Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg
During their respective reigns, Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg were the undisputed queens of women’s MMA. Fans were clamoring for a showdown between the UFC bantamweight champion Rousey and the featherweight titan Cyborg, who dominated Invicta. Despite the public demand and their heated exchanges through the media, the fight never came to fruition. The UFC insisted Cyborg cut down to bantamweight, a move she resisted, and the fight’s potential diminished after Rousey’s career took a downturn following her first loss.
A Clash of Styles Unseen: José Aldo vs. Dominick Cruz
A battle between José Aldo and Dominick Cruz could have been a stylistic aficionado’s dream. Aldo, known for his devastating Muay Thai and anti-wrestling prowess, against Cruz, renowned for his elusive movement and top-notch wrestling. Both men ruled over their divisions—Aldo at featherweight and Cruz at bantamweight—and their paths never crossed inside the octagon due to a lack of promotion interest in making this potential blockbuster a reality.
The Match That Could Have Redefined An Era: José Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis
Another missed opportunity involved José Aldo once more, this time potentially facing Anthony Pettis. At a time when both fighters were at the zenith of their careers, a fight between Aldo’s punishing striking and Pettis’s dynamic, flashy technique could have been explosive. Fans speculated about Aldo moving up to lightweight, given his history with weight cuts, but this was a different time in the UFC, where champions rarely crossed divisions for super fights. This matchup remained just a tantalizing “what if.”
The Heavyweight Collision That Never Was: Brock Lesnar vs. Fedor Emelianenko
Perhaps no other fight has been as mythologized as the potential clash between Brock Lesnar and Fedor Emelianenko. With Lesnar’s drawing power as UFC heavyweight champion and Emelianenko’s status as an MMA legend, this fight had all the makings of a historic event. Regrettably, Dana White’s negotiations with Emelianenko never bore fruit, leaving fans to lament what would have been a monumental clash.
Each of these failed superfights carries its own tale of what might have been—a different decision here, a compromise there, and the history of the UFC might have been written differently. For fans, these matchups remain some of the greatest fights never seen, each with the potential to have reshaped the landscape of mixed martial arts.
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