10 Fighters Who Were Used Over & Over To Build New Stars

[@crazypato3752]

If there's one fighter that should be getting the Dana White glazing that's Andrei Arlovski. He fought prime Fedor, Nelson, Miocic, Ngannou, Aspinall and Buday. Unlike Jonny Bones

[@Jjjj-fu7re]

Why’s Buday there 💀

[@harsha1989able]

😂​@@Jjjj-fu7re

[@crazypato3752]

@@Jjjj-fu7re for comic relief

[@justin-jf2qk]

@@crazypato3752this made me laugh out loud thanks brother!!!

[@darrenXparker]

You mean Jon Jones who wasn’t in the same division?

[@GATguy98]

Derek Brunson is the first name that immediately comes to mind

[@Bayliun]

Yeah but the thing with Brunson is, go look at his record. Every big name up and coming star he fought, because he was on a win streak, and anyone that got a big fight off of him,was because they beat a guy on a win streak. Wasn't like Brunson was worth nothing but was still being fed to guys, he genuinely was on a lot of win streaks haha 😅

[@Danny-lr1yg]

He ended Edmens hype train tho

[@zombieeightpack1381]

@@Bayliun Brunson was in all honesty a damn good fighter in his own right. Just a shame he couldn’t throw punches without giving the ceiling ‘do-me’ eyes.

[@Bayliun]

@@Danny-lr1yg for sure he did! But this isn't hype train Ender's haha, he didn't build Edmunds star power did he haha he erased it!

[@thehangover1116]

Hendricks for me in his fight vs Costa

[@ja3146]

Arlovski fought Aspinall as well

[@SuperPeterok]

Arlovski never took an easy fight. Much respect

[@Jake-lj1jg]

Also lasted the longest against Tom in the ufc

[@1chaka]

@@SuperPeterokyou gotta admire his longevity, too. Man has stayed in the mix for a ridiculous amount of time at the UFC level.

[@harsha1989able]

Yeah... And Andre Arlovski has been in the UFC even before I heard about the word MMA... Real legendary longevity...

[@maxyw9366]

@@1chaka Plus he's one of the good guys in the MMA world and I watched his fights with Tim back in the day live (on tv) so i've watched him almost as long as I have MMA in general! lol

[@JudoChopCowboyKO]

All these fighters are BANGERS and really, just likable people. Especially Wonderboy and Cowboy. There is a reason people want to watch them fight over and over again.

[@QuirkedUpMexican]

Wonderboy deserved better

[@Habib_Osman]

Nah, humans don't deserve anything in the universe. What we get is what we create ourselves.

[@kylew7180]

All these dudes were given fair opportunities. They all also failed to capitalize when it mattered the most.

[@Tenchigumi]

Not sure he even belongs on this list. They made it seem like after the Till fight, suddenly Wonderboy was downhill and fed to Belal and Shavkat, but there were a LOT of fights between then, with Wonderboy winning a bunch of them against both contenders and streaking prospects. He wasn't just some reputable name shoved in as a hapless stepping stone, but rather a genuine test for top guys to prove themselves. And speaking of which, maybe we can finally get the Edwards vs Thompson fight that Leon ducked on his way up, now that he needs a good rebound win.

[@devanlance8648]

he got 2 title fights!?? i love wonder boy, but he got his shot

[@mario10zeus]

@@kylew7180 sure, and Conor never beat a midget..

[@GonzzAD]

RDA, he’s literally in everyone’s resume, Colby, Usman, Khabib, Vicente Luque, Leon Edwards, etc

[@BatCaveOz]

Watching Cowboy headkick the young, cocky, Alexander Hernandez made my heart soar like a majestic eagle.

[@ronswanson1410]

It feels worse when the callout is someone on their way out

[@TheBlackJerome]

Like Shara bullet calling out nick diaz like wtf

[@Browser404]

100% Sharaputdin Magomedov calling out Nick Diaz last night.. Nick isn't on his way out.. he was out nearly 10 years ago and should still be out. Embarrassing clown

[@Zackywacky34]

@@TheBlackJerome this dude was hired by the UFC after committing a hate crime on Camera. I don't understand how they can push this guy. I guess dana IS a wife beater though...

[@daixer3156]

Maybe Nate but Nick? Lol

[@circularpizzabox2134]

My favorite are the times they didn’t get past these vets.

[@thejaysun]

Cowboy vs Hernandez immediately comes to mind. So satisfying

[@synishere]

Kinda like Dustin beating BSD, though I feel like if Dustin actually lost he’d be one win away from title contention either way.

[@1chaka]

I read the thumbnail as “Used to build stairs” so I thought it would be a video on fighters who had to “Build stairs over and over” and I was like man that sounds tough.

[@dannyleader7837]

Bobby Green is also a guy who gets tossed to every prospect just inside the rankings

[@daixer3156]

That's "King" Green to you bubb. Lol 😉

[@PandasRViolent]

He understands he will never be Champ nor do I think he has the desire to be, this allows him to stay in good favor with Dana so he can get a good payday and decent fights

[@azrael557]

He loves taking those fights, can't blame him either, he had great results against Dawson and Fiziev.

[@collinkelleu5609]

Somebodys got to be that guy, bobby does a good job in that position can't namw a single boring green fight

[@kylew7180]

@dannyleader7837 he's UFCs true gatekeeper. If guys on the come up beat Bobby, they're usually give some real tests after that

[@hewhoshallnotbenamed5168]

BJ was the Roy Jones of MMA. Insanely talented in his prime. Top PFP fighter. ATG. Stuck around WAY TOO LONG after his physical gifts deteriorated.

[@jimlahey3919]

Most of these guys are gamers and proud to fight top competition every chance they get. They see it as an opportunity to upset, and climb the rankings. It’s not just about tossing them out there to build new stars.

[@TheMMAKasual]

Nate Diaz vs Khamzat. Nuff said

[@Whoknowsx1234]

Yeah ufc fighters are wired different and def would look at it as an opportunity but they also know as long as they fight these guys they’ll always have a spot on ppvs

[@peanutbutterpirate314]

Bj Penn was a mythical fighter when I was growing up, along with Fedor and Anderson Silva

[@JKMeZmA]

Honourable mentions: Kevin Holland, Nate Diaz, Derek Brunson, Jared Cannonier, Meisha Tate, Chris Leben.

[@paulbasaur]

+Paul Craig

[@samuelntim-addae2843]

They just matched RDA against Geoff Neal. It's insane that at 40, they are atill doing this

[@Crimsonvandal]

Geoff Neal is a killer but not super well rounded

[@donniegaskins2900]

@@CrimsonvandalI agree. He beat Belal a while ago, but if he got a submission game he would reach new heights.

[@ReyShady05]

Top 10 fighters whose face has changed since their debut? Plz

[@NiMeNi94]

good idea, diaz brothers, charles oliv, dustin poirier, i got a lot in mind ngl

[@ReyShady05]

@@NiMeNi94 Wanderlei,, I've been asking for this video for years

[@jimlahey3919]

Every man on earth goes through facial changes from their 20’s to 30’s lol. It’s called “aging”

[@martijnoerlemans765]

@@jimlahey3919 sure, but getting punched in the face for a living changes your face a bit too.

[@randallflagg3700]

​@@ReyShady05 Aww that's not cool. We all know it, but still. No need to mention that time he skipped on shaving his head to fight Ricardo Arona for the rematch for the belt...

[@makingthewalk]

Great vid.. whoever is editing this is amazing

[@matthewbrown3240]

Alternate title : 10 Fighters who became prominent gatekeepers.

[@andrewdavidwhyte]

Been done

[@PlayFloyd_IN]

RDA forever will be one of my favourite MMA fighters of all time.

[@drunkenmmamaster419]

Same very underrated career

[@joshuathomas3500]

a list like this makes me appreciate these fighters even more.

[@wifexxx]

Cowboy cerrone IS the stepping stone of the UFC

[@strawhatdabber]

Not wrong

[@wifexxx]

@@strawhatdabber I love the guy tho 🥰 one of my fave old school technical fighters🤟

[@nishbrown]

@@strawhatdabber Agreed, but he is a unique breed. I don't think he ever turned down any fight offered to him.

[@PandasRViolent]

@@nishbrown That's why he had to retire, he was taking too many L's toward the end of is career. He should of retired in 2017

[@AldenDay-n9b]

I didn't think the Thompson Till fight was close. Wonderboy clearly won.

[@julianlavalley7454]

Cowboy went from one of the winningest fighters to never winning again so sad

[@TheTjSquire]

This list views like a modern history of the welterweight division

[@tombell6989]

I love Gillian Robertson.

[@richardmcgreary6368]

Great idea for a video! Really enjoyed that particular walk down memory lane... 😊❤

[@oneill765]

Till was such a hypetrain it's crazy

[@TH3B0N3Y4RD]

Michelle Paterson always makes me feel bad for her. Amazing talent and such a good person. Hope she finds her place as a coach for other women or something. Or whatever makes her happy haha.

[@Jiu-JitsuJourney257]

The three D’s of UFC’s plan for vets. Destroy Downplay Devalue

[@lshtar777]

Professional Fights are "rigged". They should make a movie about that fact, so people would understand, that professional fights are "rigged". I'm not saying they can't fight. I'm saying professional fighters are tools of the gambling industry.

[@J1283-s1k]

Love how poor past prime, Penn got smoked by Yair but then past prime Edgar battered Yair.

[@kub3872]

Crazy that you want to describe Arlovskis tail end run like that. Despite his age he managed to get on a 4 fight win streak and went 8-1 in his 9 fights only losing to aspinall. And if you ignore the injury for aspinall in the Blaydes fight, Arlovski has literally been the closest to beating Tom. And the only one who actually put up a fight

[@ihenriquez1991]

I’d say Derek Brunson is another dishonorable mention

[@DropBombsInOctagons]

Talk all the shit about Stephens dude continuously fought the best of the best never got the sean o malley string of cans to make him look invincible

[@pat_kenahan]

Great piece here. It was a harsh reality for some of the greatest of all time. BJ and Cowboys' downfalls were really tough to watch...

[@JoshuaGreen918]

Honestly thought Tony Ferguson should be in the video too. Dude used to be a real prospect now he is losing to nonames

[@markchapman2585]

Time flys. I feel kind of old. I remember all these older fighter in their prime or just starting out. Awesome video, guys 🍻.

[@daixer3156]

Flies even faster when you don't use proper grammar 🙄 🤣

[@justinfletcher7630]

I thought cowboy would be 1

[@aurevoirshoshanna900]

Haven’t watched yet but Caceres, Boetsch, Elkins, Dober, Arlovski, Cerrone, all come to mind

[@vaneast411]

You can’t retroactively apply new information as though they were known facts before the fight the reason we have the fights is because there is the opportunity for either guy to win look at Holloway’s last win against Gaethje - he wasn’t expected to win which made it all the sweeter

[@MichaelSpikes-pv6kl]

Great video

[@patgiblinsongs5]

Hate to watch tough, but aging fighters becoming punching bags. And worse, taking possibly life altering damage, for refusing to retire sooner.

[@theobelusone4671]

10 Gate Keepers

[@bijosn]

RIP jeremy stephenson

[@iLdx25]

i already know RDA, Wonderboy, Volkov, Cerrone, Ferguson, Overeem

[@JCQPR22]

Hearing all that about waterson makes that massive send off even more baffling

[@FighterMindset2024]

Oh man remember when they brought back Dave menne? They used him for guys like Luigi firorvanti, koscheck and more. Just so those new kids coming up can have a former ufc champion on their list. Jonathon goulet was another one. They used him everytime they wanted a certain fighter to get a highlight reel ko. It got to the point it was obvious like Arlovski

[@kylethornton9213]

My first thoughts were Brunson and Tavares. Long time gate keepers who have some good wins but lost to some real big names as well.

[@_CoachW]

I feel we tend to overlook Cowboy's injury history. The fact that he was still competing was ridiculous.

[@nerdingout3560]

Even looking back now i still cant believe RDA became the monster we once knew him to be because i watched jeremy stephens knock that guys brain into a completely different solar system and i remember saying that guy will never sniff a world title shot. He proved me wrong lol😂

[@Trey2dope]

''Human stairs used to build stars'' would be a good alternate title

[@LiimpZ]

Jack Hermansson comes to mind. I'm not sure if he fits the criteria, but he's rarely mentioned compared to his oponents that are either new or veteran fighters but with upcoming names.

[@chikaworldpeace3446]

Barbosa vs Murphy is still my fight of the year for 2024

[@juliocaetano7533]

damn bro the brazilian movie of jose aldo in the intro got me hahaha BORA BRASIL

[@saiayincoby4675]

Tony Ferguson, Cowboy Cerrone, Frankie Edgar, Bobby Green, Kevin Holland

[@patrickjorda5523]

Imagine you're near retiring and they don't credit you for being good or having a chance vs whoever.. ppl love a comeback and I'd hope it pays well either way

[@geezushasrisen]

RDA is still very much game as hell. I dare Paddy Pimbelt get in there with him

[@spacentime77]

You forgot when Orton beat Cactus Jack @ Backlash .. but it’s coo

[@elmerm.5227]

No Tony Ferguson ?

[@umuti5ik]

These fights make sense for the veteran as well. They can jump back into the top contender group by beating undefeated up and comers.

[@Skkernick]

haha random clip from The Monkees, love it.

[@DJPrince2032]

I know it's discussed in the beginning. But I don't agree with this list. Yes some of these matches and fighters were for sure just stepping stones to give the new fighter the rub. But I would argue, this is how you find out if the new up and comer actually has it, and if the old vet is actually on the decline. Look at Poirier, everyone thought he was on the decline, everyone thought he was going to get steam rolled by BSD, but the diamond proved he still had it, and BSD either doesn't or isn't ready yet, and if Dustin did get steam rolled, arguably Dustin could have made the list. Again this is how you test the new guys and the old guys (again some of these are for sure stepping stone matches, but not all).

[@ReginaldDeliciousHunter]

Before watching and having read a few comments I’m shouting out Neil magny, feels like he’s fought everyone in the division for the past 10 years Edit: he was number 7 👌🏻

[@adambunting7298]

Dont forget HW Cyril Askar. Dude was hilarious

[@nwar1995]

Needs a part two. You missed guys like the Soldier of God, Nate Diaz (kinda), Cub Swanson, Gerald Meer...shirt (whatever), and Anthony Smith.

[@DayoMO]

"...AKA Gate Keepers" should have been added to the end of this video title!

[@nishbrown]

It's just kind of how the mechanics of the UFC rankings works.

[@Mr111255]

Gillian Roberts isn’t some hard test that’s literally mid ufc level

[@joemonreal4494]

UFC video and i was still expecting to see Gamboa 😂

[@josip342]

List of 10 fighters who fought other fighters and sometimes lost

[@DaemonPix]

RDA “got on some crazy conditioning program and ripped through the lightweight division.” I see what you did there.

[@techno9495]

Ufc never had athletisism as a main aspect of promotion. Its never been about finding out who the best is, maybe in the earl, days

[@thewildwoodsman160]

Put some respect on Gerald Meerschaert too hes been around fighting whoever for a longggg time check his resume theyre all names you would know or should know.

[@koryk5740]

Father Time remains Undesputed

[@CYMotorsport]

MMA fans realizing “journeyman” isn’t a bad term haha

[@lambdalambdalambdaa]

It's so crazy. I don't understand why a tip fighter whose falling down the rankings would keep losing and they're always to people who are coincidentally rising up the rankings. It's totally not fair to fight somebody's who was on the bottom but is climbing the rankings when you were one of the top ranked but now you're losing

[@Therealpiggerr]

As loyal veiwers, we deserve Tommy on this blessed day of Sundays... take note.

[@theekaleidoscope]

neil magny is who i first thought of

[@Readytogo11111]

tony ferguson next on the list

[@socialistbatman1211]

I say this all the time, but so many UFC fans shit on pro wrestling even though the UFC is successful because it runs like an old school wrestling territory

[@daanishrajahussain-fn5bx]

Nahh I got a basketball add on this video saying ‘You should always shoot for the stars… and he’ll send you right back down to earth’ 💀. KZbin trolling 😂

[@Tepes1980]

You seem to imply that the UFC should have given them opponents that they could have walked through. Why would they ever do that?

[@zacharyfaber]

Thx

[@spacewolf9585]

I can’t help it guys, I’m dyslexic and I clicked on this with the idea that the UFC was using fighters to build STAIRS and was curious about Arlovski’s carpentry skills, since he is used to being both the hammer and the nail.🤣

[@greglane334]

I read it that way too 😬

[@serge2cool]

Man, Jaethje completely ruined some careers with his reckless and ruthless fighting... I feel so bad for Cerrone and Ferguson. If it wasn't for Justin however, someone else likely would've... it's the name of the game.

[@fidenciobustos5689]

I’m glad they didn’t do this to Tony. At least not 100% killers were thrown his way. Some of them were older like him

[@seanh21]

These fighters also had the same opportunity to prove they weren’t stepping stones and shut that shit down but many didn’t succeed. That’s the way the game works tho I guess

[@MF-kr4hf]

Veterans getting a chance at redemption, I guess.. They win the fights shown here and they are immediately up there in the rankings..

[@ritshikanjilal5461]

As a long time fan, this video makes me sad.

[@EmmeryMyers]

Cub Swanson?! Title shots earned off beating him - Frankie Edgar, Max Holloway, Jose Aldo, and Jens Pulver and also Brian Ortega went into a contender fight after beating him. For a decade he was the title gatekeeper at 145 WEC and UFC.

[@Clutch275]

Tony Ferguson is WASHED... He needs to go... LOST LAST 8 FIGHTS.... Last win was 2019.... BYE

[@daixer3156]

But he just started sparring again. Lol 🤣 😂 😹

[@kyle21843]

Damn seeing that clip of Michelle Waterson tearing up after losing made me so sad for her

[@adambunting7298]

Get em Charlie.... Brenneman

[@MickeyOphelan]

Who’s the new class of people not good enough for to win a title but will be around at the top for while

[@Fafafohi]

Why did the thumbnail change?

[@jfethier5604]

Arlovski vs Schaub was a win for Andreï: I don't understand

[@andrewalaskiewicz38]

Barbosa TKO’s an older fighter before Murphy

[@Tr4dez]

Edson is a fucking monster!

[@veganjohnwick]

LOL the circle of life was something disney made up for the lion king