Most Title-Fight Losses in UFC History

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About Most Title-Fight Losses in UFC History

Fighters who reached the most title bouts but came up short

This leaderboard ranks the fighters with the most title-fight losses in UFC history — the perennial contenders and former champions who reached championship gold repeatedly but came up short more than anyone. Every entry here is, by definition, an elite competitor: you cannot rack up title-fight losses without repeatedly being one of the two best fighters in your division.

It's a bittersweet record — a testament to sustained excellence just below (or at) the very top. Compare it with our most title fights leaderboard to see who converted their shots, and the GOAT rankings to see where these contenders land all-time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a title-fight loss?

Any bout flagged as a championship fight — for a UFC title (or interim title) — that the fighter lost. It includes failed challenges and unsuccessful title defenses alike.

Is a lot of title-fight losses a bad thing?

Quite the opposite. To lose several title fights you first have to reach several title fights, which means being an elite, top-of-the-division contender for years. These are some of the best fighters to never fully own their era — or champions who defended and eventually fell.

Does this include interim titles?

Yes, wherever the bout is recorded as a title fight in our database, including interim championships.

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