7. Javier Vazquez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPKd8yUwswA Javier Vazquez is anything but a household name in the MMA world. In fact, he may be best known as a son-in-law of Rorion Gracie of the legendary Gracie family from Brazil (who popularized Jiu-jitsu with their Gracie Jiu-jitsu, which was the star of the first UFC when Royce Gracie cleaned house by utilizing it). Vazquez found himself in the UFC after originally appearing in WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting). When the UFC purchased the promotion and merged it in, in came Vazquez. However, he fought just once in the UFC, a win over Joe Stevenson in June 2011, then announced his retirement. He finished his career with a 16-5 record in professional MMA with notable wins over Jens Pulver, Rob Emerson, and the aforementioned Stevenson. Why sue the UFC? Good question. It may be money. It may related to a situation early in his career, when Vazquez had a UFC contract offer but was still fighting in King of the Cage. He blew out his knee while defending the KOTC lightweight champion and lost the bout to Alberto Crane. As Vazquez told
Sherdog;
In the middle of a fight you dont really realize what the consequences will be 10 years later or 20 or 30. The only thing I was thinking was, you have a UFC contract at home. You have to get through this fight. Sometimes I just think I should have stopped. Where would my career have been if I had quit after the first round and had a full rehab and eventually rematched and beat him, just kind of saved myself?
Only he didn't quit, and he lost. He never made it to the UFC until that final fight, because the loss meant the UFC contract went away. That's the power the UFC has over fighters, however.