10 Great Retired UFC Champions Not In The Hall Of Fame

4. Tim Sylvia

Tim Sylvia achieved UFC Heavyweight Champion status on two occasions. The first time in February of 2003 when he KO’d then Champion Ricco Rodriguez in Ricco’s first attempted title defense at UFC 41, and a second time when he TKO’d Andrei Arlovski at UFC 59. Between his two reigns as Champion, he compiled 3 successful title defenses, before losing it a final time against Randy Couture at UFC 68.

He compiled a 9-4 record for the promotion, and eventually retired after last competing for another promotion on October 27th of 2013. Sylvia was never defeated in a non-title or interim title fight in his UFC career, losing only to current or sure fire current future Hall of Famers in Arlovski (which he avenged twice) Couture, Frank Mir, and Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Sylvia was among the first big stars to come out of the Zuffa era UFC when it was purchased in 2001, and it may only be a matter of time before history reflects on his contributions and inducts him into the Hall.

HoF wing eligibility: PIONEER