8 Most Shocking UFC Plans That Almost Happened

To many of the newer fans of MMA, it's hard to imagine a time when the UFC didn't have a monopoly on the majority of the sport's elite fighters.

Back in the mid-2000s however, the UFC was just one in a group of promotions that all hosted some of the most talented fighters in the world. PRIDE Fighting Championships, in particular, boasted some terrific athletes, including the then-universally recognised pound for pound best fighter in the world Fedor Emelianenko.

Even after Zuffa purchased PRIDE in 2007, Fedor still somehow managed to elude the organisation, instead choosing to go on to fight in the Affliction and Strikeforce promotions.

Meanwhile, the UFC was riding a wave of popularity, with polarising crossover star Brock Lesnar dominating all who stood in his way en route to capturing the UFC Heavyweight Championship in just his fourth professional fight.

Dana White has since gone on to explain that he did everything in his power (sans co-promoting) to make the fight between the two heavyweights to determine the world's best at 265lbs but it just wasn't to be.

White stated earlier this year that the matchup was the only fight that he had personally wanted but that had never come to fruition.