Top 5 non-UFC fighters that could challenge for UFC gold

This list comes around every so often. But as time goes on obviously it changes. Fighters shuffle in and out, some lose others win. What would your list look like today? I'm saying who is ready to win that belt now or in the very near future. Year and a half tops.

IMO the HW is improved but still one of the belts most likely to change hands IMO. So going with that I would have a couple HW on my list.
Fedor and Overeem IMO would have as good a chance as any to win UFC gold. Sorry Werdum, just don't think you matchup well.
IMO no current non-UFC LHW could seriously challenge for the title.
At MW I would love to see Jacare and Lombard get their shots. But due to Lombard's lack of top level wins I would only add Jacare to my list today.
Here are my top 5 guys that could challenge for UFC gold
1.Fedor
2. Reem
3. Jacare
4. Nick Diaz
5. Melendez

honorable mentions include: Lombard and Alvarez

Aoki, Melendez, Alvarez, Werdum, Fedor

are you saying right now or can in the future?

Sorry Sooners, but Nick Diaz would get tooled by GSP. And to that point; Fitch, Koscheck, and Alves as well.

GolbeZ wrote:

are you saying right now or can in the future?

Now or in the very near future, let's just say in the next year and a half.

chorky777 wrote:

Sorry Sooners, but Nick Diaz would get tooled by GSP. And to that point; Fitch, Koscheck, and Alves as well.

I will admit my bias on Diaz. But I would love to see him get another crack at the elite WW. I think he is a very well rounded fighter with a great chin and great cardio. He has always improving standup and a very slick ground game. But again I am biased on Diaz.

OUSOONERSOU wrote:

IMO the HW is improved but still one of the belts most likely to change hands IMO. So going with that I would have a couple HW on my list.
Fedor and Overeem IMO would have as good a chance as any to win UFC gold. Sorry Werdum, just don't think you matchup well.
IMO no current non-UFC LHW could seriously challenge for the title.
At MW I would love to see Jacare and Lombard get their shots. But due to Lombard's lack of top level wins I would only add Jacare to my list today.
Here are my top 5 guys that could challenge for UFC gold
1.Fedor
2. Reem
3. Jacare
4. Nick Diaz
5. Melendez

honorable mentions include: Lombard and Alvarez

I don't see it with Overeem cuz the UFC will test him for steroids.

Fedor
Melendez
Reem
Jacare

but I want to say: (because I feel they have a better shot in the future)

Askren
Aldo @ LW
Gegard

HW- Fedor

LHW - None at the moment

MW - Jacare

WW - Was Sheilds but none now.

LW - Noons/Gilbert (Yes, I said Noons)

GolbeZ wrote:

Fedor
Melendez
Reem
Jacare

but I want to say: (because I feel they have a better shot in the future)

Askren
Aldo @ LW
Gegard

You think Mousasi could challenge for UFC LHW Championship right now? I think if he went to UFC he should consider going back to MW.

So question for Ninja and Mantis. You think Noons and Askren have a better shot to win UFC LW title then Alvarez?

OUSOONERSOU wrote:

GolbeZ wrote:

Fedor
Melendez
Reem
Jacare

but I want to say: (because I feel they have a better shot in the future)

Askren
Aldo @ LW
Gegard

You think Mousasi could challenge for UFC LHW Championship right now? I think if he went to UFC he should consider going back to MW.

no but gegard is 25 years old ..

OUSOONERSOU wrote:

So question for Ninja and Mantis. You think Noons and Askren have a better shot to win UFC LW title then Alvarez?

Askren is WW.. and no not currently ..

GolbeZ wrote:

OUSOONERSOU wrote:

So question for Ninja and Mantis. You think Noons and Askren have a better shot to win UFC LW title then Alvarez?

Askren is WW.. and no not currently ..

Ha ha good catch, don't know why I associated him with LW. I should have known since Curran was this season's LW winner.

Alistair Overeem
Gegard Mousasi
Jacare
Nick Diaz
Gilbert Melendez

OUSOONERSOU wrote:

So question for Ninja and Mantis. You think Noons and Askren have a better shot to win UFC LW title then Alvarez?

Absolutely. Noons has some of the best boxing in MMA and has better striking then Eddie does. Noons has a knack for keeping the fight on his feet. Something he will need to do against Edgar.

Where Eddie falls short is his suspect chin. He was almost knocked out against Greg Loughran. He was rocked a number of times against Crusher and Kikuno. The Kikuno fight he was losing the fight standing until Kikuno gassed.

Ninja\Rua/Fan wrote:

OUSOONERSOU wrote:

So question for Ninja and Mantis. You think Noons and Askren have a better shot to win UFC LW title then Alvarez?

Absolutely. Noons has some of the best boxing in MMA and has better striking then Eddie does. Noons has a knack for keeping the fight on his feet. Something he will need to do against Edgar.

Where Eddie falls short is his suspect chin. He was almost knocked out against Greg Loughran. He was always rocked a number of times against Crusher and Kikuno. The Kikuno fight he was losing the fight standing until Kikuno gassed.

Yeah Mantis pointed out my mistake with Askren at WW, brain fart I guess.
Not saying I really disagree since I'm not 100% sold on Alvarez. But I'm more sold on Noons then I am Askren. Could Noons keep it standing vs a strong wrestler?

chorky777 wrote:

Sorry Sooners, but Nick Diaz would get tooled by GSP. And to that point; Fitch, Koscheck, and Alves as well.

And Aoki wouldn't get smacked around by any top 5 lightweight? Come on.

Overeem
Jacare
Fedor Emelienanko
KJ Noons
Nick Diaz

@ LW KJ Noons is a threat to anyone, his striking is ridiculous, I can't believe JG came in with that game plan against Noons

killerofchicken wrote:

@ LW KJ Noons is a threat to anyone, his striking is ridiculous, I can't believe JG came in with that game plan against Noons

When has he ever showed any other game plan? He goes to the cage for 1 reason and 1 reason only. To brawl.

OUSOONERSOU wrote:

killerofchicken wrote:

@ LW KJ Noons is a threat to anyone, his striking is ridiculous, I can't believe JG came in with that game plan against Noons

When has he ever showed any other game plan? He goes to the cage for 1 reason and 1 reason only. To brawl.

yah but he has a black belt in bjj, and going against Noons, who is bigger, and longer with a dominant reach, you have to change game plans.

killerofchicken wrote:

OUSOONERSOU wrote:

killerofchicken wrote:

@ LW KJ Noons is a threat to anyone, his striking is ridiculous, I can't believe JG came in with that game plan against Noons

When has he ever showed any other game plan? He goes to the cage for 1 reason and 1 reason only. To brawl.

yah but he has a black belt in bjj, and going against Noons, who is bigger, and longer with a dominant reach, you have to change game plans.

How many times has Jorge fought guys he clearly out classes on the ground but shows no interest in going there? Just about everyone he fights. He admits he has done BJJ his whole life. He want to brawl because that is fun to him.

OUSOONERSOU wrote:

killerofchicken wrote:

OUSOONERSOU wrote:

killerofchicken wrote:

@ LW KJ Noons is a threat to anyone, his striking is ridiculous, I can't believe JG came in with that game plan against Noons

When has he ever showed any other game plan? He goes to the cage for 1 reason and 1 reason only. To brawl.

yah but he has a black belt in bjj, and going against Noons, who is bigger, and longer with a dominant reach, you have to change game plans.

How many times has Jorge fought guys he clearly out classes on the ground but shows no interest in going there? Just about everyone he fights. He admits he has done BJJ his whole life. He want to brawl because that is fun to him.

then winning must not be high on his list of things to do