Name a fighter you thought would become UFC Champ 🏆

[Herne's Son]

There are a few for me but the big one that stands out is Brandon Vera

Came into the UFC when the heavyweight division was famously shallow and no good, had a 4-0 record, made short work of his first 4 opponents including a first round KO of a still young Frank Mir and showed a lot of charisma on the mike. He was scheduled to challenge lumbering champ Tim Sylvia in a fight in which most people expected him to win and begin his reign as champ. 

But it didn't happen, instead he had some sort of contract dispute with the UFC and it was almost a year until he returned for his Sylva fight which he ended up losing by decision. He was never the same after that and never got into title contention again. I feel the layoff hurt but maybe he just wasn't that good after all.

Also need to mention Roger Huerta, Houston Alexander and Gabriel Gonzaga as people I thought would definitely be champs one day/