Clifford Starks remains one of MMA’s best-kept secrets.
After he excelled on the regional scene and drew a call from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the Tempe, Arizona, native looked to be well on his way to joining the middleweight elite. Starks started his career 8-0, including a unanimous decision over Dustin Jacoby in his October 2011 debut in the UFC. Buzz was beginning to build, until the former collegiate wrestler ran into two men with far more experience -- Ed Herman and Yoel Romero -- and suffered back-to-back losses.