Ken Flo: I used to think all the TUF fighters overrated than they really were, thx to zuffa hype machine. However, Kenflo has shown me that he is a legit top contender in LWT division despite a loss to BJ.
Rashad: Same Reasons as above
Sakuraba: I knew he had legit skill when he beat Conan UFCJ tourney, but thought it was a fluke back then. He proceeded to beat down Newton, Vitor, Macias, Braga and the Gracie clan. He proved me wrong big time.
Outside of UFC:
Fedor: when he came to Pride from the Rings, I knew he was good but didnt impress me that much against Schilt in Pride debut, then he really shocked me by terrorizing everyone including then consensus #1 HWT NOg multiple times.
King Mo: I saw Mo posting here several times and saw the vid of him trashing talking to Rampage. I really thought he was just another poser begging for attention. He was 3-0 at the time but other than against Wiuff, he was really untested & unproven. I knew he had a great wrestling background but that doesnt automatically translate to success in MMA now days. I still need to see him more but my opinion of him has drastically changed.
Shinya Aoki: I am a wrestler myself, so I always think that if someone is only good at submissions, then eventually they will be exposed once they cant get the fight to the ground or they will run into fighters that will not quit. Aoki surprised me multiple times by subbing almost seemingly untappable Alvarez and Hansen.
Honorable mention: Brock, Dong Sik Yun, Nick Diaz, Chael, Gomi, Philip Miller, Babalu, Mousasi, Scott Smith, etc
Faber: I hated his stupid face. But damn he's good, and a great champ/ambassador.
Kos: Won me over by taking Alves fight on short notice. He'll fight anybody.
Hardy: Dude knows he's outgunned, and has nothing to lose. But he's at least trying to sell the fight, and he's managing to be respectful in the process.
I never really understood why Ettish became the poster boy for failure at the early UFC events. There were guys who did way worse than him..
The only thing that did make it funny was him standing in the background looking like he thought he'd be interviewed..
I must say I like Henderson alot more (personality wise) since TUF - always thought he was a great fighter but didn't realises he's such a cool, no bullshit guy...
I always loved Serra too but I do even more so after the Marc Laimon on TUF..
BJ Penn - because despite me hoping someone would beat him up, he continues to dominate and the fight with Diego sealed it for me.
Lesnar - purely and simply because he is like the evil guy everyone wants to beat and he is a showman, something that I hope more fighters become better at (Saku Mongolian chop)
Most other fighters I either liked or disliked immediately which is not answering the thread title.
How on earth can someone have Lesnar in there? That's bs. The guy has no class whatsoever.
1) Mir 2) Cain 3) JDS 4) Nick Diaz 5) Kos
Never been a fan of Mir but he's stepped up big as of late. Cain is a real humble and hardworking guy. JDS gets the job done with very little smack talk. Nick Diaz ... well it's Nick Diaz! Kos is always awesome to watch