Fighters you thought were really good at one point, but then realized they were never that good?

[StonedLemur]

We always hear people on here say Fighter X was never really that good after a loss or multiple losses, sometimes jokingly.

But which fighters accurately fit the description of never being that good, (but were once viewed as quite good)?

Also if you want to, include the fights from that fighter that made you realize they were never really good.

(inb4 people say BJ Penn)

All of them ~Sherdoggers

 

[StonedLemur]

Thats true. Dude was so tough out the box,that he got by fighting basically the same the whole time.

SHUFFLESHUFFLE H BOMB

Big Country had a similar thing,but obviously much less successful lol

Always trying to set up the big right hand tho

Dan Henderson also fought and beat a whos who of the MMA universe.

 

[FreedomCricket]

So this thread will eventually have everyone in it except kahbob. Just gotta wait for them to lose a fight.

 

[HHJ]

Dan Henderson also fought and beat a whos who of the MMA universe.

it's cos the dude is practically indestructible.

 

[AmonTobin]

Dan Henderson also fought and beat a whos who of the MMA universe.

Oh definitely. He fought in multi-fight 1 night tournaments too. He's legendary. A specimen that scientists should study. In the same research lab as Yoel Romero.

 

[StonedLemur]

it's cos the dude is practically indestructible.

Still, one of the best to do it sir.

 

[Super2]

conor. meteoric rise....complete failure after. he was a fraud posing as a double champ who couldn't even show up to defend. stripped twice.

 

[sfer1]

Jessica Andrade after losing to two absolute crap fighters back-to-back.

She's fighting every month, not giving her body enough time to recover, and Blanchfield isn’t a crap fighter. She will probably win the title within the next couple of years.

 

[Mind Mine]

He beat up Jon Jones for 3 rounds, but it's not like Jon looked like Jon. Saying Reyes beat him doesn't mean we thought he was the next god king. Please try to understand that, cuz it's not difficult.

Having said that, more to your point. You're right, he has looked like shit since then.
Then again, we all knew he lucked out on the judges vs Volkan and was gifted a shot for beating fuckin Chris Weidman for some reason. So no, I certainly wasn't thinking Reyes was great. Just a guy cheated out of calling himself a champion for one fight

That is one very reasonable way to look at it. Let me present the opposite and this one may be highly controversial if you are used to the standard Jones must go at all costs narrative. I present to you that greatness deserves a defeat to the like. Reyes didn’t earn his spot thru heavy fire. He couldn’t handle heavy fire. He skipped the line and would have been exposed long before facing Jones had he not. Reyes and not him the person but him the circumstance is all the reason I believe you truly must beat not edge a long standing champ. We see eye to eye until you stated Reyes beat up Jones and we don’t agree there. No beating occurred for either. Accuracy is a foundation of integrity

 

[Jarilo]

I mean , they didnt come far as one would think.
First for me is Gunni, i really thought he was champ material, he came to ufc a bit earlier than Conor, and i tought Conor is more of a one trick pony, while Gunni had karateka+ ju juitsu.
Geoff Neal - strong ,good on his feet, good tdd, he looked like perfect package, until i cant really remember what happened ( gun ,drunk , mental problems?) ,Heis still good, buti dont fell the "aoura" around him anymore.

 

[Hog-train]

Johny had a wrestling base he abandoned completely. He fell in love with his hands specifically. The truth of the matter is he didn’t just let go of his weight. He let go of everything that got him to that point and somehow the timing of when he let go in motivation and physicality was precisely upon tougher testing. Go figure. No exaggeration or conjecture correct me where wrong bucko

I don't think it was that at all. To me, it was all about the new more stringent USADA stuff. No IV drip, etc.

 

[Khamzat]

We always hear people on here say Fighter X was never really that good after a loss or multiple losses, sometimes jokingly.

But which fighters accurately fit the description of never being that good, (but were once viewed as quite good)?

Also if you want to, include the fights from that fighter that made you realize they were never really good.

(inb4 people say BJ Penn)

Kim Dong-hyun

 

[Mind Mine]

I don't think it was that at all. To me, it was all about the new more stringent USADA stuff. No IV drip, etc.

I said tougher testing I meant USADA. I don’t know who folded worse after USADA. Barao or Hendricks. Personally I don’t care about suspensions or positives. I care if your performance and will went to shit. Cue J Hendricks

 

[balkanbomber85]

I think Bob Sapp is a good example

 

[doggo]

I remember after the Aldo fight I thought he was truly something special. But then 11 day Nate Diaz comes along

He was special, the UFC created a fucking portable circus for him, threw Aldo in it and made it cross the globe. Aldo was Mentaly fffffucked by the time the fight happened.

 

[GOATtalks]

Darren Till

Mark Diakese

Cody Garbrandt

Johnny Walker

Blaydes

Weidman

Rockhold

 

[BruhBruh]

When Alexander Hernandez murked Dariush I thought he was gonna be the next champ lol

 

[Willek]

Whenever someone loses for the first time.

Can’t wait for Spence/Crawford and head down to the boxing forum and shit on someone’s entire career.

 

[Reapzz]

Johnny Walker

 

[BanWMMA]

BJ Penn
Yoel Romero