Sports

MMA fights that marked a before and after in a fighter's career

Explore the most impactful moments in mixed martial arts history that transformed fighters' careers. From unexpected victories to devastating defeats, these MMA fights defined careers and shifted the sport's landscape. Discover how certain bouts became turning points for legends and contenders alike. We analyze the fights that marked a before and after in MMA, influencing the popularity and evolution of this combat sport. Ideal for UFC fans and those interested in the history of combat sports.

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  1. 1

    Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald 2 (UFC 189)

    412 Global Votes
    • Landmark fight in MMA history

      (+4)

    This brutal war cemented Robbie Lawler's legacy as a 'Ruthless' champion, solidifying his career resurgence. For Rory MacDonald, many believe this fight took a significant toll, and he was never quite the same fighter afterward.

  2. 2

    Justin Gaethje vs. Tony Ferguson (UFC 249)

    245 Global Votes
    • Marked a historic turning point in the lightweight division

      (+4)

    This brutal TKO loss is widely considered the beginning of a significant decline in Tony Ferguson's career. The immense damage sustained seemed to permanently alter his performance and led to a string of subsequent losses.

  3. 3

    Leonard Garcia vs. Chan Sung Jung (WEC 48)

    0 Global Votes
    • Considered one of the greatest fights in WEC history

      (+4)

    This fight introduced Chan Sung Jung, 'The Korean Zombie,' to a wider audience, establishing his reputation as an all-action fighter despite a decision loss. For Leonard Garcia, the brutal nature of the fight prompted him to re-evaluate his 'wild swinging' style.

  4. 4

    Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm (UFC 193)

    0 Global Votes
    • Marked a before and after in a fighter's career

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    This monumental upset shattered Ronda Rousey's aura of invincibility and marked the end of her dominant reign in women's MMA. Her career never fully recovered, leading to her retirement shortly after.

  5. 5

    Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman (UFC 162)

    0 Global Votes
    • Marked a before and after in a fighter's career

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    This massive upset ended Anderson Silva's legendary title reign and marked a turning point in his career, from which he never fully regained his previous dominance. For Chris Weidman, it was the defining victory that made him an instant legend.

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  7. 6

    Georges St-Pierre vs. Matt Serra (UFC 69)

    0 Global Votes
    • Greatest upset in MMA history

      (+3)

    This is considered one of the greatest upsets in MMA history, instantly making Matt Serra a legend. For GSP, it was a humbling loss that led him to re-evaluate his approach and come back as an even more dominant fighter.

  8. 7

    Renan Barao vs. T.J. Dillashaw (UFC 173)

    0 Global Votes
    • Marked a before and after in TJ Dillashaw's career

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    This fight marked the dramatic downfall of Renan Barao, who was considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters, never recovering his previous form. For Dillashaw, it was his breakout performance, launching him into superstardom and a dominant title reign.

  9. 8

    José Aldo vs. Conor McGregor (UFC 194)

    0 Global Votes
    • Marked a before and after in MMA history

      (+4)

    This iconic 13-second knockout unified the featherweight title and catapulted Conor McGregor into unprecedented mainstream superstardom. It forever changed his career trajectory and the landscape of MMA.

  10. 9

    Jorge Masvidal vs. Ben Askren

    0 Global Votes
    • Elevated Masvidal to superstar status

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    This spectacular five-second flying knee knockout transformed Jorge Masvidal from a respected journeyman into a bonafide superstar. It led to significant pay-per-view opportunities and a massive surge in popularity.

  11. 10

    Michael Bisping vs. Luke Rockhold 2 (UFC 199)

    0 Global Votes
    • Shocking first-round TKO victory over Luke Rockhold

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    This was the culmination of Michael Bisping's long career, finally earning him a UFC title and cementing his legacy. For Luke Rockhold, this loss marked a significant downturn, and he was never quite the same after being knocked out.

  12. 11

    Paul Craig vs. Magomed Ankalaev (UFC Fight Night 147)

    0 Global Votes
    • Paul Craig stunned Magomed Ankalaev

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    This incredible last-second submission literally saved Paul Craig's UFC career, as he was on the verge of being cut. It allowed him to continue in the promotion and embark on a successful run.

  13. 12

    Charles Oliveira vs. Paul Felder (UFC 218)

    0 Global Votes
    • Marked a turning point in Charles Oliveira's career

      (+3)

    This loss put Charles Oliveira at a crossroads, with another potential loss possibly costing him his UFC contract. However, it served as a turning point, after which he embarked on an incredible winning streak that led him to the lightweight championship.

  14. 13

    Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber (WEC 26)

    0 Global Votes
    • Marked the start of a great rivalry

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    This was Dominick Cruz's only career loss for a long time and a pivotal moment. After this defeat, he moved down to bantamweight, went on a long winning streak, and became the UFC's inaugural bantamweight champion.

  15. 14

    Sean Strickland vs. Israel Adesanya (UFC 293)

    0 Global Votes
    • Pulled off a major upset to grab the middleweight title

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    This loss significantly 'shook the great man's mystique' for Israel Adesanya, who was widely considered one of the greatest middleweight champions. It marked a surprising setback in his career.

  16. 15

    Darren Till vs. Tyron Woodley (UFC 228)

    0 Global Votes
    • Tyron Woodley made history with first D'arce Choke in UFC Title Fight

      (+4)

    This fight saw the highly hyped Darren Till suffer his first professional loss, after which his momentum vanished. He lost four of his next five fights, eventually leaving the UFC.

  17. 16

    Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman (UFC 235)

    0 Global Votes
    • Marked a before and after in a fighter's career

      (+3)

    This fight marked the end of Tyron Woodley's welterweight title reign and the beginning of a significant decline in his career. After this dominant loss, he never won another fight in the UFC.

  18. 17

    Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jon Jones (UFC 165)

    0 Global Votes
    • Pushed Jon Jones closer than anyone else

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    This fight, despite being a loss, massively boosted Alexander Gustafsson's career, as he was the first fighter to truly challenge Jon Jones. It made him a main event fighter and significantly elevated Swedish MMA.

  19. 18

    Lando Vannata vs. Tony Ferguson (UFC Fight Night 91)

    0 Global Votes
    • Awarded Fight of the Night honors

      (+4)

    This fight, despite being a loss, put Lando Vannata 'on the map.' His unexpected performance against a top contender earned him 'Fight of the Night' honors and significant hype, leading to a series of high-profile fights.

  20. 19

    Uriah Hall vs. Adam Cella (The Ultimate Fighter 17)

    0 Global Votes
    • Delivered a jaw-dropping knockout

      (+4)

    This spectacular spinning hook kick knockout immediately made Uriah Hall everyone's new favorite UFC prospect. It created immense hype around his career and became the 'KO of the Year.'

  21. 20

    Tai Tuivasa vs. Stefan Struve (UFC 254)

    0 Global Votes
    • Ended a three-fight losing streak

      (+3)

    After a three-fight losing streak, Tai Tuivasa was on the verge of being cut from the UFC. This victory reinvigorated his career and allowed him to go on a high-profile winning streak.