5 insane UFC career turnarounds
Sometimes, UFC fighters announce themselves to the MMA world in spectacular fashion before embarking on lengthy win streaks. Other than a controversial disqualification loss, Jon Jones has been spotless inside the octagon. Similarly, Khabib Nurmagomedov has never lost a bout in the cage.
However, this is not the case with all fighters. Some fighters have careers with a balanced win/loss ratio. Others, however, have more losses than wins. Such UFC fighters rarely ascend beyond their status to fill the bottom tier of fight cards that the promotion fields throughout the year.
The fortunate few manage to break away from their bottom tier status to reach either superstardom or championship heights for one reason or another. This list details the journeys of five such fighters in the UFC.
#5. Jorge Masvidal, UFC welterweight
In the past, Jorge Masvidal lacked urgency and didn't chase finishes in his bouts. Instead, he was content to admire the work done with his slick defensive striking. It led to a range of questionable split-decision losses where he never looked like an inferior fighter but lost anyway. It left him a relative unknown to the casual viewer.
This trend was so pronounced that from 2010 to 2015, he only earned two finishes in 16 bouts. However, after losing to Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, 'Gamebred' underwent a change. He adopted a more aggressive mentality and vowed to commit every ounce of energy into finishing his foes.
2019 marked his breakout year. At UFC Fight Night 147, he faced Darren Till on the latter's home soil in England. At the time, 'The Gorilla' was fresh off of facing Tyron Woodley for the welterweight title. Back then, he was the highest ranked opponent that the future 'BMF' champion had ever faced.
Nov2.2019
1 year ago today,
Jorge Masvidal defeated Nate Diaz to become the BMF Champion. https://t.co/gCBHldyYTK
Within two rounds, Masvidal flattened him with a shifting combination. The knockout earned him attention. But it was his next bout that launched him into the MMA stratosphere when he faced the then undefeated former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion Ben Askren.
An avalanche of trash talk from 'Funky' did well to promote the bout, and 'Gamebred' thanked him with a record-breaking five-second KO. The win became the subject of countless MMA memes and earned him a callout from UFC superstar Nate Diaz.
Given how Diaz often declines opponents by challenging them to earn a chance to face him, Masvidal received far too much attention for even Stockton's finest to ignore. The pair faced off for the symbolic 'BMF' title. Masvidal emerged victorious and became only the second fighter to TKO Diaz to be crowned a UFC star.
#4. Robbie Lawler, UFC welterweight
If during his Strikeforce days, anyone predicted Robbie Lawler would one day become a UFC champion, they'd be laughed out of the building. At the time, 'Ruthless' was an overly aggressive fighter without the technique to justify his reckless approach to fighting.
He suffered a series of losses to fighters who would never have sniffed a title fight had they been in the UFC. Between 2012 and late 2007, Lawler couldn't mount a single win streak. He was on the most unremarkable run of his career and was in dire need of a change.
In 2013, that change came in the form of a move to American Top Team. There, 'Ruthless' sharpened his skill-set and became a far more dangerous fighter. He embarked on a three-fight win streak before earning a title fight against Johny Hendricks. He lost the bout, but his efforts won him Fight of the Night honors.
Dec6.2014
3 years ago today,
Robbie Lawler def. Johny Hendricks by split decision, to become the new UFC Welterweight Champion https://t.co/rNduFKtjaF
Lawler quickly rebounded with two wins to earn a second crack at the title. This time, he made it count and defeated Hendricks to claim UFC gold for the first time. His first title defense was booked a year later and it became the stuff of MMA legend.
Robbie Lawler crossed swords with Rory MacDonald in a thrilling affair that earned enough acclaim to be declared by some as the greatest fight of all time. The title defense was successful and was followed up by another successful outing as 'Ruthless' overcame Carlos Condit.
While he subsequently lost the title to Tyron Woodley, his legacy was secured. He was never supposed to be the champion but he defied all expectations to realize his dream.
#3. Jan Błachowicz, UFC light heavyweight
Jan Błachowicz made his promotional debut as a former KSW light heavyweight champion. But at the time, no one in their right mind would have ever predicted that the Polish power-puncher could become the UFC's 205 lbs champion. Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier and the late Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson were present.
While his initial UFC bout was a success, the former KSW titleholder tasted defeat in his second fight in the promotion. His third bout came against Corey Anderson and the Pole was helplessly outwrestled. Although he rebounded by defeating Igor Pokrajac, he later lost to Alexander Gustafsson and Patrick Cummins.
Jan Blachowicz def. Dominick Reyes via TKO (Polish Power) at 4:36 of Round 2 🇵🇱
He is the new UFC LHW Champion! 🏆
#UFC253 #MMA https://t.co/GEXIC7o3w8
It seemed to be set in stone that Błachowicz could not contend with the top fighters in the division. He had won only one fight in his last five. But his fortunes suddenly changed as he embarked on a four-fight win streak. Alas, he lost to Thiago Santos before rebounding again.
This time, he made it count. After mounting a two-fight win streak, he exacted his vengeance against Corey Anderson by KO'ing him in the first round. It was enough to earn him a matchup against Dominick Reyes for the division's vacant title. The Polish power-puncher stunned the MMA world with his performance.
He KO'd the man who many people believed had defeated the invincible Jon Jones. At 37 years old, the Pole became a UFC champion. Furthermore, he also handed Israel Adesanya his first professional MMA loss after the latter challenged him for his newly captured title.
#2. Glover Teixeira, UFC light heavyweight
Glover Teixeira's recent run of form in the UFC is described as a Cinderella story by many. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist is 43 years old yet hovers around the title scene in his division. This was not always the case. His first few fights in the promotion were successful.
Before anyone knew it, Glover Teixeira was 22-2 by the time he challenged Jon Jones for the 205 lbs title. Unfortunately, the Brazilian grappler was seriously outmatched against 'Bones'. He suffered a very one-sided loss that left no one clamoring to see him in a title fight.
#UFC267 Glover Teixeira is the new UFC light heavyweight champion at 42 years old after submitting Jan Blachowicz in the 2nd round 👏 #UFC267
(via @ufc)
https://t.co/Fc7TKPtItc
He then lost a bout to Phil Davis before rebonuding with a three-fight win streak. Though that didn't signal a change in his fortunes. He faced the late great Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson and was KO'd in 13 seconds for his troubles. A win-loss streak followed that included a brutal beating from Alexander Gustafsson.
Corey Anderson also defeated the Brazilian in a convincing manner. Like Jan Błachowicz, Glover Teixeira simply seemed like he wasn't good enough to contend with the elites at 205 lbs. What happened next, however, was a resurgence. The elder statesman of the division embarked on a five-fight win streak.
It culminated in a title fight against another man who was also once doubted, Jan Błachowicz. Within two rounds, the BJJ black belt fully realized his dream by submitting his foe to capture UFC gold at 42 years old.
#1. Charles Oliveira, UFC lightweight
Charles Oliveira has been the underdog for most of his career. However, his struggles extended beyond the cage. At one point, he was undefeated in the early stages of his UFC career. However, a submission loss to Jim Miller led to the beginning of a three-fight winless streak.
His win against Nick Lentz was overturned into a no-contest due to an illegal knee, and he lost his next bout to Donald Cerrone. In need of a change, 'do Bronx' made the move into the featherweight division. While his first two fights in the new division were successful, his third bout was anything but.
WHAT A COMEBACK.
Charles Oliveira defeats Michael Chandler via KO to become the NEW UFC lightweight champion 🏆 #UFC262
(via @ufc)
https://t.co/YoEjNSk0V6
He was booked to face Cub Swanson but missed weight and lost the bout via TKO. His subsequent matchup with Frankie Edgar was also a defeat. While he managed to rebound with a four-fight win streak, he still missed weight against Jeremy Stephens.
Charles Oliveira, it seemed, lacked discipline. His last four bouts at featherweight were disastrous. He missed weight twice and lost three of those fights, prompting him to return to lightweight. At that point, something in 'do Bronx' changed. After a win-loss run in his first two bouts since his return, he stormed through the division.
He embarked on an 11-fight win streak that saw him break the UFC records for most submissions and finishes. Furthermore, he defeated divisional standouts like Kevin Lee, Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje en route to capturing and defending the lightweight title.