5 UFC fighters whose return matches ended in losses
There was a lot of hype surrounding the return of Georges St-Pierre to the octagon. Despite a four-year layoff from competitive mixed martial arts and the odds stacked massively against him, the legendary GSP returned in prime shape, defeating Michael Bisping.
A return match after four years, culminating in a championship victory was akin to a sweet dream. However, not all fighters who come after a break, taste immediate success.
There have been instances where return fights were laced with vitriol, venom and defeat. Here are five such fighters who faced losses in their return matches:
#5 Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock is a revered name in the annals of Ultimate Fighting Championship and has for long been a torchbearer for the organisation. One of the fiercest competitors inside the octagon, Shamrock was a fighter’s equivalent of a prima donna, having dominated the UFC when the rules governing the sport were few, making him one of the toughest fighters on the goddamn planet!
The World’s Most Dangerous Man, as he was nicknamed, was the first one to lay claim to the Ultimate Fighting Championship Superfight Championship after overthrowing Dan Severn (at UFC 6).
His impressive record of 23-5-2 helped him gain worldwide recognition and fame and the World Wrestling Entertainment (Federation) was where he headed next. He feuded with the likes of The Undertaker and Chris Jericho during his time in the WWE and even had a short-lived stable with The Rock and Mick Foley.
After four years of professional wrestling, the UFC decided to bring him back to the octagon. In November 2002, Shamrock was slated to fight the “bad boy” Tito Ortiz. However, his return to the octagon was akin to a “snapback” to reality as he would lose to Ortiz in the third round. He would go on to lose 5 out of 6 matches, completing a trilogy of losses to Ortiz.