The main event injury curse and 4 other urban legends/superstitions in the UFC
The UFC is the most visible MMA promotion in the world. Thus, it stands to reason that any odd occurrence that happens inside the octagon or even outside it, as long as it pertains to the UFC's fighters, will attract attention. Throughout its history, the UFC has been at the center of many bizarre situations.
The back-to-back injuries suffered in the main events of the last two UFC fight cards have caused a surge in concern over what might be happening. Unfortunately, the recent string of injuries in previous UFC events is neither the first nor last bizarre occurrence MMA fans will see.
Tom Aspinall's unexplained knee injury and Brian Ortega disclocating his shoulder are among the many situations that have left fans, pundits and fighters scratching their heads. This list compiles five superstitious beliefs and or urban legends that have found staying power in the MMA fanbase.
#5. The head kick at UFC 54
When MMA was still a niche sport that ranked below the notice of mainstream sports media, the UFC was competing with the likes of PRIDE FC for prominence within the young combat sports fanbase. In 2005, one of the events that the promotion organized was UFC 54.
The fight card was headlined by a bout between the then-reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell. What many fans remember from the event is an erroneous belief surrounding the knockout power of a head kick that Tim Sylvia, then a future UFC heavyweight champion, landed on his opponent, Tra Telligman.
What a violent card. James Irvin flying ices Terry Martin, Tim Sylvia kicks Tra Telligman's head off, woooof. twitter.com/sherdogdotcom/…
The matchup was lopsided. Sylvia battered Telligman to a bloodied pulp that would've earned calls for the fight to be stopped had it taken place decades later. In the closing seconds of the first round, Sylvia knocked his foe unconscious with a seismic head kick. The impact was such that Telligman had to be stretchered out of the octagon.
Not long after, his career as a mixed martial artist was over. While it is not strange for a fighter to retire from combat sports after suffering a brutal knockout loss, Telligman's inexplicable public disappearance thereafter led to rumors that Sylvia's head kick had, in fact, killed him. The rumors were, of course, untrue, as Telligman is alive and well.