Leon Edwards and the 4 greatest UFC title comebacks
UFC title fights are often decisive affairs in favor of either the defending champion or the challenger staring them down from across the octagon. Legendary UFC fighters like Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones are known for having thoroughly dominated their opposition during the height of their respective title reigns.
However, not every title fight is a convincing win for one of the competitors involved. Sometimes, matchups contested for championship gold involve uncanny events. At times, these events manifest as upset wins for a fighter no one expected to best their opponent. On other occasions, they manifest as comebacks.
Fighters on the verge of losing a bout after being dominated for nearly the entire duration of the fight have shocked the world by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. It is a remarkable feat and this list details the 5 greatest comebacks in UFC title fights.
#5. Jiri Prochazka vs. Glover Teixeira, UFC 275
When Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira faced each other at UFC 275, fans expected the bout to go one of two ways. Either Prochazka would weaponize his seismic punching power to knock the Brazilian unconscious or Teixeira himself would take advantage of the Czech phenom's lesser ground game by taking him down and submitting him. Neither prediction was accurate as spectators were treated to a Fight of the Year candidate.
While Prochazka's long reach and wide stance enabled him to dart in and out of range with sniping punches, his tendency to prolong his combinations and stand in his foe's face gradually exposed him to Teixeira's counterpunches. Whenever Prochazka did enough to hurt or wobble his foe, the Brazilian ducked under his punches for a takedown as the future light heavyweight champion overextended on his intended knockout blows.
Once the fight hit the mat, reversals ensued, but over time, Teixeira's superior cardio enabled him to take over the fight before he managed to rock Prochazka badly with a right hand. The Czech Republic's dreams of a UFC world champion seemed all but over. It was the fifth round and Prochazka almost looked out on his feet.
In an inexplicable moment, Teixeira sunk in a guillotine instead of following up with punches and knees. The guillotine failed and Jiri Prochazka recovered as more scrambles ensued, eventually culminating in the Czech phenom securing a rear-naked choke with 37 seconds left in the bout, forcing Teixeira to tap out due to sheer exhaustion.