Akin to any other sport, wins and losses dictate just about everything in the realm of MMA.
A series of high-profile wins can catapult a fighter into top contendership while a cluster of disappointing losses can easily result in a firing.
In some instances, however, a loss in an MMA match won’t hinder a fighter’s progress.
Take Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s razor-thin loss to Dan Henderson in their epic clash at UFC 139. Shogun didn’t get the judges’ nod when the dust settled, but he fought valiantly and put on a captivating show. Rua was awarded “Fight of the Year” by several major media outlets for his efforts
But not all setbacks will leave a fighter in good standing with his or her employer. After all, everything gets revealed in an MMA fight, and getting embarrassed in front of thousands of fans never bodes well for an athlete in an individual sport.
Here are the 15 worst ways to lose a fight.