The bright lights in the UFC can force some of the best MMA fighters in the world to turtle up into but a shell of their true potential.
We’ve seen it throughout the history of the company, and it’s due to a number of reasons. Besides the stiff incline in competition, the pressure that goes along with being a UFC fighter has proven to be somewhat daunting. Just ask Nick Diaz.
The increased media attention, the influx of responsibilities to hype a major fight and substantial gain in popularity caused Diaz’s anxiety to skyrocket. So much so that he lost a title shot against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 137, which would have undoubtedly been the biggest payday of his career.
Along with Diaz, these are the fighters that fizzled under the spotlight.