Every now and again a special talent comes along in MMA. Sometimes it’s a NCAA National Champion Wrestler. Sometimes it’s a journeyman finally getting his chance to shine after years of toiling in obscurity. Sometimes he comes from our own backyard. Sometimes he comes from halfway around the globe. Sometimes he displays remarkable heart and fortitude. Sometimes he exhibits unparalleled skill and ability.
Regardless of nationality, skill set or story, some fighters capture our attention and demand our respect and admiration. These are the fighters that carve out names for themselves among the pantheon of combat sports’ greatest warriors.
And then there are those fighters that come along and convince the world that they are destined for such greatness, only to crash and burn in spectacular fashion.
This article is dedicated to the latter group—those who began their MMA career with exceptional hype and fanfare, those who shocked the world once, but could never reach that level again, and those who made us scratch our heads and wonder why we ever accepted them as legitimate mixed martial artists in the first place.
They shall be honored here.