Top 5 Most Bizarre Moments in UFC History
Top 5 Most Bizarre Moments in UFC History
Whether it be the pre-Zuffa LLC days, when fighters fought bare-knuckle, or the days Jeff Monson channeled his inner John Lennon, or when Brock Lesnar famou
Whether it be the pre-Zuffa LLC days, when fighters fought bare-knuckle, or the days Jeff Monson channeled his inner John Lennon, or when Brock Lesnar famously said he wanted to "get on top of his wife," almost every single UFC era somehow stands out to fans in one way or another.
While some of moments will forever be memorialized in the dozens of fan-made highlight reels, some are so downright bizarre that they're almost impossible to forget. Here are FloCombat's five most bizarre moments in UFC history.
How many fighters can say they made their professional debuts inside the UFC Octagon? Kimo Leopoldo is one. How many fighters can say they carried a giant 10-foot cross with them on the walk to the Octagon? Once again, Leopoldo is your man.
As he strode toward the cage ahead of fight against Royce Gracie at UFC 3 , Leopoldo lugged an enormous wooden cross over his shoulders. It was a surreal scene that has become synonymous with the early days of the UFC. Leopoldo may have lost, but he pushed Gracie harder than he had ever been pushed before.
Following the bout, Gracie withdrew from the second round to make it the first UFC tournament the Brazilian didn't win. And for that, along with his massive wooden cross, Leopoldo will forever be remembered.
"It was one of the weirdest things I've ever seen, and it's even weirder that we let it happen."
That's how Dana White described Cody McKenzie's fight attire at UFC on FOX 9.
Calling McKenzie a colorful character would be an understatement. McKenzie, who also moonlights as a fisherman in his native Alaska, is about as unique as they come. When McKenzie arrived at the Sleep Train Arena without a pair of fight shorts, can anyone say they were surprised? So, with nothing to wear inside the Octagon, McKenzie had to run across the street to a nearby sporting goods store to buy a pair of shorts.
Odd? Yes. But not bizarre.
When he entered the Octagon with his store-bought shorts, the first thing fans noticed was the fact McKenzie didn't even bother to remove the price tag.
Never change, Cody. Never change.
Thanks to referee John McCarthy, submission specialist Murilo Bustamante defended his UFC middleweight title twice in one night—think about that.
In May 2002, Bustamante caught MMA veteran Matt Lindland with an armbar early into their title fight at UFC 37. After an apparent tap, Bustamante released Lindland and celebrated his successful title defense. But Linland began to protest, and claimed he hadn't tapped. For some reason, McCarthy believed him, and restarted the fight. Ultimately, Bustamante was able to finalize the victory—this time, by guillotine choke in the third round.
When Brian Ebersole crushed Dennis Hallman in the first round of their UFC 133 bout in August of 2011, people took notice. Typically, after a performance like that, the UFC brass would cut Ebersole a bonus check for "Knockout of the Night," but Vitor Belfort smoked Yoshihiro Akiyama in the very next fight to snatch the $70,000 check from Ebersole's pocket.
Nevertheless, Brian Ebersole was awarded an honorary "getting those horrifying shorts off TV as soon as possible" bonus by Dana White for defeating Dennis Hallman, who was wearing a blue speedo inside the Octagon.
So, on behalf of mankind: Thank you, Brian Ebersole.
UFC 112 will forever live in infamy amongst the mixed martial arts community.
Prior to the event, an injury forced middleweight contender Vitor Belfort out of his scheduled fight against pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva. That's when submission specialist Demian Maia--an undersized middleweight with a submission game that could make an anaconda tap out—stepped in.
It was a classic striker versus grappling contest, and fans were eager to see how these two contrasting skill sets would work against one another. Too bad Silva didn't get the memo.
Silva, who was coming off a devastating first-round knockout over former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, decided to take the day off as he clowned around for the better part of five rounds. As he outstruck his diminutive challenger, Silva berated Maia with the now-famous line "Where's your jiu-jitsu now, playboy?"
UFC president Dana White was so upset by what occurred inside the cage he refused to put the belt on Silva and declared it the worst title fight in UFC history.
While some of moments will forever be memorialized in the dozens of fan-made highlight reels, some are so downright bizarre that they're almost impossible to forget. Here are FloCombat's five most bizarre moments in UFC history.
5. Kimo Leopoldo Carries Cross to Octagon - UFC 3
How many fighters can say they made their professional debuts inside the UFC Octagon? Kimo Leopoldo is one. How many fighters can say they carried a giant 10-foot cross with them on the walk to the Octagon? Once again, Leopoldo is your man.
As he strode toward the cage ahead of fight against Royce Gracie at UFC 3 , Leopoldo lugged an enormous wooden cross over his shoulders. It was a surreal scene that has become synonymous with the early days of the UFC. Leopoldo may have lost, but he pushed Gracie harder than he had ever been pushed before.
Following the bout, Gracie withdrew from the second round to make it the first UFC tournament the Brazilian didn't win. And for that, along with his massive wooden cross, Leopoldo will forever be remembered.
4. Cody McKenzie's Shorts - UFC on FOX 9
"It was one of the weirdest things I've ever seen, and it's even weirder that we let it happen."
That's how Dana White described Cody McKenzie's fight attire at UFC on FOX 9.
Calling McKenzie a colorful character would be an understatement. McKenzie, who also moonlights as a fisherman in his native Alaska, is about as unique as they come. When McKenzie arrived at the Sleep Train Arena without a pair of fight shorts, can anyone say they were surprised? So, with nothing to wear inside the Octagon, McKenzie had to run across the street to a nearby sporting goods store to buy a pair of shorts.
Odd? Yes. But not bizarre.
When he entered the Octagon with his store-bought shorts, the first thing fans noticed was the fact McKenzie didn't even bother to remove the price tag.
Never change, Cody. Never change.
3. Murilo Bustamante defeats Matt Lindland twice in one night - UFC 37
Thanks to referee John McCarthy, submission specialist Murilo Bustamante defended his UFC middleweight title twice in one night—think about that.
In May 2002, Bustamante caught MMA veteran Matt Lindland with an armbar early into their title fight at UFC 37. After an apparent tap, Bustamante released Lindland and celebrated his successful title defense. But Linland began to protest, and claimed he hadn't tapped. For some reason, McCarthy believed him, and restarted the fight. Ultimately, Bustamante was able to finalize the victory—this time, by guillotine choke in the third round.
2. Dennis Hallman's Blue Speedo - UFC 133
When Brian Ebersole crushed Dennis Hallman in the first round of their UFC 133 bout in August of 2011, people took notice. Typically, after a performance like that, the UFC brass would cut Ebersole a bonus check for "Knockout of the Night," but Vitor Belfort smoked Yoshihiro Akiyama in the very next fight to snatch the $70,000 check from Ebersole's pocket.
Nevertheless, Brian Ebersole was awarded an honorary "getting those horrifying shorts off TV as soon as possible" bonus by Dana White for defeating Dennis Hallman, who was wearing a blue speedo inside the Octagon.
So, on behalf of mankind: Thank you, Brian Ebersole.
1. Anderson Silva takes the night off against Demian Maia - UFC 112
UFC 112 will forever live in infamy amongst the mixed martial arts community.
Prior to the event, an injury forced middleweight contender Vitor Belfort out of his scheduled fight against pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva. That's when submission specialist Demian Maia--an undersized middleweight with a submission game that could make an anaconda tap out—stepped in.
It was a classic striker versus grappling contest, and fans were eager to see how these two contrasting skill sets would work against one another. Too bad Silva didn't get the memo.
Silva, who was coming off a devastating first-round knockout over former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, decided to take the day off as he clowned around for the better part of five rounds. As he outstruck his diminutive challenger, Silva berated Maia with the now-famous line "Where's your jiu-jitsu now, playboy?"
UFC president Dana White was so upset by what occurred inside the cage he refused to put the belt on Silva and declared it the worst title fight in UFC history.