5 times cocky fighters got their comeuppance in the UFC

UFC fighters are the finest mixed martial artists in the world. That status comes with a certain level of confidence that is difficult to shake. Accomplishments in other MMA organizations typically fail to impress fighters who compete under Dana White's banner.

This is part of the basis behind Dustin Poirier's past disdain for Michael Chandler. For some fighters, achieving nothing in the UFC means achieving nothing at all. Yet even within the promotion, there are fighters who think themselves far better than others, whether that's due to a difference in ranks or something else.

Regardless of their reasoning, some fighters graduate from the realm of confidence into outright cockiness. While a level of delusion is required to succeed in combat sports, sometimes, cocky fighters are made to pay for underestimating their opponents. This list explores five such UFC fighters, past and present.

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#5. Alistair Overeem vs. Antônio Silva, UFC 156

Back in 2011, Alistair Overeem was fresh off the heels of a stunning win over former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. At the time, the Dutchman was well-known for his herculean physique and high-level striking skills. Unfortunately, a failed drug test led to a long absence from MMA.

Upon his return, the K-1 kickboxing champion faced Antônio Silva, more popularly known as 'Bigfoot'. Prior to the bout, 'The Demolition Man' was extremely dismissive of his opponent's skills, prompting Silva to demand that Overeem start showing him respect. The Dutchman's reply was to promise to destroy him.

Come fight night, Overeem dominated the first two rounds with his striking and clinch-work. In the third round, however, his disdain for Silva reached dangerous levels. He dropped his hands and gave him no respect. This enabled Silva to land a heavy blow en route to handing Overeem a humiliating KO loss.

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#4. Alexander Hernandez vs. Donald Cerrone, UFC Fight Night 143

Heading into 2019, Alexander Hernandez styled himself as a future UFC champion. Given his record at the time, it is easy to understand why. Back then, the 155'er had 10 wins and just one loss on his record. Meanwhile, Donald Cerrone endured a rough period of four losses and two wins in his last six.

Ahead of his clash with 'Cowboy', Hernandez scoffed at his opponent's skills and derided him as a geriatric active participant that he would use as a stepping stone on his path to the title. Cerrone, however, proved to be far better than 'The Great Ape' expected once the pair locked horns.

Over the course of two rounds, 'Cowboy' outstruck and brutalized his foe in a fight that grew less competitive the more time passed. He eventually landed a thunderous head kick that sent his foe tumbling to the canvas before a series of follow-up punches earned Cerrone a TKO win.

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#3. Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera, UFC 252

Despite the fact that he has only recently started facing top-ten opponents, it feels like Sean O'Malley has been a UFC fighter for a long time. This is because he made his promotional debut back in 2017. The first true test of his career came three years later in 2020.

He faced Marlon Vera, and during the leadup to their bout, 'Sugar' thought little of his foe's skills. He described him as basic, criticized his lack of movement and even claimed that 'Chito' would be borderline crazy if his main gameplan consisted of him trying to strike with him.

He asserted that Vera was a stylistically favorable matchup and claimed he saw no other outcome but a first-round knockout. O'Malley even dyed his hair in the colors of the Ecuadorian flag to taunt his foe, an Ecuadorian. Despite a competitive start to the bout, a low kick caused O'Malley to develop drop-foot.

This rendered him unable to fight properly. He collapsed to the mat and was subsequently TKO'd via ground-and-pound to taste his first-ever professional MMA loss.

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#2. Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm, UFC 193

There has never been a mixed martial artist who has been subjected to more hyperbole than Ronda Rousey was during her peak years. The truth of the matter is that 'Rowdy' has been cocky against every single opponent she has ever had. Against Holly Holm, there was almost an air of civility between the two women.

The once unbeaten phenom was initially complimentary of her opponent, even claiming to have watched her the moment she made her MMA debut, due in large part to her boxing credentials. However, once their scheduled bout drew nearer, 'Rowdy' grew more antagonistic.

During the weigh-ins, she openly bragged about JacksonWink's previous struggles developing gameplans against her for their fighters. She then took to Instagram where she promised that Holm would be getting a severe beating come fight night, and that she would enjoy the damage she'd deal to her.

Instead, what transpired was Rousey being on the receiving end of a humiliating defeat via second-round KO in front of a then record-setting crowd.

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#1. Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 1, UFC 196

UFC 196 should have been Conor McGregor's coronation as the promotion's first-ever simultaneous two-division champion, if he defeated then reigning champion Rafael dos Anjos. Instead, 'RDA' broke his foot, forcing him to withdraw from the bout. Fortunately, Nate Diaz stepped up as a short-notice replacement.

Due to his foe's status as a win-loss type of fighter, 'The Notorious' was extremely dismissive of Diaz's chances. He promised a first-round knockout while describing Stockton's finest as a gazelle whose friends will have to watch be feasted on by him, a lion. He also labeled Diaz a "skinny-fat fighter."

During an appearance on one of Conan O'Brien's talk shows, the Irishman promised to KO his opponent with a meia-lua de compasso, a capoeira rendition of a reverse roundhouse kick. It was a high-impact, low-probability move that he never landed during their bout.

Instead, McGregor gassed out towards the end of the first round before being rocked and submitted in the second round by an opponent he overlooked.