5 most disappointing UFC performances of 2021

#2. Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler – UFC 266

Nick Diaz looked far from his best in his big return bout against Robbie Lawler at UFC 266

When the UFC announced that Nick Diaz would be returning to the octagon for the first time since 2015 to take on his old rival Robbie Lawler at UFC 266, the promotion’s fanbase were absolutely buzzing.

A fan favorite and one of the UFC’s biggest drawing cards, Diaz’s absence had largely been self-imposed and so many fans expected him to return to action in top form, particularly as Lawler has fallen on hard times in recent years. However, alarm bells began to ring instantly when a video of the Stockton, California native slowly shadowboxing appeared on the internet.

Those worries only increased when he didn’t appear to be in his best shape coming into the fight, forcing it to be switched from a welterweight bout to a middleweight one instead. Sure enough, despite Lawler not exactly looking in vintage form, Diaz simply couldn’t get a lot going when it came to fight time.

His punches looked slower than they’d done in his prime and for basically the first time in his career, Diaz appeared to be flagging as the fight went on. Eventually, ‘Ruthless’ dropped him with a right hand and rather than attempt to continue, Diaz essentially waved the fight off himself.

Sure, the fight was fun to watch, but it was hard not to be disappointed by Diaz’s performance. Realistically, it should stand as a reminder of how tricky it is to return to UFC action after years away.

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#1. Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier – UFC 257

Conor McGregor didn't look like the same fighter he once was during his UFC 257 clash with Dustin Poirier

While the way that Conor McGregor’s third fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 ended was probably more disappointing to ‘The Notorious’, it’s hard to argue with the idea that his performance at UFC 257 was more of a letdown for UFC fans.

Prior to that fight, McGregor had largely never failed to deliver inside the octagon. Sure, he’d lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov in a one-sided fashion, but ‘The Eagle’ had dealt with basically all of his opponents in the same manner anyway.

Outside of that, ‘The Notorious’ was still feared as the fighter who knocked out Eddie Alvarez and Jose Aldo. His 2020 win over Donald Cerrone did nothing to dispel that idea. However, against Poirier, who he’d knocked out at UFC 178 back in 2014, McGregor simply didn’t look close to the fighter he once was.

The Irishman seemed far too focused on his boxing game rather than the unorthodox, movement-based striking that he’d once used to devastating effect and that played directly into Poirier’s hands.

‘The Diamond’ used low kicks to soften McGregor up and then hammered him with a brutal combination in the second round, knocking him out for the first time in his UFC career.

This was a performance so disappointing that it instantly made ‘The Notorious’ look like yesterday’s man inside the octagon. While he remains the UFC’s biggest star, it now feels unlikely that he’ll ever climb back to the top of the mountain again.