How can anyone possibly forget Stone Cold Steve Austin’s litany upon becoming the King of the Ring in 1996? After beating Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, Austin delivered one of the best promos of all time, “the 3:16”, which tacitly led to the beginning of the Attitude Era in World Wrestling Entertainment. At another paradigm shift, there have been some classic post-match rants in the Ultimate Fighting Championship that are worthy of being likened to Austin’s 3:16. Here are 5 of them:
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#5 Brock Lesnar on Frank Mir
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Brock Lesnar aka ‘The next big thing’ was livid when he was defeated by Frank Mir in the very first round at UFC 81. The next thing we knew is that he would recede into a cocoon and come back stronger, which he did when he gained revenge over Mir in the main event of UFC 100.
But there was more drama that followed the elation. After the fight, Brock Lesnar took to the microphone and delivered one of the most memorable rants that almost got him in trouble.
“Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass! I told him that a year ago. I pulled that sumbitch out, and I beat him over the head with it!”
Not mincing words, Brock Lesnar took to dissing the crowds who were voicing their displeasure at Brock being a poor sport. He ended off with a statement that almost got him in trouble with Bud Light, one of UFC’s biggest sponsors. His exact words were:
“I’m gonna go home tonight. I’m gonna drink a Coors Light. That’s a Coors Light because Bud Light won’t pay me nothing. I’m gonna sit down with my friends and family, and hell, I might even get on top of my wife tonight!”
#4 Nate Diaz on Conor McGregor
Seeing McGregor getting all the hype got Nate Diaz all riled up, who then decided to publicly call out the Irishman during a post-match interview with Joe Rogan. Diaz had just picked up an impressive victory against Michael Johnson at UFC on Fox and took the interview as an opportunity to rant against McGregor.
“Conor McGregor, you’re taking everything I worked for, mother f*cker. I’m gonna fight your f*cking ass. You know what’s the real fight, what’s the real money fight - me. Not these clowns that you already punked at the press conference. Ain’t nobody wants to see that. You know you can beat them already. It’s an easy fight. You want the real sh*t. Right here.”
Diaz wasn’t done, but the FOX officials weren’t pleased courtesy the barrage of f-bombs that Diaz was spewing, so he had to be cut off! Nevertheless, the rant was typically reminiscent of an Attitude Era call-out! A few months later, Diaz got what he wished for as he faced McGregor in place of an injured Rafael dos Anjos and picked up the win!
Also read: Top 10 most infamous post-fight interviews in UFC history
#3 Chael Sonnen on Anderson Silva
Chael Sonnen was one charismatic personality; if only he had the fighting ability to back all of his trash-talking up, he would have been much more revered as a UFC fighter. The first fight between him and Anderson Silva at UFC 117 was an epoch-making event, leaving the fans waiting for the rematch. Leading up to the epic sophomore duel, the crowd at UFC 136 were treated to an Attitude Era-esque earful when Sonnen took to the mic (post submitting Brian Stann). Silva was sitting cage-side when Sonnen addressed him:
“Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck! Superbowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business! I’m calling you out Silva, but we’re upping the stakes. I beat you, you leave the division. If you beat me, I’ll leave the UFC forever!”
While Sonnen left no stone unturned in infusing hysteria, en route to the match, he didn’t quite adhere to the stipulations he laid down. Anderson Silva, being a man of few words, brutally TKO’d him.
#2 Nick Diaz on Georges St-Pierre
Following a crucial victory over BJ Penn at UFC 137 in 2011, Nick Diaz went prancing around the octagon yelling something at the top of his lungs. Finally, when the decision was being read out, Nick Diaz took the opportunity to finally vent out his frustration at his next prey! “Where you at Georges? Where you at motherf***er? yelled Diaz at the camera, knowing fully well that the welterweight champion was in attendance that night.
Moments later, during his post-fight interview, Diaz claimed how Georges St-Pierre was deliberately avoiding him.
“I don’t think Georges is hurt. I think he’s scared. I think he’s scared to fight everybody right now. What’s up? Where you at Georges?
Now, Georges St-Pierre is known as a fierce brawler both inside and outside the cage and had he come out at the behest of Nick Diaz’s trash-talking, things would have probably hit the roof that night. The two men, however, got to settle their differences a few events later at UFC 158 where Georges emerged victorious following a unanimous decision.
#1 Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson on Rashad Evans
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson went on quite a rampage after he picked up his UFC 96 victory over Keith Jardine in 2009. In the post-match ceremony, Quinton minced no words in challenging for the title which at that point in time, was held by Rashad Evans. Rashad just happened to have walked into the cage at that very moment and what ensued was a drama that reminded people of the classic HHH-The Rock staredown!
Rampage squared up to Rashad and said:
“I’m getting that belt back, Rashad. I’m not getting knocked out. I’m getting that belt back, baby. Think about it. Know it. See it. ‘Rampage’ getting his belt back!”
Tension began brewing between the two and Joe Rogan attempted to play the mediator, but to no avail, as Rampage grabbed the mic from him to deliver the final litany: “All I gotta say… there’s gonna be some more black on black crime!”
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