5 huge mistakes by UFC fighters in championship fights

#2. Jose Aldo lets emotions get the best of him against Conor McGregor at UFC 194

Conor McGregor took on Jose Aldo at UFC 194 in one of the most anticipated bouts in the history of the featherweight division. McGregor, the then-interim champion, verbally attacked Aldo's skills, championship credentials, family and home country of Brazil throughout the build-up towards their title-unification bout.

Watch a compilation of all of Conor McGregor's trash talk directed at Jose Aldo below:

When the duo finally squared off inside the octagon, it took McGregor just 13 seconds to knock the Brazilian legend out cold.

Most experts noted that McGregor's mind games played a huge role in his easy win over Aldo. After all, it was one of the rare instances where 'The King of Rio' abandoned his footwork and charged towards his foe in a straight line instead.

A perfectly placed pull-back left hand by McGregor landed flush on the chin of Aldo, which saw the then-champion crumble to the canvas.

Going into their fight, Jose Aldo was undefeated for nearly nine years. He was considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world at the time, having defended his belt seven times.

While his legacy will stand the test of time, it'll forever be somewhat tainted. What makes matters worse is the fact that it was such an uncharacteristic performance and goes to show that Conor McGregor's ability to get under people's skin was hugely influential.

Watch the full fight below:

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#1. Chael Sonnen doesn’t play it safe after dominating Anderson Silva at UFC 117

Chael Sonnen earned a shot at the title after putting together a three-fight winning streak in the middleweight division. Anderson Silva, the champion at the time, had already defended his 185 lbs belt six times and was the most dominant title-holder in the UFC.

Sonnen and Silva locked horns in the main event of UFC 117, with many expecting 'The Spider' to record another title defense in dominant fashion. The Brazilian had hardly lost a round so far in the UFC and the public consensus was that he would breeze through 'The American Gangster'.

The bout that ensued left fans stunned. Sonnen dominated the champion for four rounds after repeatedly taking him down and delivering non-stop ground and pound. Those in attendance at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, undoubtedly believed they were about to witness one of the biggest upsets in UFC history going into the final round.

The first half of the fifth round was identical to the previous four. Sonnen held top position while sitting in Silva's guard. The American was en route to a clear-cut unanimous decision victory until, out of nowhere, the champion threw up a triangle choke.

Sonnen was forced to tap and Silva somehow managed to defend his title.

Chael Sonnen would've been crowned the new champion had he just played it safe in the final two minutes of the fight. Moreover, Anderson Silva's grappling prowess was well-documented. His victories over the likes of Demian Maia and Dan Henderson are testament to this. Overzealousness cost Sonnen dearly on the night.

Nevertheless, Sonnen managed to put his own spin on what went down at UFC 117. In the lead-up to his rematch with Silva, he explained his hilarious reasoning for tapping in the final round of their first fight.

Watch Chael Sonnen explain why he tapped below:

Watch the full fight below: