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Most UFC fighters don't get a chance to perform on home soil in front of their hometowns. This is especially true for non-American fighters competing under Dana White's banner. MMA's biggest-ever star, Conor McGregor, previously requested a headline bout at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.
Unfortunately, he was denied the chance by the promotion. Thus, when fighters are given the chance to fight in front of their hometown fans, it is a privilege that not many of their peers have enjoyed. Fighting in front of the city that birthed them is unlike any other experience.
The support from the fans is overwhelming, and the roars from moments of success are defeaning. But not everyone who performs in front of their hometown crowd has enjoyed such success. Many crumble under pressure. This list, however, covers fighters who have succeeded in their home cities.
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#5. Demian Maia, The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 Finale
Highly-respected Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Demian Maia hails from São Paulo, Brazil. Throughout his career under Dana White's banner, he has only been afforded the chance to fight in front of his hometown crowd twice. The second time he stepped inside the octagon in São Paulo is one of his most infamous losses.
He faced Colby Covington in a losing effort before 'Chaos' overshadowed his performance with a historic promo. Years prior, however, the two-time title challenger faced a different foe in São Paulo, Brazil. He locked horns with Alexander Yakovlev in the finale of TUF Brazil 3.
He was featured on the main card of the event and emerged victorious with a convincing decision win. The fight was the launching pad for a seven-fight win streak that culminated in a welterweight title fight for the BJJ specialist.
#4. Anthony Pettis, UFC 164
Anthony Pettis' MMA career began in his hometown of Milwaukee. His first eight fights all took place there. So it is almost poetic that the greatest achievement of his career also took place in the very city that birthed it. At UFC 164, 'Showtime' faced Benson Henderson in the event's headline bout.
At the time, he was widely regarded as the world's best lightweight. He proved everyone's assumptions right by defeating 'Smooth' in the first round with an armbar. In doing so, Pettis captured the lightweight throne and he did so to the raucous approval of Milwaukee.
That was the last time 'Showtime' competed in his hometown, and it remains the greatest win of the former champion's career.
#3. Vitor Belfort, UFC 142 and UFC 212
At one point in time, Vitor Belfort owned the record for the most knockouts in the promotion's history. He was a vicious finisher with a lifetime of martial arts skills and an inimitable killer instinct. It led to numerous accolades in mixed martial arts, including a world title at 205 lbs.
Unfortunately, none of those milestones were enjoyed in front of his hometown of Rio de Janeiro. Regardless, 'The Phenom' has the distinction of fighting in his hometown on three separate occasions. Fortunately for him, two of those three matchups were victories.
At UFC 142, he defeated the late great Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson via armbar in the first round. Years later in his penultimate MMA bout, he faced longtime welterweight Nate Marquardt at UFC 212. While he didn't secure a finish, he still earned a unanimous decision win against the veteran of 58 fights.
#2. Charles Oliveira, UFC Fight Night 164 and UFC Fight Night 137
Charles Oliveira is undefeated in front of his hometown fans. Every single time 'Do Bronx' has faced an opponent in São Paulo, Brazil, he has emerged victorious. He competed there in various fights during the early days of his MMA career. But as a UFC fighter, he is similar to Vitor Belfort in that he has fought there twice.
At UFC Fight Night 137, the future lightweight champion locked horns with Christos Giagos before defeating him via a second-round rear-naked choke. A year later, he returned against a serviceable foe in Jared Gordon. The fight didn't last long. Within a minute of the first round, Oliveira blasted his foe for a KO.
Unfortunately, 'Do Bronx' hasn't had the chance to extend his streak to three wins in São Paulo.
#1. Darren Till, UFC Fight Night 130
The downswing that Darren Till's career has taken is almost perplexing. The one-time title challenger has lost five of his last six bouts. Having only one win in the last five years would have been unthinkable for 'The Gorilla' back in 2017. At the time, he was fresh off a KO win against Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone.
Dana White and company were confident that they had a star in the making on their hands. To earn a title shot, however, 'The Gorilla' needed one more win. The win came against Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, one of the greatest strikers in MMA history.
UFC Fight Night 130 remains the first and thus far only time that Till has competed in front of his hometown of Liverpool as a professional mixed martial artist. He had one of the greatest walkouts in recent memory before defeating 'Wonderboy' in a competitive five-round affair via unanimous decision.
