5 UFC debuts that did not go as planned

#2. Hector Lombard vs. Tim Boetsch – UFC 149

Hector Lombard failed to make the impact that he'd hoped in his octagon debut against Tim Boetsch

The UFC were able to sign reigning Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard to a contract in the summer of 2012. It seemed like the promotion had inked not only a certain contender for their own middleweight title, but also a surefire superstar, too.

A former Olympic judoka with Cuba, ‘Lightning’ had found success in MMA by using his brutally heavy hands to knock the majority of his foes out.

At the time of his signing with the UFC, he was riding a scarcely-believable 25-fight win streak. Fans were excited about who he might be matched with for his octagon debut.

Initially, Lombard was signed to face the top ten-ranked Brian Stann, but when ‘The All American’ was forced out, the less-heralded Tim Boestch stepped in on relatively late notice. ‘The Barbarian’ was coming off the biggest win of his career over Yushin Okami, but it still felt like he had no chance against Lombard.

However, the Lombard who stepped into the octagon simply wasn’t the same Lombard who’d destroyed everyone he’d faced inside Bellator’s cage. He looked flat-footed, gunshy and nervous, and couldn’t get anything going at all, eventually falling to defeat via decision.

Quite what’d gone wrong for him remains a mystery. Unfortunately, his debut loss was a sign of things to come. Lombard’s career with the UFC never took off, and he eventually washed out of the promotion in 2016 with a reputation as one of their all-time busts.

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#1. Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua vs. Forrest Griffin – UFC 76

Forrest Griffin upset the odds when he spoiled the octagon debut of 'Shogun' Rua

While UFC fans were understandably excited about the arrival in the octagon of PRIDE superstars like Mirko Cro Cop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Wanderlei Silva, the fighter that had everyone most excited was Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua.

Not only had the Brazilian won PRIDE’s 2005 middleweight (205lbs) Grand Prix, but thanks to his wins over the likes of Ricardo Arona, Alistair Overeem, Kevin Randleman and then-UFC champion ‘Rampage’ Jackson, he was widely recognized as the world’s best light heavyweight.

When his first octagon opponent was announced as inaugural TUF winner Forrest Griffin, the booking felt like a masterstroke.

Griffin was one of the promotion’s most popular fighters, but wasn’t seen as an outright elite talent. If things went to plan, ‘Shogun’ would pick up a huge debut win over a big name, probably in highlight reel fashion.

Of course, nobody told Griffin that. So despite coming in as a huge underdog, he thoroughly outfought the PRIDE star in every area, eventually submitting him late in the third round with a rear-naked choke in one of the UFC’s all-time great upsets.

It later transpired that ‘Shogun’ was carrying a major knee injury coming into the fight. He would eventually bounce back from the loss to claim the UFC light heavyweight title. He also avenged his loss to Griffin later down the road.

Regardless, this remains a shining example of a debut completely failing to go to plan – even if normal proceedings eventually occurred later.