5 UFC fighters who appeared to crack under pressure in 2021

#2. Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira – UFC 267

Jan Blachowicz admitted that his mental state may have cost him against Glover Teixeira at UFC 267

If Jan Blachowicz capitalized on Israel Adesanya struggling under the pressure to pick up the biggest win of his UFC career to date, then it could definitely be argued that the same high pressure got to him a little later in 2021.

Booked to defend his UFC light heavyweight title against aging veteran Glover Teixeira at UFC 267, most fans were favoring Blachowicz to come away triumphant again. The Polish fighter looked to be on the best form of his career, while Teixeira turned 42 years old just days before the fight.

However, when it came to fight time, it looked like Teixeira was a fresh-faced up-and-comer, while Blachowicz looked strangely stuck-in-the-mud.

The Polish fighter’s vaunted power punches were nowhere to be seen. He ended up giving up what were simple takedowns to his Brazilian foe, who capitalized in the second round by applying a rear-naked choke to force Blachowicz to submit.

The result felt like a real shocker, but despite Teixeira’s accomplishment, it was hard to shake off the idea that Blachowicz had choked under the pressure.

In fact, it was something that the former champion appeared to admit himself after the event, as he stated that he probably would’ve “lost to anyone that night” and blamed his mental state, rather than injuries, for the defeat.

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

Conor McGregor may have let the pressure get to him in his fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 257

While their fight wasn’t for a UFC title, it’s arguable that the clash with the highest stakes in 2021 came in the headliner of the year’s first pay-per-view event. The event was, of course, UFC 257, and the fight in question was Conor McGregor’s rematch with Dustin Poirier.

Not only did this fight promise to be a huge seller on pay-per-view thanks to the star power of both men, but it was also the first UFC event since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to take place in front of a fully packed crowd. The promotion was able to fill Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena for the night.

With the winner seemingly likely to go onto fight for the UFC lightweight title, this was a uniquely high-pressure bout. While Poirier had faltered in similar circumstances before, McGregor had nearly always risen to the occasion. In fact, the Irishman’s two biggest career wins, over Jose Aldo and Eddie Alvarez, had come under probably the most pressure he’d ever faced.

At UFC 257, however, for the first time in his career, it felt like ‘The Notorious’ choked. He simply struggled for rhythm on the feet, focusing far too much on his boxing while forgoing a more rounded attack.

Poirier, in contrast, looked loose and confident. He was able to land a series of heavy low kicks to McGregor that softened the Irishman up. In the second round, he opened up with his hands and became the first fighter to knock McGregor out in the octagon.

While Poirier undoubtedly looked great in this fight and McGregor’s performance might’ve been explained somewhat by ring rust, it’s also fair to argue that for the first time in his UFC career, ‘The Notorious’ simply cracked under the pressure.