#2. Karo Parisyan claims to be too good for his own good (UFC Fight Night 13)
Karo Parisyan was undeniably an elite welterweight in the late 2000s. And according to him, the reason he lost to Thiago Alves at UFC Fight Night 13 was because he was too talented a fighter.
Alves, who was rapidly rising through the ranks, halted Parisyan's momentum by handing the Armenian-American a TKO loss in the second round. After the fight, Parisyan said that he wasn't at hundred percent because he was used to winning fights without training hard. He added that it had just dawned on him that the competition was catching up to him.
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Not taking training seriously is a genuine issue for several fighters. Conor McGregor was previously criticized for it and the Irishman responded by promising to go harder at the gym. But Parisyan saying out loud that the reason he lost is because he was too good is one of the most cringeworthy moments in UFC history.
#1. Conor McGregor's balloon foot (UFC 229)
Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the most intense rivalries in UFC history. Given McGregor's star power and the real-life animosity between the two competitors, a huge segment of fans tuned in for the much-anticipated lightweight title fight at UFC 229.
Once the action began, millions witnessed a lopsided beatdown instead of an epic showdown. Nurmagomedov immediately went after McGregor with his suffocating grappling and seemingly endless ground-and-pound strikes. 'The Eagle' ultimately retained the crown after making the Irishman tap out in the fourth round.
Instead of admitting that he was simply outclassed by the champ, McGregor told MMA journalist Ariel Helwani a year later that he had sustained an injury prior to the fight. The Irishman said that his foot was so badly injured that it had swollen like a balloon, causing his toes to pop out of their sockets.
Needless to say, fans were not inclined to believe McGregor's excuse. Observers took to social media to point out that McGregor's story was implausible, as he was stomping his feet hard while being introduced before the fight.