MMA Comebacks: Arguably the most exciting sport on the globe, mixed martial arts is also the one with the quickest rate of growth. In mixed martial arts, strikes, takedowns, knees, elbows, smashes, takedowns, and submissions are all possible, and the momentum of a fight can change quickly.
The Top 15 MMA Comebacks
Let’s go straight into our list to see who has achieved some of the most impressive MMA comebacks in mixed martial arts history:
1) Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen
The UFC 117 MMA comebacks victory of Anderson Silva over Chael Sonnen stands as one of the most inspirational stories in mixed martial arts history.
When Silva entered the cage to take on Sonnen, he was at the height of his power. Fans had come to expect another highlight reel ending from him since he had been so dominant. Fans wanted Sonnen to be humiliated because of his violent trash talk in the run-up to his battle with Silva. He became the most despised person in mixed martial arts at the moment he barraged Silva with abuse and made some shady remarks about Brazilians and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Although the fans expected a certain highlight, it wasn’t what they expected. Sonnen attacked Silva right away with a bite that proved to be almost as ferocious as his bark. Early in the fight, he dropped Silva with an overhand, and he spent the majority of the round keeping Silva on his back as he hammered home ground strikes.
During the second, third, and fourth rounds, spectators witnessed more of the same, and it gradually began to sink in that Silva’s championship run may be coming to an end. Sonnen put Silva down early in the fifth round and held him there for a few minutes, which made matters worse.
When it looked like there was no chance left, Silva used an armbar to combine with a triangle choke that he had secured off his back. Sonnen’s overwhelming performance against the guy most fans considered to be the greatest fighter in MMA history came to a sudden end when he was forced to tap.
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2) Cheick Kongo Vs. Pat Barry
Given the backgrounds of both guys, the matchup was anticipated to be an exciting kickboxing match, but it ended up being one of the greatest comebacks in MMA history. At first, the battles were timid between the two men, with Barry winning most of the exchanges. For the majority of the first few minutes, they exchanged leg kicks until Barry pushed Kongo in the direction of the cage and gave him a solid punch.
Kongo instantly went to skates and staggered around the cage while Barry continued to fire rounds. Kongo appeared to be nearly back on his feet when Barry floored him with a second blow. At that time, most officials would have broken up the fight, but Dan Miragliotta let it go on.
That proved to be the right decision because Kongo ultimately stood up and delivered a flurry of brutal blows that knocked Barry unconscious.
3) Fedor Emelianenko Vs. Kevin Randleman
It was one of these fights that catapulted Fedor to prominence during the Pride era. One of the greatest wrestlers in the class, Randleman got off to a strong start by taking Fedor’s back and executing what is probably the most exquisite German suplex in mixed martial arts history.
Because of how devastating the slam was, many spectators believed the contest was finished. But soon after, “The Last Emperor,” in typical Fedor flair, recovered his composure and kimurad Randleman.
4) Conor McGregor Vs. Nate Diaz
When Conor McGregor took on Diaz for the first bout, he was in the thick of things. He was supposed to fight Rafael dos Anjos, but a week before the bout, RDA withdrew, instead he ended up facing Diaz. When Nate entered the picture as a last-minute substitute, the rivalry between him and McGregor got underway.
As anticipated by most spectators, Conor dominated the first striking exchanges of the fight. By the end of the first round, Diaz’s face was a mass of blood. Despite the difficulties, Diaz persisted in going head-to-head with McGregor. Eventually, he got Conor with a jab-cross move that caused the Irishman to stumble.
McGregor attempted a takedown while dazed, and Diaz took advantage of the situation to grab the lead. He then got on his horse and began firing, forcing McGregor to roll and reveal his back. To the surprise of many viewers, Nate locked in a rear naked choke to terminate the competition.
5) Christian Lee Vs. Kiamrian Abbasov
Lee had the unique chance to win two divisions and prove to the world that he had the heart of a champion. As soon as the battle got underway, fans realised they were going to be in for a treat. Abbasov used his pressure to dictate the dance’s tempo and made a couple of strong strokes.
With a takedown attempt, Lee attempted to slow down the action, but Abbasov quickly got back up on his feet. A few seconds later, he delivered a powerful left that sent Lee sprawling to the mat. In some way, Lee was able to get his bearings and prudently got a clinch to blunt Abbasov’s assault. Soon after, there was a takedown, which Lee utilised to change the tide of the fight.
Lee kept alternating takedowns and strikes, and in the fourth round, he finally caused a stoppage with ground and pound. Lee kept his ONE Lightweight World Championship belt company by winning the ONE Welterweight World Championship belt.
6) Georges St. Pierre Vs. Michael Bisping
When one of the greats of mixed martial arts (MMA) agreed to challenge Michael Bisping for the middleweight championship of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, fans rejoiced. The organisation’s longest-reigning welterweight champion, GSP, never competed in the middleweight class while holding the title.
In the opening round, GSP managed to get takedowns, but Bisping immediately stood back up. In the second round, St. Pierre began to lose speed, and Bisping gained the upper hand. In the third round, GSP took the worst cut of his career when Bisping viciously elbowed his guard. GSP extended his winning run from 12 to 13 fights when, just when it appeared like the battle was about to end, he locked up Bisping’s back and submitted him with a rear naked choke.
7) Scott Smith Vs. Pete Sell
Smith could be the fighter with the least amount of recognition on our list. This gem first appeared in The Ultimate Fighter: The Comeback Finale. The battle was fiercely contested in the first round, but Sell started to dominate the second. He struck Smith hard on the liver before closing in for the finish. As Smith rushed in, he was playing possum, though, and he caught Sell with a huge overhand that put an end to the bout.
8) Frank Mir Vs. Brock Lesnar
At UFC81, Mir made one of the greatest returns in mixed martial arts history by escorting Brock Lesnar into the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Lesnar charged out, laying Mir on his back and launching a barrage of tremendous ground blows that dismembered Mir right away. Lesnar kept on beating Mir until he was forced to tap. Mir went for a kneebar. This comeback is especially beloved by BJJ practitioners throughout the world because it shows how powerful BJJ can be even in losing situations.
9) Angela Lee Vs. Xiong Jing Nan 2
When Lee advanced to contend for the strawweight championship against Xiong, she was finished in the first round; however, in their rematch, Lee exacted some retribution. When their atomweight title bout entered its fifth round, Xiong seemed to be in the lead on the scorecards, having benefited from her striking edge for most of the contest. In the last and fifth rounds, Xiong had the better of the first few minutes, but with just 12 seconds remaining, Lee submitted her.
10) Eddie Alvarez Vs. Eduard Folayang
Alvarez’s first fight under the ONE Championship didn’t go as planned; Timofey Nastyukhin ultimately submitted him. But on his subsequent appearance, he pulled off one of the greatest MMA comebacks in the promotion’s history, winning him a lot of new admirers.
Folayang threw a powerful leg kick that knocked him to the ground, then jumped all over him with savage ground attacks. When it appeared that the bout was done, Alvarez won handily and took first place. Not long later, he finished Folayang with a rear-naked choke.
11) Matt Hughes Vs. Frank Trigg 2
In his rematch with Trigg, Hughes achieved the greatest comeback of his professional life. Hughes did an incredible job of lifting up Trigg and slamming him against the other side of the cage, even though Trigg had established a tight rear-naked choke. Hughes continued and used a rear-naked choke to win the match.
12) Fedor Emelianenko Vs. Kazuyuki Fujita
Prior to his Pride 26 matchup with Emelianenko, Fujita was not well-known, but he surprised him early on in their fight. Despite clearly having trouble standing, Emelianenko overcame it and downed Fujita with a liver kick and two hooks. He leapt on Fujita and applied a rear-naked choke to terminate the battle.
13) Kazushi Sakuraba Vs. Kestutis Smirnovas
During their K-1 HERO’s 6 match, Sakuraba accomplished the unfathomable by being knocked out and then winning the bout. If you’re wondering, the ropes and regulations made it feasible.
Smirnovas took the lead and launched a ferocious volley of ground attacks. Just as it seemed that Sakuraba had been struck unconscious, the barrage halted as his head passed under the ropes.
That allowed Sakuraba to rest for a little while before the hammering resumed. But later on, he managed to get an armbar that ended the match.
14) Scott Smith Vs. Cung Le
During his time with Strikeforce, Cung Le was well-known for hosting kickboxing clinics, and this is exactly what happened when he faced Smith. Le controlled the battle from the start and appeared to be heading for yet another dominant win, but Smith countered with a flurry of powerful blows, handing Le his first defeat as a professional mixed martial artist. In the second round of the rematch, Le earned his revenge by finishing Smith with a powerful spinning backkick.
15) Royce Gracie Vs. Dan Severn
Without this timeless masterpiece, our list wouldn’t be complete. Severn weighed 260 pounds and Gracie weighed roughly 180 pounds when she was completely drenched. Given their extreme size disparity, the bout should never have happened, and Gracie spent most of UFC 4 heavily beaten on the ground. Nevertheless, he managed to apply a triangle choke and induce unconsciousness in Severn.
These are the 15 Of the most amazing MMA comebacks finishes ever. Let us know your thougths in the comment section below.
