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In the world of the UFC, styles make fights. That means, theoretically, anyone can suffer a stunning defeat, even great champions.
Over the years, we’ve seen some great UFC champions beaten on multiple occasions by an opponent who, stylistically, appeared to be kryptonite for them.
There have, of course, also been fighters who seemed to be kryptonite for a champion after just one bout, too – Holly Holm vs. Ronda Rousey, for instance. Due to the absence of a rematch, though, it’s impossible to be certain.
The following five fighters, though, can almost certainly be considered kryptonite for a great UFC champion.
#5. Dennis Hallman – kryptonite for former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes
One of the most experienced fighters in MMA history, Dennis Hallman compiled a ridiculous record of 53-20 between his debut in 1996 and his retirement in 2015.
‘Superman’ won multiple titles over the years. He also had more than one stint in the UFC, where he’s unfortunately now more remembered for wearing a tight speedo in a fight with Brian Ebersole than anything else.
However, Hallman’s main accomplishment in MMA is not sporting some of the worst attire in octagon history. Instead, he acted as kryptonite to one of the greatest fighters of all time, former welterweight kingpin Matt Hughes.
‘Superman’ first faced off with Hughes in 1998 in the Extreme Challenge promotion, when both men were relatively new prospects. The fight lasted just 17 seconds, and saw Hughes dive right into a guillotine choke, which Hallman quickly used to put him to sleep.
From there, Hughes went on an absolute tear. After winning 18 fights in a row, including two in the UFC, he finally got a chance to avenge his loss to ‘Superman’ in the octagon.
With Hallman making his promotional debut, it seemed likely that Hughes would probably gain revenge over his former foe, but that wasn’t the case.
Remarkably, after taking Hallman down with a bodyslam, Hughes found himself caught in a tight armbar. Despite trying to slam his way out, ‘Superman’ simply tightened the hold, and Hughes was forced to tap out in pain.
Given what Hughes went onto achieve, the fact that Hallman dispatched him twice in a combined 38 seconds is truly insane, and marks ‘Superman’ out as the former champion’s true kryptonite.
#4. Frankie Edgar – kryptonite for former UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn
When B.J. Penn claimed the UFC lightweight title in early 2008 by crushing Joe Stevenson, it felt like no 155lber on the planet could stop him.
‘The Prodigy’ ran through former champion Sean Sherk and then easily dispatched challengers Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez, too. With no clear weaknesses, the Hawaiian looked invincible.
Fans were stunned, then, when he suffered an upset loss to Frankie Edgar in April 2010, losing his title in the process.
Given that Edgar’s win came in a five-round fight that many fans actually scored for Penn, though, a rematch was inevitable. ‘The Prodigy’ had taken Edgar lightly, according to many observers, and would easily dispatch him the second time around.
Incredibly, though, that was the opposite of what happened. A listless Penn couldn’t get anything going in his second bout with ‘The Answer’. Edgar, on the other hand, danced around his slower foe, easily outsruck him on the feet, and even took him down on a couple of occasions, something that even Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes had struggled to do.
This time, nobody was shocked when the New Jersey native was awarded the win, and it seemed that unlike the slower Sherk and Sanchez, his smaller size meant that he never gave Penn a static target to go after.
Four years later, ‘The Answer’ beat Penn again, but it’s probably fair to ignore that fight given the Hawaiian was miles past his prime at the time.
Regardless, Edgar’s two victories over ‘The Prodigy’ in 2010 point to him being kryptonite for the great Hawaiian; a simple case of ‘The Answer’ having the perfect style to deal with him.
#3. Chuck Liddell – kryptonite for former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz
Right now, the UFC’s bantamweight division is being ruled over by two teammates; champion Aljamain Sterling and top contender Merab Dvalishvili.
The two men have promised never to fight each other, but a lot of fans doubt that, primarily because they’ve a similar story unfold on numerous occasions before – and it usually ends in a clash.
One such example is the feud between Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, former friends who became bitter enemies inside the octagon.
Back in 2002, Ortiz was the dominant light heavyweight champion. While Liddell was supposedly his friend and teammate, he was also desperate for a piece of the gold.
‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ seemingly did everything he could to avoid fighting Liddell. While he always cited their friendship, many other fans felt that his avoidance of ‘The Iceman’ stemmed from the fact that Liddell had always gotten the better of him in sparring.
Eventually, after Ortiz lost his title, the former friends squared off – and the fans who questioned Ortiz’s motive were largely proven right.
Liddell’s style – tremendous takedown defense and brutal counterpunching – proved to be kryptonite for Ortiz, who was stopped violently with a combination in the second round.
‘The Iceman’ went onto claim the light heavyweight title shortly after. And while ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ managed to secure a rematch with the gold on the line, he still couldn’t do much to halt Liddell, who destroyed him in the third round this time.
A third fight eventually came over a decade later in 2018, with Ortiz finally winning, but the fact that Liddell was nearly 50 at the time means it’s best to ignore it. Instead, ‘The Iceman’ should always be remembered as kryptonite for his former buddy.
#2. Alexander Volkanovski – kryptonite for former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway
After beating the legendary Jose Aldo twice in 2017 to become the undisputed UFC featherweight champion, it looked like Max Holloway was well on his way to becoming a true legend.
Using a brutal volume striking style to break his opponents down, ‘Blessed’ also forced top contenders Brian Ortega and Frankie Edgar to wilt. Given that the Edgar win was his 14th in a row at 145 pounds, many fans began talking him up as the featherweight GOAT.
However, the Hawaiian ran into Alexander Volkanovski in his next fight, and everything changed from there.
‘Alexander the Great’, who had earned his shot by beating Aldo and Chad Mendes, deployed a remarkably smart gameplan of using his low kicks to stymie Holloway’s footwork, leaving him open to eating combinations.
Volkanovski eventually won a decision, but given Holloway’s previous dominance, it was unsurprising when an immediate rematch was signed.
This time, Holloway produced a much better showing. Even so, he still couldn’t really open up on Volkanovski as he’d done to so many other opponents. When the fight went the distance, ‘Alexander the Great’ was awarded a split decision.
‘Blessed’ regrouped almost immediately, dismantling Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez. But when he faced Volkanovski again, the result remained the same.
This time, the Australian put a true beating on Holloway. While he was unable to stop him, there was no doubt as to who the winner was.
Even now, Holloway would probably be favored to beat any other 145lber on the planet, meaning that it’s fair to label Volkanovski as the Hawaiian’s kryptonite.
#1. Alex Pereira – kryptonite for former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya
It’s probably fair to say that despite only meeting him once – thus far at least – in the UFC octagon, Alex Pereira should be considered kryptonite for former middleweight kingpin Israel Adesanya.
Whether ‘The Last Stylebender’ can put this right in their rematch next month remains to be seen. If he can’t, then the idea that ‘Poatan’ simply has the proverbial Indian sign over him will only be solidified.
The rivalry between the two men dates back to their kickboxing days. Both highly accomplished in the sport, the two first met in the ring back in April 2016, with Pereira edging out a five-round decision win.
A rematch came less than a year later, and while ‘The Last Stylebender’ appeared to be getting the better of the Brazilian this time, the third round saw him fall prey to the vaunted power of ‘Poatan’. Pereira turned his lights out with a left hook, marking the first time Adesanya had ever been stopped.
The loss turned out to be Adesanya’s final bout in kickboxing, as he moved into MMA shortly after and quickly skyrocketed up the ranks, to the point where he claimed the UFC middleweight crown in 2019.
After putting together five consecutive UFC title defenses, ‘The Last Stylebender’ seemed unstoppable. When Pereira was handed a title shot after just three wins in the octagon, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for Adesanya to take his revenge.
Remarkably, though, once again ‘Poatan’ came out on top.
This time, like in their second kickboxing bout, it seemed like Adesanya had the edge, particularly in the grappling exchanges. Come the fifth round, though, he still couldn’t stand up to Pereira’s punching power, and found himself stopped for the first time in his MMA career.
For now, at least, ‘Poatan’ should be seen as Adesanya’s kryptonite, and only time will tell if ‘The Last Stylebender’ can finally overcome it.
