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Elite athletes say, time and again, that getting to the mountaintop is much easier than staying there. The same principle applies to UFC fighters, even those who are considered generational talents.
In a sport as unpredictable as MMA – where one can lose in a myriad of ways – sustaining a prolonged stretch of dominance is that much more difficult. So one could imagine that doing it in the world's largest promotion just adds another degree of difficulty.
Fighters in the upper echelon of the UFC rarely walk away when they're at the peak of their powers. Georges St-Pierre and Khabib Nurmagomedov are among the few exceptions who were able to quit while they were ahead.
But for most, they are forcibly removed from their spot by a hungrier, younger challenger. On that note, listed below are instances when UFC powerhouses finally met their ouster.
#5. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida
For a time, fighting Lyoto Machida was similar to solving a complicated puzzle. The elusive Brazilian is known for his prodigious ability to land precise strikes while steering clear of his opponent's offense. In a sense, Machida was the MMA version of Floyd Mayweather, but with a stronger killer instinct.
Thanks to his karate stance, Machida was able to fight in an unorthodox style, which befuddled most of his opponents. 'The Dragon' showcased his mastery of the fight game when he dethroned then-light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans with relative ease in a battle of undefeated stars.
In 2009, all signs were pointing towards Machida's lengthy reign over the 205-pound weight division. But in his first title defense at UFC 104, 'The Dragon' finally met a worthy challenger.
Fellow Brazilian striking savant Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua proved to be a tough challenge for the seemingly-invincible champion. After five rounds, Machida successfully defended his title, but not without controversy. Many believed 'Shogun' was the deserving winner that night which led to the booking of an immediate rematch.
Devastated by the loss, Rua was determined to prove, once and for all, that he was the uncrowned champion. At UFC 113, 'Shogun' finally solved the Machida puzzle, connecting with a massive right hook to slay 'The Dragon' and capture the throne.
Unfortunately for Rua, his championship reign would be much shorter than Machida's as he faced Jon Jones in his very first title defense. Just the same, being the first person to defeat Machida – in a convincing manner, no less – is an impressive accolade in itself.
#4. Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo
Jose Aldo was a dominant force long before he was in the UFC. When the UFC acquired WEC and its roster, it was no surprise that Aldo was the clear-cut choice to be promoted as the inaugural UFC 145-pound champ.
'The King of Rio' went on to run roughshod through the entire featherweight division in seven consecutive title defenses over a span of three years. Aldo was so dominant that fellow Brazilian legend Anderson Silva once said he's thankful they weren't in the same weight class.
However, there was a charismatic young star from Ireland rapidly rising through the featherweight ranks, proving himself to be a worthy challenger after every single fight. That man, of course, is UFC icon Conor McGregor.
'The Notorious' Irishman finally earned a championship opportunity against Aldo after amassing six straight wins in the UFC, capturing the interim 145-pound title along the way.
McGregor was so confident in his abilities that he laid out an elaborate prediction of how he planned to beat Aldo in an interview with Robin Black. The Irishman reckoned that Aldo would come barging in with a huge right overhand, which he promised to counter with a fight-ending shot.
Astonishingly, McGregor's prophecy unfolded in real life as the world watched Aldo get dethroned after having dominated the division for years. The rest, of course, is history.
#4. Former UFC women's strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk
An undefeated champion who decimated an entire division, Joanna Jedrzejczyk was rightfully confident in the lead-up to her title fight against Rose Namajunas in 2017. The Polish superstar, who came in as the -600 favorite, had every reason to believe that UFC 217 would be just another day in the office. Or so she thought.
The story of this rivalry was perfectly encapsulated by the now-iconic face-off between the champion and challenger. Jedrzejczyk went berserk as she relentlessly told her opponent about her malicious intentions.
In contrast, a stoic Namajunas stood firm as she recited the Lord's prayer in a monotonous voice. 'Thug' Rose's message was clear: she fears no evil.
Come fight night, Jedrzejczyk slithered around like a hungry predator while she was being introduced. Meanwhile, Namajunas just stood steel-like and emotionless, similar to an assassin who's eyeing her target.
Within the first few minutes of the first round, 'Thug' Rose effortlessly clicked into gear as she demonstrated good movement and range. Shortly thereafter, Namajunas connected with a massive right hand that dropped the champion.
The challenger grew more confident as the fight went on and, all of a sudden, she started to look like the hunter instead of the hunted. Emboldened by her success, Namajunas blitzed Jedrzejczyk with a left hook that sent the champ to the realm of shadows and ghosts.
#2. Former UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey's rise to the UFC mountaintop was as abrupt as her downfall. She may have burnt out too quickly, but her flames were arguably the brightest.
For a time, Rousey was billed as the most dominant champion in UFC history. Commentator Joe Rogan even went as far as saying that Rousey could probably beat most fighters in the men's 135-pound division. Needless to say, all the superlatives were used to prop up Rousey's cloak of invincibility.
Little did anyone know that Rousey would experience a hard dose of reality in the form of Holly Holm. No one gave Holm a remote chance of beating Rousey, who at the time had a finish rate of 100%. 'Rowdy' came into the fight as the -2,000 betting favorite.
All the glory and fame seemed to have gotten inside Rousey's head as it was apparent that she had zero respect for the challenger. Once the fight began, Rousey came charging forward against Holm, who is known to be a talented counter-striker.
In the first round, it quickly became apparent that Holm would not be just another victim. She tagged Rousey with several crisp counters as the champion often got caught coming in. In round two, Rousey's refusal to change tactics cost her dearly as Holm fired away until the champ couldn't take any more.
With Rousey dethroned, 'The Preacher's Daughter' exposed a glaring hole in the game of the UFC megastar. Rousey tried to bounce back the following year, but Amanda Nunes sent her into retirement for good.
#1. Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva was at the absolute peak of his powers when he squared off against then-rising star Chris Weidman. The Brazilian legend was on an unprecedented 16-fight win streak and showed no signs of slowing down.
Weidman, on the other hand, was perceived to be just the latest prey for 'The Spider' to maul. But that analysis turned out to be one of the biggest miscalculations by observers of the sport.
The ever-confident champion taunted Weidman every time the young challenger connected. Silva's decision to showboat proved to be the single biggest mistake he made in his career.
The Brazilian pretended to be hurt after receiving a glancing blow from Weidman. But the American took advantage of the situation as he relentlessly threw more punches with one of them eventually finding Silva's jaw. Just like that, Silva's six-year reign was over.
The narrative that emerged from UFC 162 was that Silva shot himself in the foot by acting carelessly. 'The Spider' was given a chance to redeem himself as he was awarded an instant rematch.
But at UFC 168, Weidman proved, once and for all, that his win was no fluke. 'The All-American' pummeled Silva and almost knocked him out again. In the second round, Weidman telegraphed Silva's low kick and countered with a check, causing the Brazilian's leg to snap in half.
