5 UFC fighters with bizarre reasons for losing

#2. Alistair Overeem at UFC 203

Finally, after more than five years in the UFC, Alistair Overeem got his crack at the heavyweight title in September 2016. Going into battle with new champ Stipe Miocic, Overeem was riding high on a four-fight win streak.

Renowned for his astonishingly devastating striking, ‘The Demolition Man’ managed to floor Miocic in round one. Despite grappling having never been his strong suit, Overeem went in for a guillotine choke on the champion. Miocic, an exceptional wrestler, managed to turn things in his favor on the ground and quickly picked up a KO win on the K-1 veteran.

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In his post-fight interview, a clearly dazed Overeem revealed to Joe Rogan that he let go of the guillotine because Miocic tapped. Replays revealed this clearly wasn’t the case. Miocic’s Cleveland home crowd proceeded to boo the Dutchman into next week. The interview left many wondering if fighters who lose by KO should be spoken to at all immediately after fighting.

#1. Dominick Cruz at UFC 249

Following his second-round stoppage loss to Henry Cejudo at UFC 249, Dominick Cruz made an extraordinary claim regarding referee Keith Peterson. Furious with Peterson’s decision, Cruz revealed that the referee “smelled like alcohol and cigarettes”. While an inebriated referee is obviously unacceptable, one can’t really find much of an issue with an official having a quick smoke on the day.

Perhaps Cruz believed alcohol was to blame for Peterson allegedly not taking his words during the fight into account:

“I mean I’m not happy with the stoppage obviously because I specifically asked the ref to let me go ’til I was out and I was standing up,” Cruz said during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.

With no proof of Peterson doing shots before bell time, Cruz’s accusation not only seems ridiculous but potentially defamatory. Having not fought in four years, Cruz was no doubt disappointed by the flurry of shots Cejudo landed to end his night. His comments drew the ire and scrutiny of several notable MMA figures, including veteran UFC referee Herb Dean, who Cruz had previously praised.