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Showboating has always been a part of combat sports. Since its inception, the UFC has had its fair share of eccentric fighters. Crowd-pleasers who have showcased their skills in unusual ways. Dominant fighters who tease their opponents. There are also a handful of athletes who do it just because they like to.
Mid-fight taunting and antics are also a fighter's way of showing their confidence. But sometimes, competitors pay dearly for their dramatic displays. Throwing caution to the wind in a high-stakes sport like MMA often results in disaster. Anderson Silva is a fine example of mid-fight antics gone wrong.
At UFC 162, Silva faced Chris Weidman. Throughout the fight, he constantly teased the challenger. He taunted and invited Weidman to strike him. Silva bobbed and weaved out of the way of Weidman's punches with his guard down. But in round two, it all went wrong when he got caught and was KO'd. 'The Spider' lost his middleweight title and a sixteen-fight win streak.
However, such incidents have never slowed down those who like to please the crowds. In fact, many fights have become memorable due to a single, dramatic display. Here is a list of five times UFC fighters dazzled the crowd with their antics.
#5. UFC Fight Night: Nate Diaz vs. Kurt Pellegrino
Nate Diaz has fought in the WEC and Strikeforce. He made his way to the UFC in 2007 and won the fifth season of The Ultimate Fighter. After a long career, the Stockton native has grown into one of UFC's biggest stars. He is a fan favorite who never fails to sell pay-per-views.
Diaz is good on the feet and on the ground, but his biggest asset is his rock-solid chin. A brawler inside the octagon, he has faced the likes of Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal and more.
The 36-year-old is no stranger to showboating. Both he and his brother use unorthodox strikes, like the open palm strike called the Stockton slap. On April 3, 2008, Diaz took the antics to another level against Kurt Pellegrino. In the second round, he locked Pellegrino in a triangle choke. He then raised his hands while pointing his middle fingers in the air.
Diaz also hit a front double bicep pose before letting go. The people in attendance loved it as they'd never seen anything like it.
#4. UFC 207: Cody Garbrandt vs. Dominick Cruz
Since making his UFC debut on January 4, 2015, Cody Garbrandt rose to the top. The bantamweight possessed impressive speed and power. He disposed of his opponents swiftly before getting the title shot.
On December 31, 2016, he faced champion, Dominick Cruz. Cruz had defeated some of the best bantamweights, including Urijah Faber, Demetrious Johnson, and T.J. Dillashaw. However, Cody 'No Love' Garbrandt was dominant.
The fight was a slugfest, with 'No Love' finding success on the feet. Garbrandt began taunting the champion from round one. He expertly dodged and countered his opponent's strikes. He pointed at Cruz every time he'd dropped him with a punch.
'No Love' even broke out a few dance moves mid-fight. He did it more than once, and the crowd loved every moment of it. At the end of five rounds, Garbrant won via unanimous decision. The performance against Cruz is often considered his best.
#3. UFC 264 Prelims: Michel Pereira vs. Niko Price
Michel Pereira has had a long career in combat sports. He began competing in 2007 but made his UFC debut in 2019. The Brazilian has always had a flair for unusual techniques. He is acrobatic, frequently mixing in superman punches, backflips, flying knees, and more. He had already racked up twenty-two victories before heading to MMA's biggest stage.
It was his eccentricity that sparked controversy during UFC 264. The Brazilian welterweight faced Niko Price on July 11, 2021. The fight was fast-paced and Pereira pressured his opponent early on. Price rallied back in the second and third rounds. It was an intense back and forth contest.
In the second round, 'Demolidor' knocked down Price. He then proceeded to backflip into full mount on his opponent. His unorthodox move made the crowd cheer wildly, but Pereira stomped Price while landing the flip. The referee's decision to let the fight continue invited criticism from many.
#2. UFC Fight Island 7: Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar
In the UFC, there are often fights where one competitor dominates the other. But on January 16, 2021, Max Holloway completely dismantled Calvin Kattar.
After his debut, Calvin Kattar became a standout in the featherweight division. Before facing Holloway, he had amassed six wins and two losses in the promotion. The New England Cartel team member wanted to prove that he could hang with the best in the world. The former champ, however, would spoil his plans.
The fight began with the Hawaiian setting the pace. Max Holloway is a patient technical fighter, but against Kattar, he changed his strategy. The 29-year-old showcased superior striking and speed, to which Kattar had no answer. In the final round, while dodging combinations, 'Blessed' pointed to the commentators and yelled:
''I'm the best boxer in the UFC!''
The crowd went crazy, and the iconic moment broke the internet. Max Holloway set significant and total strike records during the fight.
#1. UFC 183: Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz
Nick Diaz is among the most revered mixed martial artists to fight in the UFC. The veteran started his career in 2001. In his prime, the 38-year-old was considered one of the best welterweights in the world.
The elder Diaz brother fought in the WEC and Strikeforce as well as the UFC. He was also the Strikeforce welterweight champion. On March 17, 2013, he challenged Georges St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight strap but lost.
On February 1, 2015, 'Diablo' was at his eccentric best against Anderson Silva. From the beginning, he did not seem intimidated by the former champion. He started taunting Silva during the early exchanges, talking and gesturing. However, he took it one step further when he suddenly laid down in the octagon.
He posed as if he were on the couch, and everyone in attendance went wild. Diaz went on to lose the fight via unanimous decision, though this was later overturned to a no-contest. This mid-fight antic, however, has become an iconic moment in UFC history.
