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The UFC draws fans who want to see one thing and one thing only: two highly trained individuals meeting inside a cage to settle their differences in a sanctioned fist fight. Thus, a significant amount of interest is drummed up for most of the promotion's fights. That interest is typically rewarded via entertainment.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. Sometimes, a bout that is highly anticipated does not transpire as originally hoped. At times, fights don't have conclusions that meet the thrilling heights that everyone expects them to.
These kinds of fights aren't regarded negatively per se, but they ended in ways that either left things feeling unfinished or left fans with an oversaturation of energy that they never had time to expend. With that in mind, this list details five fights that had anticlimactic endings.
#5. Yair Rodriguez vs. Brian Ortega, UFC on ABC 3
Prior to capturing interim gold against Josh Emmett, featherweight dynamo Yair Rodriguez faced Brian Ortega in the UFC's third appearance on ABC. The matchup was a highly anticipated clash of styles between a lightning-quick striking specialist and a slick submission artist.
Furthermore, the pair are friends but were both willing to lock horns inside the octagon to find out who was more deserving of facing reigning UFC featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski for the divisional throne. Unfortunately, the bout did little to inform fans on who was worthier.
Within four minutes of the first round, a sequence on the canvas took place. Ortega loomed over his foe before 'El Pantera' attempted an armbar. As 'T-City' sought to escape, he suffered a dislocated shoulder which left him unable to continue.
#4. Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes, UFC Fight Night 208
The heavyweight division is often regarded as one of the shallowest weight classes in all of MMA. High-level fighters with a breadth of true skill are not as common at 265 lbs as they are in other divisions. Thus, fighters who genuinely excite fans rarely come from the heavyweight division.
Even a record-setting knockout artist like Derrick Lewis has become something of an afterthought due to his limited skill-set. Tom Aspinall, however, is no such 265'er. He is a light-footed Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace with exceptional speed, imposing size and crisp boxing skills. Many even regard him as a future champion.
Thus, at UFC Fight Night 208, the Englishman was scheduled to face Curtis Blaydes in a bout that was meant to determine whether he was as good as advertised. While the fight started at a furious pace, it lasted no longer than fifteen seconds as Aspinall collapsed, clutching his knee in agony after landing a low kick.
#3. Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 4, UFC 283
The UFC's first-ever quadrilogy took place in the promotion's first trip to Brazil in 2023. It was a co-main event bout between former featherweight titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo and the then interim champion Brandon Moreno. Up until then, the pair had traded wins with one no-contest between them.
With a lack of flyweight matchups that could excite fans, Dana White and co. opted for a quadrilogy. The two men crossed swords for the fourth time at UFC 283 as 'Deus da Guerra' enjoyed a homefield advantage in front of his native Brazil. While the bout was initially somewhat competitive, things soon took a different turn.
Before the start of the fourth round, one of Figueiredo's eyes swelled shut. The cage-side doctor was called in to take a look at the Brazilian and quickly declared him unfit to continue fighting. The fight was waved off and fans everywhere were left disappointed by the result, with some even questioning the Brazilian's heart.
#2. Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 3, UFC 264
There's nothing that MMA fans love more than a heated rivalry. The drama and enmity between two fighters who severely dislike each other once saved the UFC from the brink of financial ruin. The feud between Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz in those days was unlike anything the promotion had ever seen.
That, however, was only because Conor McGregor was yet to make his MMA debut. Years after his rise to superstardom, the Irishman found himself en route to a grudge match with Dustin Poirier. The pair first faced each other years ago at featherweight. McGregor emerged victorious with a first-round TKO win.
Their second outing came many years later in the lightweight division at UFC 257 where 'The Diamond' handed the Irishman his first-ever knockout loss. Disagreements about McGregor's promise to donate to Poirier's charity led to a vitriolic response from the Irishman that built up their trilogy bout.
McGregor launched death threats and insulted his foe's wife. So by the time the two men stepped inside the octagon, the anticipation was at a fever-pitch. Instead, their bout ended after a single round, with McGregor breaking his leg in gruesome fashion to deprive their rivalry of a true conclusion.
#1. Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane, UFC 285
Prior to UFC 285, Jon Jones had not set foot inside the octagon since 2020. His layoff was longer than any MMA fan was willing to stomach given how great 'Bones' has been throughout his career. He remains unbeaten in the cage besides a disqualification loss against Matt Hamill, an opponent he was thoroughly beating.
Furthermore, the former 205 lbs champion has been talking about debuting at heavyweight since Cain Velasquez's reign at 265 lbs. That was eight years ago in 2015. Thus, fan interest in Jon Jones' return exploded after the UFC announced that he'd mark his return by facing Ciryl Gane for undisputed gold.
Unfortunately, after three years of waiting to watch him fight, the fight ended in two minutes. There were almost no kickboxing exchanges as 'Bones' quickly secured a takedown before forcing his foe to tap out. Just as fans got used to the sight of Jones back inside the octagon, the fight was over.
