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UFC 281 took place this weekend and concluded with universal praise from MMA's global fandom. It was among the promotion's finest-ever pay-per-view events in recent memory. Winners emerged with a chorus of approval from fans at one of the most legendary venues in combat sports history.
Unfortunately, where there are winners, there must be losers. Some UFC fighters lost their bouts with no greater consequence than losing their position in the rankings and having a blemished record. Others suffered more serious losses.
In every pay-per-view event, some fighters are dealt graver losses than others, whether due to the context of their defeats or the manner in which they are beaten. UFC 281 was no different. Thus, this list compiles the five biggest losers from the promotion's recent trip to Madison Square Garden.
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#5. Brad Riddell, UFC lightweight
The first City Kickboxing fighter to lose at UFC 281, Brad Riddell entered the octagon with a tremendous amount of pressure on his shoulders. He had lost his previous two bouts, having been finished on both occasions. Alas, 'Quake' was unable to snap his two-fight losing streak.
His previous losses were to fighters who are currently ranked in the lightweight division's top 10. However, that was not the case when he faced Renato Moicano. Brad Riddell, who was once 10-1 in MMA, suffered a third consecutive defeat.
Like his prior losses, 'Quake' was finished by his foe. Furthermore, the manner in which he failed to defend the Brazilian's rear-naked choke led to significant criticism from former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier.
Many were shocked to see the former kickboxer so helpless in what led to his third consecutive loss, to an unranked lightweight no less. Now, Brad Riddell looks further than ever from regaining his position as a ranked lightweight in the UFC.
#4. Ottman Azaitar, UFC lightweight
Prior to his matchup against Matt Frevola, Ottman Azaitar was an undefeated phenom known for his crisp power-punching. He was 13-0, with all but one of his wins being finishes. Unfortunately, MMA fans were robbed of watching his exploits inside the octagon for nearly two years.
In January of last year, 'Bulldozer' was released from the promotion due to violating safety and health protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was found guilty of sneaking unauthorized personnel into the fighter hotel. The unknown individual traversed several balconies with a bag of unidentified contents.
However, after alleged pressure from the Moroccan monarchy, the UFC re-signed Azaitar and rescheduled his bout against Matt Frevola. Nearly two years after his release from the promotion, the Moroccan-German export was given his chance to repay Dana White's kindness.
Alas, 'Bulldozer' was unable to justify the promotion's faith in him. At UFC 281, he looked slower and sloppier than usual, possibly due to cage rust. Before the three-minute mark of the first round, he was flattened during an exchange that left him frozen on the mat.
Not only did he suffer a brutal knockout, he was also dealt the first-ever loss of his professional career. Additionally, he failed to justify the UFC's decision to give him a second chance after he broke safety regulations during a global pandemic.
#3. Dominick Reyes, UFC light heavyweight
At one point in time, Dominick Reyes was an undefeated 205'er with crushing knockout power. His previously spotless record of 12 wins and nine finishes earned him a title fight against Jon Jones. More than anyone else in the promotion's history, 'The Devastator' came closest to defeating the all-time great.
However, that version of Dominick Reyes seems to have completely vanished. This past Saturday, the two-time title challenger suffered a fourth consecutive loss. Worse still, the defeat was yet another knockout, only this time it was a jab that separated 'The Devastator' from his consciousness.
Now, the fighter who came closest to beating the legendary Jon Jones is on a four-fight losing streak, with three of those losses being finishes. Furthermore, Reyes' chin seems to have crumbled and he is no longer able to absorb any damage.
He was knocked out cold in the prelims by a jab from Ryan Spann that left him motionless on the mat with his feet curled inwards. It was a fall from grace, especially considering his previous losses involved Reyes in either the main event or co-main event of the cards.
#2. Michael Chandler, UFC lightweight
Michael Chandler is arguably the most gifted athlete in the lightweight division. The former multi-time Bellator lightweight champion is a world-shattering blend of explosiveness, speed and knockout power. Since signing with the promotion, 'Iron' has declared his goal of winning the UFC lightweight title.
While he came within inches of doing so during his title fight against Charles Oliveira, he ultimately failed in his quest for promotional gold. His loss to 'do Bronx' was followed by a bloody loss to Justin Gaethje. Fortunately, 'Iron' bounced back with a thunderous KO against Tony Ferguson.
However, he was unable to build that into a two-fight win streak as he lost to Dustin Poirier in their hotly anticipated matchup. The defeat set the former NCAA Division I wrestling standout back by quite a bit. In five UFC fights, 'Iron' has won twice and lost thrice.
Also, barring his win over Dan Hooker, his KO against Tony Ferguson came after 'Iron' was outstruck for most of the bout. He hasn't had a dominant win since his debut, and he's lost more than he's won.
Furthermore, his loss to 'The Diamond' is likely a difficult one for him to stomach. It was a loss to a rival who belittled him after his debut. Additionally, the defeat was riddled with controversy, with Chandler being accused of fish-hooking Poirier to create an opening for a rear-naked choke. It was also the first submission loss of his career.
At 36 years old, with yet another defeat to a top-five lightweight, Chandler's window of opportunity to earn another title fight is growing smaller. Not only has he seemed to have reached a ceiling, he's also taken a tremendous amount of damage.
#1. Israel Adesanya, UFC middleweight
The buildup to Israel Adesanya's matchup against Alex Pereira was defined by the Nigerian-born fighter's insistence that his previous losses to the Brazilian were mischaracterized. He described his first loss as a robbery before accusing the referee in his second loss of saving 'Poatan' by giving him a standing count.
More than that, 'The Last Stylebender' and his coaches reminded everyone that their third fight would be an MMA bout, not a kickboxing match. Israel Adesanya's head coach specifically stated that 'Poatan' didn't deserve a title fight from sporting merit.
Additionally, the Nigerian-born Kiwi expressed his belief that their third bout would be his chance to exact vengeance. He claimed that the universe delivered Alex Pereira to him as an act of providence. While Adesanya implemented wrestling and grappling in their bout, which exposed his foe's inexperience, it didn't matter.
Even after being given a chance to avenge his losses, Adesanya lost in a fashion similar to his second kickboxing defeat to 'Poatan'. He was in control for most of the bout but lost at the very end. This time, he was TKO'd against the fence.
First, he lost to an opponent he greatly dislikes. Second, he lost his middleweight title to a foe with less than 10 MMA fights who had defeated him twice before. It seems that no matter what Adesanya does, Pereira simply has his number.
Like his friend Kamaru Usman, Israel Adesanya lost a bout in the fifth round despite being ahead for most of the bout. Psychologically, the effects of such a defeat could be significant.
