Top 10 most infamous post-fight interviews in UFC history

Nate Diaz is one of the most entertaining personalities in the UFC
Nate Diaz is one of the most entertaining personalities in the UFC

One can only imagine the immense adrenaline, energy and blood pumping through a UFC fighter's veins after an octagon fight. It’s fair to say that these factors are significantly enhanced in the man or woman who wins the fight. The ecstasy that comes with having your hand raised when months and months of work finally reach their climax or a rivalry is found disputed or even a major event is realised with a major match-up is like nothing else an athlete can experience.

Whatever the factors are, there always seems to be an extra ounce of personality that is enhanced by the result of a fight, especially for the biggest characters in the sport. Thanks to these men and women, the entertainment of cage fighting doesn’t stop after the final bell, but sometimes continues onward and into the post-fight interview. Here are the 10 most infamous post-fight interviews in UFC history.


#10. Ben Rothwell

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The towering heavyweight had spent a majority of his UFC career looking to earn the attention he deserves in the promotion’s scariest division, and he finally realised his long-time goal after his first-round submission of Matt Mitrione at UFC Fight Night 68.

In his post-fight interview, he gave a speech that was reminiscent of a Viking-esqe horror film. Perhaps intentional, perhaps not, either way, Rothwell stuck with us after that performance and post-fight interview.

#9. Mark Munoz

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After a long and storied mixed martial arts career which spanned almost nine full years, Munoz hung his gloves up in 2015. The post-fight speech was after his first win on the tail end of three consecutive UFC losses. It came against Luke Barnett at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber.

His heartfelt words for the promotion that carried his career for a solid seven years and his opponents, coaches and of course the fans drew on the heartstrings of the Philippines crowd. At the end of the speech, he took his gloves off and left them on the canvas bidding farewell to his illustrious career.

#8. Nick Diaz

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“Where you at George?!” is a signature Diaz quote, one that spanned across all the promotion for their inevitable title fight at UFC 158. In this infamous post-fight interview that literally inhabits all the things we love about Nick Diaz, the Stockton native made it a point to call out the then-welterweight champion, Georges St-Pierre for being sidelined with an injury.

Diaz’s verbal call ended up disgusting GSP but filtering the anticipation for one of the most exciting match-ups of 2013.

#7. Georges St-Pierre

GSP’s interview is iconic to this day.
GSP’s interview is iconic to this day.

The former welterweight champion and endearing French Canadian has always been beloved for his technical prowess in the cage as well as his likeable personality. He has created a legacy as one of the best athletes that the sport has ever seen.

After defeating Sean Sherk at UFC 56, St-Pierre took the liberty of falling to his knees, looking straight into the camera and begging for a shot at the 170-lb crown. Good thing he did, as he would go on to become one of the most dominant and respected champions in the promotion’s history.

#6. Conor McGregor

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When has the Notorious one not entertained us in some form? Whether it is at a press conference, in an on-air interview or while within the confines of the cage, Conor McGregor is a natural entertainer as well as a magnificent fighter. After finally realising his long-awaited dream of becoming the UFC’s first man to hold titles in two weight divisions simultaneously, he took the opportunity to give his critics a look into his thoughts.

Of course, at first we thought it was a genuine and perhaps emotional moment for the two-weight world champion, but instead, it spun into a rather obvious McGregor response. But that’s why we love him.

#5. Nate Diaz

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Speaking of Conor McGregor, leading up to and after their two bouts the second of the Diaz brothers spent a significant amount of time talking about the Irishman. In particular, it was his post-fight interview after dismantling Michael Johnson at UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cerrone 2 that got the ball rolling.

The second the mic presented itself, the Stockton native blasted McGregor for “taking away everything he’s ever worked for”. He then finally faced the then-featherweight champion at UFC 196 on short notice, and then had another iconic post-fight interview after defeating the Irishman that gained him twice the following.

#4. Brock Lesnar

UFC 100 is remembered at one of the most memorable events in UFC history and it also had one of most defining moments in post-fight interview history. It was all thanks to Brock Lesnar, who after defeating Frank Mir for the heavyweight title went on an epic rant injected with humour, aggression and downright hilarity.

Also read: 5 Things you didn't know about Lesnar's greatest UFC rival Frank Mir

The former WWE star prolifically called out Mir, yelled into the microphone and proclaimed his night’s ongoing duties which included drinking Coors Light and climbing on top of his wife.

#3. BJ Penn

BJ Penn is one of a kind
BJ Penn is one of a kind

This addition is not so much for the words said, but what BJ Penn did in order to earn his place amongst the UFC’s top post-fight interviews. We all know the Prodigy has never been as magnetising with his words as he has been with his talents inside the octagon.

Perhaps Penn was aware of that fact when he ran out of the octagon and ditched the post-fight interview after his stellar 11-second knockout of Caol Uno at UFC 37. Either way, the strangeness of his reaction is worthy of this list.

#2. Al Iaquinta

Despite his performance against Jorge Masvidal being worthy of applause at UFC Fairfax, Al Iaquinta was booed by the crowd present in the arena. After edging Masvidal in a hard-fought split decision, bloodied and pumping with adrenaline, Iaquinta lashed out at fans on the mic for booing him.

His reaction was fair, to say the least, since Iaquinta himself deserved the respect he clearly had earned after three gritty rounds. It was a definitely a speech for the books and one of the best in UFC history.

#1. Derrick Lewis

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Lewis is the king of bizarre interviews. He is one of the most exciting heavyweights this generation has but it’s his laid back approach to all media and the fight game in general that makes him so damn entertaining. However, Lewis outdid himself after his sixth straight victory in the octagon when he smothered Travis Browne in Halifax in February.

His post-fight interview was dedicated to expressing his need for a break after lots of “training and sex”, but it was also dedicated to Browne as much as it was to Ronda Rousey.

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Edited by Staff Editor