Snatching defeat from the clutches of victory

[Koro_11]

There have been some epic comebacks in mma, but I can’t think of a more miraculous one than Mirko vs Minotauro. This was for the interim HW title between at the time the two baddest men on earth not named Fedor Emelianenko.

Cro Cop was putting on a masterclass in striking and takedown defense, working on a shutout, pitching a perfect game, and nearly finishing the fight in the last seconds of the round before Nog was saved by the bell.

Then after a dozen desperate failed attempts Nog finally gets a takedown, and the rest is history. It was something out of a Rocky movie….

Mirkos face here tells the story, he knows he let it slip right through his fingers.

I know the other obvious example is Anderson versus Chael, but in that fight you always had a feeling that Anderson could end it at any moment, and Chael was expected to lose, although very few thought it would happen by submission.

As one was watching Cro Cop versus Nogueira there was a feeling of hopelessness the entire fight, I was rooting for Mirko but I remember feeling sorry for Nog and just wanting it to be over… and then it was. Just an epic moment in mma’s short history.

 

[Kryptt]

 

[Can’t Handle My Riddum]

Korean Zombie losing to Yair. The scorecards showed that Zombie was well on his way to securing a victory (up 3-1 on two scorecards) up until that "buzzer beater" elbow. Unreal.

 

[usernamee]

Thiago Alves had been beating up Kampmann for the entire fight, and with one minute left in the fight he chooses to go for a takedown for some godforsaken reason (edit: apparantly according to Werdun his coach told him to shoot a TD lmao)

 

[Werdun]

Thiago Alves had been beating up Kampmann for the entire fight, and with one minute left in the fight he chooses to go for a takedown for some godforsaken reason

His coach yelled him to go for the takedown. Rest is history. Alves rightfully fired him after this

 

[Saiyok]

Isn't it "snatching victory from the jaws of defeat"?

 

[Gio]

"Snatching defeat from the clutches of victory"

Michael Johnson is a front runner for this one.

 

[usernamee]

His coach yelled him to go for the takedown. Rest is history. Alves rightfully fired him after this

really?? oh sweet jesus <45>

 

[The Saint]

Has it really been that long? Y'all musta forgot about Congo vs Barry

 

[TIMELESS TRUTH]

Isn't it "snatching victory from the jaws of defeat"?

I came here to say this!!!

 

[HaulParris]

Has it really been that long? Y'all musta forgot about Congo vs Barry

Yes! Also Overeem - Rozenstriuck

 

[GBJohn]

My favorite example of this is pretty obscure, Kailin Curran versus Alex Chambers at strawweight. Chambers was a career atomweight jiu jitsu specialist with shit takedowns, Curran was piecing her up in the feet and Chambers had no answers. Between the second and third rounds, Curran's corner asked her to go for a takedown. I thought to myself, "Dude, that's literally the only way she can lose this fight." Sure enough, Curran shoots for a takedown, Chambers goes to work on the ground, sub win and 50k bonus for Chambers.

 

[CannotWin]

Silva Sonnen?

Edgar Maynard 2 and 3???

 

[Fioretti]

Has it really been that long? Y'all musta forgot about Congo vs Barry

The ref...

 

[Goodfella86]

Thiago Alves had been beating up Kampmann for the entire fight, and with one minute left in the fight he chooses to go for a takedown for some godforsaken reason (edit: apparantly according to Werdun his coach told him to shoot a TD lmao)

That's probably the best example, because Alves actually did the snatching. He didn't stumble into the takedown from the clinch. He wasn't taken down. He had Martin hurt and shelled up, and he changed levels and shot for his legs. Victory was just about to swallow defeat, and Thiago Alves said "Not today."

 

[FIRESTARTER]

Scott Smith vs Pete Sell

 

[JustBleed69]

Korean Zombie losing to Yair. The scorecards showed that Zombie was well on his way to securing a victory (up 3-1 on two scorecards) up until that "buzzer beater" elbow. Unreal.

I still don't understand how he basically beat Yair in striking and then looked like he had no idea how to strike vs Ortega.

 

[Shaddows]

There have been some epic comebacks in mma, but I can’t think of a more miraculous one than Mirko vs Minotauro. This was for the interim HW title between at the time the two baddest men on earth not named Fedor Emelianenko.

Cro Cop was putting on a masterclass in striking and takedown defense, working on a shutout, pitching a perfect game, and nearly finishing the fight in the last seconds of the round before Nog was saved by the bell.

Then after a dozen desperate failed attempts Nog finally gets a takedown, and the rest is history. It was something out of a Rocky movie….

Mirkos face here tells the story, he knows he let it slip right through his fingers.

I know the other obvious example is Anderson versus Chael, but in that fight you always had a feeling that Anderson could end it at any moment, and Chael was expected to lose, although very few thought it would happen by submission.

As one was watching Cro Cop versus Nogueira there was a feeling of hopelessness the entire fight, I was rooting for Mirko but I remember feeling sorry for Nog and just wanting it to be over… and then it was. Just an epic moment in mma’s short history.

Nog was famous for doing just that.
Heck, in the UFC, against Timmeh, he was locing the fight until he pulled guard, reversed it and submitted Timmeh with a guillotine.

There was, of course, Bob Sapp and many others!

The ONLY person he could not do that was Fedor!

 

[Fukkup]

I still don't understand how he basically beat Yair in striking and then looked like he had no idea how to strike vs Ortega.

Yeah. I dont think KZ was anywhere near his best that fight. Was a shell of his former self.

 

[kingghidrah]

I still don't understand how he basically beat Yair in striking and then looked like he had no idea how to strike vs Ortega.

Fear of being taken down and submitted on the ground? That changes a strikers entire mindset.