Sean Strickland e Dricus Du Plessis after fight in UFC 297 (Photo: Instagram/UFC Japan)
O UFC 312 brings in its main fight a very interesting duel for the middleweight category. Almost a year after the first meeting, Dricus du Plessis e Sean Strickland measure forces with the category title at stake once again. The South African, who emerged victorious on that occasion and successfully defended the belt against Israel adesanya in August 2024, he has the opportunity to put an end to the controversies linked to the result of the first fight, which generated a series of disagreements throughout the MMA world.
Over the course of more than three decades, the organization has experienced similar situations in some weight categories. In this context, the SUPER FIGHTS brought some of these cases.
See too
Lyoto Machida vs Mauricio Shogun
Lyoto Machida (left) and Mauricio Shogun (right) faced each other twice for the belt (Photo: Reproduction)
Lyoto Machida became UFC light heavyweight champion (up to 93 kg) by knocking out Rashad evans in May 2019, and in his first defense he faced his compatriot Mauritius Shogun. After 25 minutes of fighting, the champion retained his title and his undefeated record after winning by unanimous decision. The result was immediately questioned by fans, the media and Dana White himself, who sided with the Curitiba native.
In light of this, a rematch was quickly scheduled. The two faced off for the second time at UFC 113 in May 2010, and this time there was no controversy. Shogun won in the first round and became the new UFC light heavyweight champion (up to 93 kg). Years later, the two ended up becoming training partners when Lyoto started training at Kings MMA.
13 years ago today, Shogun knocked out Lyoto Machida to win the UFC light heavyweight title
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) May 8, 2023
Bj Penn x Frankie Edgar
Edgar (right) and Penn (left) have faced each other three times in the UFC. Photo: Courtesy of UFC
One of the greatest champions of all time, B.J. Penn lost the lightweight belt (up to 70,3 kg) at UFC 112, the first event in the organization's history in Abu Dhabi. Frankie Edgar won the fight by unanimous decision. Just like the fight between Lyoto and Shogun, criticism was made of the result, with some people seeing the Hawaiian as the winner, including the fighter himself.
If there was controversy in the first meeting, the same did not happen in the rematch. Edgar dominated Penn and won comfortably in August 2010 by unanimous decision. Many years later, they faced each other for the third time, this time without the title at stake. On that occasion, Edgar emerged victorious once again, this time by technical knockout.
Frankie Edgar x Ben Henderson
Henderson (left) defended his belt against Edgar (right) on Saturday. Photo: Josh Hedges
After closing the chapter with B.J. Penn, it was the turn to Frankie Edgar find himself in a similar situation again. The American faced Benson Henderson, former WEC champion, in February 2012, in Saitama, Japan. Over the course of a 25-minute duel, Henderson came out on top and won by unanimous decision, becoming the first lightweight (up to 70,3 kg) to win the belt in both organizations.
Less than six months later, they faced each other once again. In this new duel, Benson won again, by split decision. Unlike the other confrontations, this second chapter brought even more controversy to the rivalry scene, as many saw Edgar as the one who deserved the triumph.
Robert Whittaker x Yoel Romero
Romero x Whittaker: main fight of UFC 213 (Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC)
One of the most recent examples happened in the same category of Dricus du Plessis e Sean Strickland. In July 2017, Robbert Whittaker and Yoel romero competed for the interim middleweight title (up to 83,9 kg), because at the time, Michael Bisping and Georges St-Pierre were in negotiations for a fight. The fight was one of the best of the year, and despite Romero being the favorite, Whittaker won by unanimous decision.
With Georges St-Pierre's victory and definitive retirement, the Australian was promoted to the position of linear champion. Thus, the two faced off once again in June 2018, but after the Cuban failed to make weight, the fight ended up becoming a catchweight bout. Whittaker won once again, by split decision, and the duel won the Fight of the Year award.
You need login To comment.