Sherdog’s Top 10: Fights That Failed to Live Up to Their Hype

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7. Randy Couture vs. Vitor Belfort 2

Couture’s 1997 victory over Belfort was one of MMA’s first great upsets. The hype behind Belfort, a true phenom with unreal athleticism, ridiculous punching power and just a hint of well roundedness, was off the charts. Couture handily beat him up in the clinch, took him down and pounded him out to stake a claim to the UFC heavyweight title, which he took from Maurice Smith a mere two months later.

Both fighters left the UFC and made their way to Japan, where Couture made an underwhelming run through the Rings organization and Belfort did reasonably well in Pride Fighting Championships, though he seemed to lose touch with the fiery, blitzing style that had made him famous early in his career. By 2002, both fighters were back in the UFC. Couture won and defended the promotion’s heavyweight title in a pair of bouts with Pedro Rizzo before losing the crown to Josh Barnett and then dropping a subsequent fight against Ricco Rodriguez. Belfort, meanwhile, lost his return matchup to Chuck Liddell at UFC 37.5.

Couture and Belfort got back on track in 2003. “The Natural” defeated Liddell and Tito Ortiz in consecutive bouts to become the undisputed light heavyweight champion, and Belfort used a series of brutal knees to turn Marvin Eastman’s forehead into a blood-donation center to secure his shot at Couture. The stage was set for one of the biggest rematches in the sport’s history to that point at UFC 46 on Jan. 31, 20014. The fight itself was a complete letdown. The two men circled, and after 18 seconds, Couture slammed home a left low kick-straight right combination designed to bring him forward and into the clinch. Belfort responded with a sidestepping straight left that grazed Couture’s eyelid and opened up a serious cut. Referee John McCarthy stepped in shortly thereafter and stopped the bout less than a minute after it had begun.

“The Phenom” and Couture would fight again seven months later, and there, the American walked away with the belt after again beating up Belfort in the clinch and from top position.

Number 6 » Theirs was one of the highest-rated seasons in the history of the show, partially due to the presence of certain backyard brawler, but also because of the substantial profiles of the coaches themselves. Both had been light heavyweight champions and both had a reputation for trash talk, and they did not disappoint during the show.