Bigger fall from grace: Barao Or Woodley?

[RockyLockridge]

When these two were on top many people cited their MMA prowess amongst the best of all time. Lets take a quick look at how their careers have panned out since their time at the top.

Barao

When this guy was on top he was riding a 32 win streak going into the dillashaw fight, he had impressive title defenses against MacDonald, Faber and wineland. Many prophesied that he would beat Cruz and be known as the bantamweight goat for all times pretty much with a 34 fight win streak how could he not be?


Then Dillashaw Tore him in to shreds and finished him in the 5th round of their first fight. That title fight is considered by some (myself especially) as one of the most impressive title changes in the history of the UFC. Since being finished in that fight, Barao went 2-7, before being released from the UFC. he's currently boasting a 5 fight losing streak. he did earn 1 more title fight in that time though, Only to be finished by Dillashaw again.




Woodley

At the time woodley was champion, it was pretty clear toward the top of the division there wasn't anyone as athletic and explosive as woodley. there as maybe johnny hendricks, but he had a downward spiral of his own. Many people here have said that woodley would have beaten GSP given the chance, He had a few title defense of his own, Thompson 1/2 (1 was a draw of course), maia, and an undefeated contender Darren Till

Tyron went on a gigantic slide immediately after losing his title, losing 4 straight fights in the UFC to Usmans, Burns, Colby, and Luque. In his defense, those are all great fighters. He got finished twice in that time and did not win a single round out of the 14 complete rounds on a single judges score card. But it didn't stop there, After this woodley pursued a professional boxing bout with Jake Paul. Losing the first time by decision and the second time with probably his worst career knockout ever.




So there you have it.



For years I've heard speak of Barao's fall from grace being one of the largest, fastest and most shocking falls from grace. Has Barao met his match? Which one of these guys fell less gracefully. Who did you have higher hopes for? Are they both worse than Chuck???

I'd love to know what you all think with a poll option.

 

[mmacanada]

Cody garbrant

 

[RockyLockridge]

Cody garbrant

not even close IMO atleast garbrandt Had that spectacular KO win over assuncao. It's not quite over for him yet.

 

[Volador]

Barao fell off from GOAT candidate to has-been in a terrible way. USADA appeared, he got derailed, and ultimately kept going when his mind wasn't in it and accumulated a bunch of losses. Nothing we haven't seen before with others like BJ Penn or Chuck Lidell. Plus, there was no media circus around the whole affair, which makes it less notable.

Nothing will ever ever top Woodley's disgrace, there's no comparison.

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

I'll have to say Woodley had a bigger fall, for a few reasons.. he was being talked about as the GOAT WW, above GSP or rivalling GSP. I never had that opinion, but many many many did, not only on sherdog forums but also other fighters and commentators and media members. No one ever had Barao as GOAT, because he still had not fought lots of top guys, the only top wins he had was Faber and possibly Pickett, but the other guys he beat are not the best imo.. Jorgensen was a tough guy but still not the best imo

Next thing is that Woodley got beat twice by a youtube kid, even though he has been training boxing, he still has not been training long at all, not in boxing standards or any combat sport standards

Last thing is I don't think the embarrassments are over for Woodley, he is so stubborn, beyond stubborn, he will say he is improving and still young enough etc, I know how he is.. he is deluded. I won't be surprised to see him take more fights next year.

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

Barao may have a rougher career ending, but Woodley is embarrassing himself in front of a much larger audience across multiple platforms and activities. At least he's getting paid.

Spoiler: Getting his dick bit off

Spoiler: Losing to school teachers

Spoiler: Rapping unironically

Spoiler: Featured on ESPN homepage

 

[RockyLockridge]

Last thing is I don't think the embarrassments are over for Woodley, he is so stubborn, beyond stubborn, he will say he is improving and still young etc, I know how he is.. he is deluded. I won't be surprised to see him take more fights next year.

for what it's worth Barao is fighting in january.

Barao may have a rougher career ending, but Woodley is embarrassing himself in front of a much larger audience across multiple platforms and activities. At least he's getting paid.

that's the other thing, atleast woodley traded his legacy in combat sports to jake paul for some quick cash. Barao got nothing out of his fall.

 

[ripsta619]

BJ Penn. But to answer your question TS I think Barao's fall is worse since he was on such a crazy win streak and in GOAT talks. He had a much higher position to fall from. Tyron's is bigger though since it was to a "youtuber" even though that youtuber has been training boxing much longer and was much larger and younger. He is a gifted athlete he wrestled in high school in Ohio who take it pretty serious. so it's not like he was new to competing. Could be debated either way though honestly. But I'm going with Woodley between the 2.

 

[Oliver Clothesoff]

Gotta be Barao. He went from hero to zero almost over night. It was like once he lost he could never get it back again.

 

[Qays Stetkevich]

Woodley for sure. Barao is still competing in MMA, and not fighting (and getting KOd by) youtubers.

 

[Schaub]

At least Barao is losing to pro fighters. I'd have to say BJ had the worst fall, his last two KO's came against a drunk guy in a parking lot and an airbag.

 

[Reign009]

Barao's fall is normal. We've seen this plenty of times in MMA.

Woodley is a complete embarrassment.

 

[TitoSchaubHighIQ]

In losing their fighting ability? hard to tell

As far as being humiliated nothing comes close to what happened to Woodley

 

[RockyLockridge]

He had a much higher position to fall from.

This is what i suspect most people are going to hinge their opinion on. Woodley was never as high up as barao in any dimension imo. Barao had more impressive title defenses and a monstrous win streak, woodley hasn't won 5 straight fights since losing to marquard. but the depth that woodley has fallen too is MUCH deeper than that of barao. This is the main difference, One fell from a greater height, the other sunk to a lower depth.

 

[Oliver Clothesoff]

Barao may have a rougher career ending, but Woodley is embarrassing himself in front of a much larger audience across multiple platforms and activities. At least he's getting paid.

Spoiler: Getting his dick bit off

Spoiler: Losing to school teachers

Spoiler: Rapping unironically

Well. You make a strong case there. I didn't know about the Raccoon dick biting thing. I can't believe his manager let him take that role!

 

[ripsta619]

This is what i suspect most people are going to hinge their opinion on. Woodley was never as high up as barao in any dimension imo. Barao had more impressive title defenses and a monstrous win streak, woodley hasn't won 5 straight fights since losing to marquard. but the depth that woodley has fallen too is MUCH deeper than that of barao. This is the main difference, One fell from a greater height, the other sunk to a lower depth.

Ya. Woodley isn't falling anymore. He is straight digging underground at this point. Sad to see tbh.

 

[ExxA]

Woodley, not only because he got flatlined by a youtuber but because of his awful music.

 

[HOLA]

BJ.

At least Jake Paul has been training semi-seriously for a while. Still pretty bad though. Woodley was an MMA champion, not all that far removed from being champion (March 2019), known for having dangerous KO power in MMA. Makes MMA look really bad.

 

[Gilday]

Woodley for sure. Barao's career dived and he just faded into obscurity, but it seems like Woodley's failures get more publicity every time

 

[FIghtxIQ]

Cody garbrant

It's still Woodley. Cody's is still isolated in mma, Woodley's crossed over to boxing and casuals. Plus viral with the memes on social media.