Fighters that became UFC champion on the decline rather than at their peak

[Mandy Guang]

Can anyone think of fighters that arguably became champion while they were on the decline in skill rather than at their peak?

Daniel Cormier comes to mind for me for his heavyweight title run, I thought the DC that defeated Stipe and Lewis wasn't nearly as good as strikeforce heavyweight DC.

I think when Werdum defeated Cain, Werdum was also declining in skill.

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

Michael Bisping only fought 3 more times before retiring after sending Rockhold to the shadow realm to win the title

Coincidentally, the GSP that defeated Bisping to win the MW title isn't the prime version of GSP either

Glover is an ageless wonder, but no one can say he's at his prime at the age of 42 when he won the LHW title

 

[OverhandRightKayo]

Glover texeira. Poor guy never even fought in his prime in UFC imo. He was too late.

 

[OverhandRightKayo]

Michael Bisping only fought 3 more times before retiring after sending Rockhold to the shadow realm to win the title

Glover is an ageless wonder, but no one can say he's at his prime at the age of 42 when he won the LHW title

U motha lovah. U took my glover idea and edited it in.

How tall is Joe Rogan you bish?

 

[FlyingDeathKick]

Werdum, shit I didn't read the whole post lol. Hendo when he beat Bisping the second time... wait..

 

[VAfan]

shogun probably falls into that category. he was a shadow of what he was in pride when he beat ryoto.

 

[skylolow]

I'd say Glover and Bisping are your main two that come to mind.

 

[MrJPayne]

Shogun, Ping, Glover, Werdum,GSP at MW
Prob Aldo the second time and Jan also

 

[Joshuaace]

Lawler became UFC Champ after he was considered washed up about 3 times.

 

[jitzmonkey]

Michael Bisping only fought 3 more times before retiring after sending Rockhold to the shadow realm to win the title

Coincidentally, the GSP that defeated Bisping to win the MW title isn't the prime version of GSP either

Glover is an ageless wonder, but no one can say he's at his prime at the age of 42 when he won the LHW title

Bisping might've not been in his physical prime (especially with one eye) but experience in that case counted.
He always stayed in shape and had good fundamentals which is what allowed him to take out Rockhold who had his hands by his waist.

I'd have to rewatch, but I thought that he got stopped in his last two fights due to left hooks that he wouldn't have seen.

He's one of those dudes whose career seems to get better the more perspective we have about it.

 

[theTKDguy]

Can anyone think of fighters that arguably became champion while they were on the decline in skill rather than at their peak?

Daniel Cormier comes to mind for me for his heavyweight title run, I thought the DC that defeated Stipe and Lewis wasn't nearly as good as strikeforce heavyweight DC.

I think when Werdum defeated Cain, Werdum was also declining in skill.

Werdum def wasn't declining in skill man, he had turned into a complete mma fighter under cordeiro with very good striking and stamina. He put on a pace on cain that day. That was prime werdum (vs hunt, browne too) imho. Plus, he was on the juice at that time too iirc, appearance changed drastically after the stipe loss, along with his performance.

 

[Benoitthegr8]

Lawler became UFC Champ after he was considered washed up about 3 times.

Came to mention Robbie

 

[Trabaho]

Michael Bisping only fought 3 more times before retiring after sending Rockhold to the shadow realm to win the title

Coincidentally, the GSP that defeated Bisping to win the MW title isn't the prime version of GSP either

Glover is an ageless wonder, but no one can say he's at his prime at the age of 42 when he won the LHW title

How you conclude Gsp wasn't prime, based on a performance where he looked as good as ever

 

[Frank Edgar]

Garbrandt hehe

 

[avenue94]

Lawler and Silva had their title reigns post physical prime. A lot of Woodley's was him past his best as well

 

[BEATDOWNS]

Michael Bisping only fought 3 more times before retiring after sending Rockhold to the shadow realm to win the title

Coincidentally, the GSP that defeated Bisping to win the MW title isn't the prime version of GSP either

Glover is an ageless wonder, but no one can say he's at his prime at the age of 42 when he won the LHW title

Bisping had a bit of a late resurgence in his career and was likely 'told' to retire once the secret about his eye was out.

 

[Cpt Migraine]

A lot of them..

I'd say the outliers are the ones becoming champs before their physical prime..

 

[Rationality]

I'd have to disagree about Bisping. At a minimum his TDD and ground game were better than ever when he was champ. He went from being a puncher to being a complete fighter for a couple of years very late and then he fell off a cliff.

 

[BabyBlue_Bomber]

Couture when he beat Sylvia to reclaim the Heavyweight Title…

 

[Azyy]

Eddie Alvarez