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Now I'm not saying this is #1 on any MMA's greatest upsets list, but it should 100% be in contention.
It's an easy trap to fall into, to judge a fighter based on what came after a win/loss, but in retrospective analysis you have to try and remember where they were at, at that time.
Example of this is Forrest Griffin. He beats Rua and goes on to become a champion and mixes it up with the elite Light Heavyweights for years afterwards. Thing is, he was nothing when he beat Shogun, his biggest win to date was Stephan Bonnar II, where he beat Stephan comfortably.
He had recently lost to Ortiz (although it was close), was knocked out by Jardine and only a few years prior, knocked dead by Horn with a head-kick. Forest was pretty much a top 25 guy at this stage, if you counted PRIDE guys also - he was a nobody.
On the other hand, you have Mauricio Rua, who was 25 - in his prime. Coming off of victories against Nakamura, Overeem x2, Randleman, Diabate, Arona, Lil' Nog and Rampage. He had 1 legitimate loss, which came at the age of 21, his other loss was a freak accident against Coleman.
Not making excuses, but if you watch this again the size difference is remarkable. It's only billed at 3 inch difference in height, but Griffin looks like a Heavyweight and Rua looks like a Middleweight. No excuses though, Shogun looked sloppy and he was looking like a wannabe wrestler, it was odd.
Still to me one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. Shogun looked unbeatable prior to this.
Thoughts on this?
It's an easy trap to fall into, to judge a fighter based on what came after a win/loss, but in retrospective analysis you have to try and remember where they were at, at that time.
Example of this is Forrest Griffin. He beats Rua and goes on to become a champion and mixes it up with the elite Light Heavyweights for years afterwards. Thing is, he was nothing when he beat Shogun, his biggest win to date was Stephan Bonnar II, where he beat Stephan comfortably.
He had recently lost to Ortiz (although it was close), was knocked out by Jardine and only a few years prior, knocked dead by Horn with a head-kick. Forest was pretty much a top 25 guy at this stage, if you counted PRIDE guys also - he was a nobody.
On the other hand, you have Mauricio Rua, who was 25 - in his prime. Coming off of victories against Nakamura, Overeem x2, Randleman, Diabate, Arona, Lil' Nog and Rampage. He had 1 legitimate loss, which came at the age of 21, his other loss was a freak accident against Coleman.
Not making excuses, but if you watch this again the size difference is remarkable. It's only billed at 3 inch difference in height, but Griffin looks like a Heavyweight and Rua looks like a Middleweight. No excuses though, Shogun looked sloppy and he was looking like a wannabe wrestler, it was odd.
Still to me one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. Shogun looked unbeatable prior to this.
Thoughts on this?
