What fighters have you been really wrong about?

[Jawth]

When JDS fought Stipe for the first time, I remember thinking anyone picking Stipe was only doing so because they were desperate for new blood in the division or that they simply believed the beatings JDS had been through at the hands of Cain had already changed him forever.

I thought Junior would casually walk through Miocic. I thought this because of a KO loss to Struve and a rather unimpressive performance against Napao. Instead JDS took damage before winning the last three rounds, with Stipes stock going up considerably even in a loss.

Stipe then went on to pulverize most of the top fighters in the division, including Junior in a rematch. He then beat the HW defense record and is scheduled in a superfight with Cormier.

I also saw nothing truly special about Conor until he walked through Poirier, and never expected him to beat Jose, especially in the manner that he did. I do think Khabib or Tony would beat him but he has FAR exceeded my expectations I had for him and regardless of what I or anyone else thinks of him holding up divisions did beat two reigning champs fair and square.

So, I ask Sherdoggers, what hype trains did you wish you jumped on sooner? Or what flash in the pan types did you think were going to go on and become something special but didn't?

 

[BoD 2.0]

Conor. I used to think he was an MMA fighter.

 

[nanika]

I thought Erick Silva was an up and coming prospect

 

[Gamer007]

I thought Marc Diakiese would've had more success, his last fight was a big disappointment and reality check.

 

[DelanoRunnymede]

I'm with you on Stipe. I picked against him in the Werdum fight, and the JDS rematch. Holloway quietly did work at featherweight, and only i only realised how good he was after the Lamas fight. Still picked against him in the first Aldo fight as well.

 

[eighterumg5]

Fuck the duck. Serously tho I'd have to say I'm on the Ortega bus. That dude gets some better striking and nobody's gonna have a good night against him. I thought thiago Silva was gonna be something big

 

[Fatback96]

Darren Muthafuckin Elkins

 

[Chris John]

I thought Erick Silva was an up and coming prospect

you weren't wrong then.

 

[linvillegorge]

Brandon Thatch. I said as far back as 2011 that he was a future UFC champ.

 

[LcBR]

Thomas Almeida.

 

[Jawth]

Myles Jury for me.

I think its too early to write him off.

He did have a couple rough losses followed by inactivity but he's looked good in his last two fights. I could see him going on a run.

 

[BigTruck]

I thought Erick Silva was an up and coming prospect

What do you mean was? He's about to make his professional prospect debut.

 

[Chris John]

I was wrong about Cody Garbrandt, I thought the Almeida win was his ceiling and then he went on to outclass Dominic Cruz to win the title.

 

[Soul On Ice]

I thought Melvin Guillard was a future champion when he was stopping everyone with knees

Fun times tho

 

[BoD 2.0]

I thought Erick Silva was an up and coming prospect

And???

 

[Mortigan]

I was really wrong about Jones.

When he was stopping crime hour's before becoming LHW champ, I thought to myself - here's a feller who doesn't belong in jail for life.

Too bad I was wrong.

 

[MaureenCretis]

I never thought Bisping would hold a UFC title. I also thought Hendricks was going to hold the strap for a long time.

 

[Kingz]

Ngannou. I thought he was all hype and it turns out...I was right

Nevermind

 

[linvillegorge]

Also, Dustin Poirier. I always thought he was a good, well rounded fighter but I thought his ceiling was going to be right around borderline top 10ish.

I thought Conor's lack of grappling and cardio would've derailed him by now and to be fair, I honestly think it would've if he was more active.

 

[ClosetVitorFan]

i was wrong a few times, about stipe, rda, pettis etc