Five MMA Fighters Who Failed to Live Up to the Hype

The MMA world is quick to crown the next great fighter. As they say, you're only as good as your last fight, and Sometimes that's all it takes to convince the fans of your greatness.

Though if you watch this sport for long enough, you will see that the majority of athlete who gain overnight success, usually fade out as quick as they came.

It takes time to prove yourself in this sport.

Famous poker legend Doyle Brunson was once asked who the best poker player in the world was. He responded, "Ask me in 10 years."

The same can be said for the MMA.

This is a list of five fighters who were touted as future champions but couldn't live up the hype.

5. Phillipe Nover

Phillipe Nover became known on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir.

After running through his first two opponents, Dana White insisted to the viewers that the kid reminded him of a young Georges St. Pierre or Anderson Silva. Certainly comparisons that will make you stop and take note.

Nover defeated George Roop in the semi-finals and earned a spot against Efrain Escudaro in the finals.

Just a quick side note here: I lost a decent amount of money by heeding White's statements, and consequently, am personally a little bitter about Nover's performance.

Nevertheless, Nover lost every round to Efrain in the finals. Yet there were still those that thought he would have a successful career in the UFC.

Since the show, Nover lost both of his opportunities in the UFC and was subsequently released from the promotion. Both fights were controversial. The first of which, against Kyle Bradley, left many fans convinced that the fight was stopped early. The second fight, against Rob Emerson, very well could have been given to Nover according to some spectators.

Still, Bradley and Emerson are not world class opposition and if he can't decisively get by them, he is not a young George St. Pierre.

Nover had plans to compete in the Bellator lightweight tournament, but it was already full. He may compete for them next season.

4. Todd Duffee

Todd Duffee's record-setting seven-second knockout of Tim Hague was a big deal for MMA fans.

In a little more than seven-seconds, Duffee convinced many that he was an instant contender in the UFC heavyweight division—but not much more.

Before his second fight, Duffee was on the tip of the MMA world's tongue, even doing interviews on ESPN's Sportscenter. The fight was a presumed showcase for the budding future threat.

looking over-anxious in the first two rounds, Duffee still managed to dominate them. But he was clearly slowing down, and his punches were losing steam going into the third.

Halfway through the third round, Russow landed an average looking right hand that instantly put Duffee to sleep. He fell on his back, unconscious, and everyone watching was left in shock.

Duffee is young and talented and still has a ton of time to grow as a fighter. He may still live up to all the hype, but he will have to put in his time. His chin is now suspect, and it will take a lot to convince the fans otherwise.

3. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

Sokoudjou began his stint in Pride with one of the biggest upsets of all time when he knocked out Rogerio Nogueira in just 23 seconds.

He followed that remarkable performance with another first round knockout over Ricardo Arona in the last ever Pride-held event.

Sokoudjous was the hottest free agent after those two fights, and the UFC paid a ton for him. $150,000 to show and $50,000 to win to be exact.

In his UFC debut, Sokoudjou was outclassed and submitted in the second round by future champ Lyoto Machida.

In his second fight, Sokoudjou stopped the much smaller Kazuhiro Nakamura after one round. This would be his only win in the UFC, as he was knocked out by Luiz Cane in the second round at UFC 89.

The UFC released him from his contract, and since then, he has collected losses to Renato Sobral, Gegard Mousasi, and Ikuhisa Minowa.

I think this was a case of too much too soon for the young prospect.

2. Houston Alexander

Houston Alexander made his UFC debut at UFC 71 wherein he knocked out contender Keith Jardine in the first round. It was a stunning upset that immediately put Alexander on the map.

Alexander then defeated Alessio Sakara in a first round flurry in his second bout with the UFC.

Joe Rogan stated that the newcomer was for real and had answered any and all questions regarding his bright UFC future. Yet most were left learning little about Alexander that they hadn't already known to begin with: he is an athletic, hard-hitting slugger—the Jardine fight had already proved that.

In his next fight, Alexander took on Thiago Silva. Silva took Alexander down early in the first round, mounted him, and knocked him out.

I think that was a more substantiated answer to the questions.

Since that loss, Alexander has been knocked out in the opening seconds of a bout with James Irvin, has submitted in the first round to Eric Schafer, and has a lost a close, debatable decision to Kimbo Slice at heavyweight.

The UFC has now severed ties with Houston.

1. Kimbo Slice

If you haven't heard of Kimbo Slice, then you've likely been living under a rock for the last few years.

Slice made a name for himself by a releasing a series of internet videos of him beating the snot out of random hoodlums in backyards and parking lots.

After Slice won an MMA match with ex-boxing champion Ray Mercer, EliteXC capitalized on his new fame by signing him to a contract to fight exclusively for them.

His first fight for the promotion was against Bo Cantrell, a fighter with a 10-10 record and rumored to have been asked out of the fight just hours before it was scheduled to begin. Cantrell went through with the bout, and was stopped just 19 seconds into the first round.

Next for Slice was a surprisingly highly anticipated fight with the ancient Tank Abbott. Tank was dropped multiple times and was eventually knocked out just 43 seconds into the first round.

In a step-up in competition, Slice faced James Thompson in another EliteXC main event. Thompson showed Kimbo's weakness on the ground by out-wrestling him for two rounds, putting himself ahead on the judge's cards.

In the third round, Kimbo landed a right hand to Thompson's cauliflower ear, and blood exploded from it. The bout was called off and Kimbo had a controversial win.

Kimbo was originally scheduled to face Ken Shamrock in his next fight, but within hours of the fight, Ken suffered a cut while warming up and was disqualified. Seth Petruzelli was selected to fight in his place on short notice.

Petruzelli made the most of his opportunity, and in the opening seconds of the bout, hit Kimbo with a jab to the chin while moving backwards. The jab was enough to put Kimbo down, and the bout was over.

It was a huge blow to the EliteXC promotion, and, shortly after, they went out of business.

Kimbo was awarded an opportunity with the UFC through their reality show but only won one fight, and even that one was debatable and uneventful.

Kimbo is an entertaining fighter who even now draws a lot of fans. The problem is that he was hailed to be something that he is not. While I think any promotion would be foolish not to at least make him a small offer, he should only be matched with fighters who have an equal amount of experience as he does.

Despite his talent or entertainment value, Kimbo will go down in history as the most over-hyped MMA fighter of all time.