Cro Cop vs. Nelson and 5 Best Fights Featuring Both Fighters Coming off Losses

A fighter who is coming off a loss can sometimes be the most motivated version of themselves from their entire career, but what happens when they meet someone who is operating under that same level of determination to rebound from a recent defeat?

For these 10 fighters, all of them are coming off of losses, and some are coming off of two. For them, they go into the fight knowing that their career is on the line.

It all starts this weekend when Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic takes on Roy Nelson in a heavyweight bout from UFC 137. Together, they have four losses in their last four fights, making this a match that cannot be taken lightly by either guy.

These are the five best upcoming UFC bouts featuring both fighters who are coming off losses.

No. 5: Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz (UFC 139)

It wasn't too long ago that Ultimate Fighter winner Ryan Bader was 5-0 in the UFC with some very credible victories over Keith Jardine, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Eric Schafer. Now, the 28-year-old is riding a two-fight losing streak.

His first loss came against Jon Jones at UFC 126. Jones would later go on to become the UFC light heavyweight champion.

Disaster struck again when Bader got matched up with Tito Ortiz and lost via first-round submission. If Ortiz's losing streak going into that bout was of any indication of just how motivated Bader will be to win, then his opponent, Jason Brilz, might be in trouble.

Brilz is coming off two losses to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Vladimir Matyushenko. He was knocked out in just 20 seconds in his last fight, and that's something he wants to make up for in this fight.

No. 4: Miguel Torres vs. Nick Pace (UFC 139)

Former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres might go down as one of the top five bantamweight fighters of all time, but his success in the WEC hasn't exactly transferred into his UFC career.

A tough and controversial loss to Demetrious Johnson set back the 30-year-old, who arguably could be the toughest opponent that UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz has yet to face.

He gets the chance to regain his momentum when he takes on Nick Pace at UFC 139. Pace comes into the fight with a 6-2 record with his latest loss coming against Ivan Menjivar.

No. 3: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Roy Nelson (UFC 137)

In a must-win fight for both guys, Mirko Cro Cop will put his legendary status on the line once again when he takes on Roy Nelson.

The main card bout will give Cro Cop one last chance to go out on a victory if he can get past the always-dangerous "Big Country" Nelson.

Nelson's recent losses have both come from hard-fought decisions versus Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir. Despite losing every round, Nelson showcased his heart and chin in surviving barrages of knees and punches from both fighters.

Cro Cop is also coming off two losses versus Brendan Schaub and Frank Mir. He was knocked out in both.

No. 2: Tito Ortiz vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (UFC 140)

If anyone knows what it's like to fight with a loss on their back, it's Tito Ortiz. He recently broke a five fight winless streak to beat Ryan Bader at UFC 132. That win was followed by a loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 133.

He finds himself trying to pick up a much-needed win when he faces Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who is coming off losses against Phil Davis and Bader at UFC 140.

This could end up being a tough fight for Ortiz if Nogueira cleans up his take-down defense. Either way, it's an evenly-matched fight that makes sense for both guys.

No. 1: Martin Kampmann vs. Rick Story (UFC 139)

In what should be one of the best fights on the card, Rick "The Horror" Story will face Martin "Hitman" Kampmann at UFC 139.

Story picked up his biggest win earlier this year when he defeated Thiago Alves at UFC 130. That victory was followed by a late-replacement loss versus Charlie Brenneman at a UFC Live event in June.

Kampmann could arguably be riding a four-fight win streak right now, but tough decision losses versus Diego Sanchez and Jake Shields have him coming off two losses going into this bout.

Story is a scary guy when he isn't coming off a loss so it's going to be even more scary to face him when he is coming off a loss.