Fighters Only

Issue 087

April 2012

As well as the heroes we root for, another group of fighters are just as important in terms of ticket sales: the villains. The guys we want to lose; the guys we just love to loathe...

About

Josh Koscheck

Unloved TUF cast member turned unloved UFC welterweight title contender.

Tim Sylvia

Former UFC heavyweight title holder.

Michael Bisping

Winner of The Ultimate Fighter season three and long-time contender.

Jon Jones

UFC light heavyweight champion.

Chael Sonnen

The leading middleweight contender.

Jon Fitch

Long-time welterweight contender fighting out of American Kickboxing Academy.

Brock Lesnar

Giant hermit who took the Ultimate Fighting Championship by storm.

Hated For

Josh Koscheck

Kos’ specializes in crude abuse of his opponents.

Tim Sylvia

Regarded as a lazy, boring fighter. Seemingly not pretty and toned enough for some fans.

Michael Bisping

Some American fans see him as benefitting from preferential treatment.

Jon Jones

Fans who hailed him as a future great now moan about his cold arrogance.

Chael Sonnen

WWE-style trash talk, trampling on the Pride legacy, insulting legends, money laundering and perceived hypocrisy regarding drugs.

Jon Fitch

Fitch perfected a top game that was effective but uninspiring; clocking up multiple ‘dull’ decision wins.

Brock Lesnar

Seen as an oversized pro wrestler who was paid a fortune and fast tracked to the title. Wasn’t helped by WWE trash talk.

Height of Hate

Josh Koscheck

In the build-up to his title challenge, Kos’ dissed Georges St Pierre, Canadian hockey fans and men in the nursing profession.

Tim Sylvia

His safety-first five-round decision belt defense against Jeff Monson at UFC 65 was an ordeal for those in attendance.

Michael Bisping

His time coaching Team UK to victory against Team USA on season nine of TUF opposite fellow coach Dan Henderson.

Jon Jones

The casual manner in which he dropped Lyoto Machida’s limp body to the floor after choking him out at UFC 140 was the final straw for many.

Chael Sonnen

A toss-up between his claim that Pride fights were fixed and his suggestion that Lance Armstrong gave himself cancer through drug cheating.

Jon Fitch

His unanimous decision victory over Ben Saunders at UFC 111 was 15 minutes of life none of us will ever get back.

Brock Lesnar

Brock angered fans after unifying the title at UFC 100, when he bad mouthed the beaten Frank Mir then gave the booing crowd the finger.

Haters Loved It When

Josh Koscheck

The Montreal crowd rejoiced when GSP smashed his orbital bone then punished him for five rounds at UFC 124.

Tim Sylvia

Mir snapped his arm, Randy dominated him for five rounds and the nine-second KO at the hands of veteran boxing champ Ray Mercer.

Michael Bisping

Dan Henderson dived and smashed the face of the already unconscious Bisping at the end of their UFC 100 clash.

Jon Jones

No joy for his foes so far. His only loss came when he dropped an illegal elbow as he was pounding Matt Hamill.

Chael Sonnen

Anderson Sliva’s last gasp triangle at UFC 117 meant he kept hold of the belt and Sonnen’s detractors were spared from their worst nightmare.

Jon Fitch

Just as fans around the globe were heading to the fridge for another drink, Johny Hendricks felled Fitch 12 seconds into their UFC 141 bout.

Brock Lesnar

Ignoring the small matter of a near-fatal illness, the anti-Brock faction loved it when Alistair Overeem’s knees confirmed their view of Brock as a quitter.

Future

Josh Koscheck

Koscheck looks set to remain a perennial contender, better than most, but never quite having enough to be the best.

Tim Sylvia

‘The Maine-iac’ fought for the reborn Pro-Elite promotion in November, but a return to the big time is unlikely.

Michael Bisping

A close decision loss to Chael Sonnen in a number-one contender bout has carried favor with some fans and cemented him as one of

the best at 185lb.