Issue 090
July 2012
Chael Sonnen will hope it’s second time lucky when he rematches Anderson Silva at UFC 148 in Las Vegas. Here are some of the many fighters who have challenged for UFC titles on more than one occasion – and how they fared.
KENNY FLORIAN
About: Member of the original Ultimate Fighter cast who started his career at middleweight.
Known for: Smart game-planning, finishing fights and ‘hell-bows’.
First challenge: Failed to take the lightweight belt at UFC 64 in dropping a decision to Sean Sherk.
Second challenge: Fell victim to a BJ Penn rear naked choke in the fourth round at UFC 101, again at 155lb.
Legacy: Made it three title fights without taking a belt when he lost to featherweight king José Aldo at UFC 136.
KEVIN RANDLEMAN
About: Two-time NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion.
Known for: ‘The Monster’ fought in the style of his mentor: ‘Godfather of Ground ‘n’ Pound’ Mark Coleman.
First challenge: Despite a dominant start from Randleman at UFC 20, the judges awarded the vacant heavyweight title to Bas Rutten.
Second challenge: Six months later in Japan, Randleman finally got his hands on the strap when he decisioned Pete Williams at UFC 23.
Legacy: Lost the belt to Randy Couture at UFC 28. His mega suplex against Fedor Emelianeko at Pride Critical Countdown 2004 is the moment he will be remembered for.
FRANK MIR
About: Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt heavyweight who has adapted his game perfectly for the Octagon.
Known for: Much improved as a striker, but it is still his submissions that instill fear in his opponents.
First challenge: After just 50 seconds, he snapped Tim Sylvia’s radius bone at UFC 48 with a killer armbar.
Second challenge: The interim champion was smashed on the canvas by a best-ever Brock Lesnar in the culmination of the ad-hoc heavyweight tournament at UFC 100.
Legacy: Although Mir is a consummate martial artist, snapping Big Nog’s arm at UFC 140 cemented his reputation as a badass bone breaker.
TITO ORTIZ
About: Ace self-promoter light heavyweight who became one of the biggest draws in the history of the UFC.
Known for: Peroxide hair, obscene T-shirts and talking the talk.
First challenge: He was a heavy favorite to take the belt at UFC 22, but Frank Shamrock put in a stunning performance to prevail in one of the classic fights of the pre-Zuffa era.
Second challenge: When Shamrock relinquished his title, ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ defeated Wanderlei Silva on points to start a long reign as champion.
Legacy: At UFC 66, Tito was stopped by Chuck Liddell as he tried to reclaim the title. Since then, he has gone 1-7, and is finally due to retire this summer..
DAN HENDERSON
About: Olympic-level Greco-Roman wrestler who held two Pride belts at the same time.
Known for: His spectacularly powerful right hand that has destroyed some of the biggest names in the business.
First challenge: Thrown in at the deep end, he was outlasted down the stretch by ‘Rampage’ in London in the light heavyweight unification bout at UFC 75.
Second challenge: Six months later, ‘Hendo’ fell victim to an Anderson Silva rear naked choke in his attempt for the middleweight title.
Legacy: An all-time great who has catapulted himself back into the UFC 205lb title picture after his epic clash with ‘Shogun’ Rua.
PEDRO RIZZO
About: Brazilian kickboxer who earned the nickname ‘The Rock.’
Known for: Talented stand-up fighter with destructive leg kicks.
First challenge: Lost a decision to Kevin Randleman at UFC 26. The crowd booed and threw garbage into the cage after one of the dullest main events in the history of the promotion.
Second challenge: Many thought Pedro had done enough to dethrone Randy Couture after five punishing rounds at UFC 31, but two judges saw it in favor of ‘The Natural.’
Legacy: In the rematch, Randy asserted his will, stopped Rizzo in the third and consigned ‘The Rock’ to nearly-man status.
BJ PENN
About: Jiu-jitsu prodigy who added tough-guy boxing to become an all-round threat.
Known for: Sound bite worthy so never far from the headlines or controversy during his up and down career.
First challenge: Suffered his first-ever defeat when he took on Jens Pulver for the lightweight title at UFC 35.
Second challenge: After his draw with Caol Uno in the final of the tournament designed to find a new 155lb champ, the UFC suspended the division.
Legacy: 2-2 in recent challenges: defeating Matt Hughes and Joe Stevenson for the 170lb and 155lb titles, but losing to GSP and Frankie Edgar in attempts to reclaim.
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