Let’s try and set the scene first. You have just spent the last eight weeks training roughly twice a day, cutting a huge amount of weight and then just had a fight for up to twenty five minutes with another man/woman. And then the fans boo you. How would you react?
This article will look at those infamous moments when mixed martial artists have been caught up in the moment following some of the biggest fights of their career.
So in no particular order sit back and enjoy, but please don’t boo!
Charles Bennett Vs KJ Noons EliteXC: Destiny
“Hey, I love the boos. Keep on with them, because the more you boo me, eventually, you’re gonna love me. You gotta love me.”
Bennett and Noons had done an awful lot of trash talking in the build up to their fight at the now defunct EliteXC back in February 2007. For Noons though it seems that Bennett was able to channel his anger towards in his opponent into his fist, which he used to knockout Noons in the very first round.
After being asked about what fuelled him in the fight he then turned to the fans in the DeSoto Civic Center and gave those booing something to think about.
Al Iaquinta Vs Jorge Masvidal UFC Fight Night 63
“Whatever man. You guys booing me? You had better not boo me. I fucking worked my ass off. Fuck you.”
The most recent example on the list is Al Iaquinta’s now famous rant following his close decision victory over Jorge Masvidal at UFC Fight Night 63. After a tough fifteen minute fight, “Raging” Al Iaquinta unleashed a barrage of abuse at the fans in the Patriot Centre.
The fans were not booing during the fight itself but at the result which was very hard to call following such a close fight. Al Iaquinta definitely lived up to his “Raging” nickname and in my eyes needs to carry on this heel gimmick.
Brock Lesnar Vs Frank Mir UFC 100
“Keep booing, keep booing. I love it. Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him that a year ago. I pulled that sumbitch out, and I beat him over the head with it.”
Mir had handed Lesnar his first professional loss at UFC 81 and there was a lot of tension between the two going into the rematch at UFC 100 (which was originally scheduled for UFC 98). So after a dominant performance from Lesnar which ended in Frank Mir’s face completely being dismembered the microphone was put in front of Lesnar who was still high off defeating one of his bitter rivals.
Given Lesnar’s pro wrestling career it was no surprise that he knew how to work a crowd but even still he was unable to channel his inner anger following the fight and he made sure the crowd got to hear it.
Andrei Arlovski Vs Antonio Silva UFC Fight Night 51
‘You boo? Fuk you too!’
Former UFC Heavyweight Champion had never fought in Brazil until he was offered a headline slot against Antonio Silva. It was a successful night for “The Pit Bull” who was able to stop Silva in just under three minutes of the first round.
And while the UFC handed Arlovski a POTN bonus, the Brazilian fans were not quite so receptive to him knocking out one of their own on home soil. Queue Arlovski running and jumping onto the cage after the fight and letting them know what he thought of them.