We have an official winner for the 2021worst MMA moment of the year award, and it should be no surprise that it was a “Notorious” instance that stood out above all the rest.
Although the 2021 MMA calendar was filled with many memorable and historic moments, it doesn’t mean there weren’t a plethora of options to display the low lights of the last 12 months. And The Underground forum hordes reviewed their selections and decided which was the most preposterous of the bunch.
But before we get to the most face-palm-worthy moment of the year, let’s look at the five runners-up.
The worst MMA moments of 2021
5. Herb Dean’s 2021 referee work
Finishing with just 3% of the vote was veteran referee Herb Dean and his year to forget. There was a singular moment that landed Dean on this list. It was more an accumulation of various instances where the former cage fighter often NFL Gameday hesitation-step when deciding to end many fights. He infuriated fans and led many to question his place as the supposed best in the game at what he does. The fact that he won the referee of the year award at the 2021 World MMA Awards seems like either a scary indictment on how easily fans forget or just how bad the referee fraternity performed over the last 12 months.
4. Chris Weidman breaks his leg against Uriah Hall
In fifth place overall with 10% of the vote was the horrific end to Chris Weidman’s UFC 261 bout against Uriah Hall. “All American” was already in the midst of a career-low point having lost five of seven heading into the matchup in Jacksonville, Fla. Yet fracturing his right leg on a checked leg kick was a new heartbreaking low as the former champion writhed in pain after mangling his limb. Even now, eight months later, it is still unclear when the New York native will be able to return to the Octagon.
3. Petr Yan loses his bantamweight gold after a bonehead moment
The top of the bantamweight division was thrown into year-long turmoil in March, after an elite boneheaded moment by then-champion Petr Yan. After three rounds where he slowly picked away at challenger Aljamain Sterling, and several minutes of dominance in the fourth round, the Russian star unloaded with a knee to Sterling’s cranium when he was considered a downed opponent. The blow left the challenger unable to continue, but also made him an unworthy new champion.
Since that night, “Funkmaster” has yet to defend his title after post-fight neck surgery has been problematic to recover from. Yan eventually won interim gold, but it’s still unclear when a unification rematch is expected to happen.
2. Nick Diaz’s ‘no mas’ TKO loss after six year hiatus
Nick Diaz will go down as one of the most durable, tough, and unbreakable talents MMA has ever seen. However, his distaste for the sport has been one of the key narratives in the back half of his career. Despite returning well past his prime at 38-years-old, and after a six-year hiatus, fans were thrilled for his return in August at UFC 266. Especially, in a rematch with another beloved MMA great in Robbie Lawler. However, the final product left fans wondering if his return should have ever happened.
While still tough and gutsy, Diaz was sluggish and several steps slower than he used to be. What truly made it an unabashed letdown was the Stockton Badboy’s decision to quit while lying down after being stunned by a punch in the third round. It was a stunning moment for a man more likely to die in the cage fight than ever give up midway. He has long been over the sport of MMA, and at that moment, he was over the idea of more violence in his life.
1. Jon Jones gets arrested…again
Unfortunately, UFC fans have become accustomed to seeing Jon Jones’ name involved with illegal activity. After months away from the sport as he transformed his body into a heavyweight, the former light heavyweight king popped back into the spotlight to be inducted into the UFC Hall-of-Fame’s fight wing in 2021. After such a momentous night to appreciate a tremendous moment during his fighting career, he again found himself in cuffs and getting mug shots after being accused of domestic violence against the mother of his children.
No release came from the UFC, and in the end, he took a plea deal and a slap on the wrist for the law. Although he was tossed out of his long-time gym Jackson/Wink MMA by his mentor Mike Winkeljohn, Henry Cejudo and the Fight Ready crew have taken him in with open arms. Sadly, it was another life-changing moment that will likely change nothing about how the pound-for-pound superstar lives his life.
Conor McGregor breaks his leg then talks trash from the mat (award winner)
Conor McGregor’s fall from elite status has been one of the biggest stories of 2021. Although he still remains one of MMA’s most popular fighters, his consecutive TKO losses to rival Dustin Poirier was a crushing blow to the psyche of the Irish superstar. Although he handled his knockout defeat in their January rematch with charm and honesty, it was a very different story in their July trilogy showdown.
Like Weidman a few months earlier, McGregor also fractured his leg on a checked kick. However, unlike his American colleague, the former two-division champion made a mockery of himself by not conceding defeat immediately after, and choose to sling derogatory comments at Poirier and his wife while he sitting on the Octagon mat, unable to stand. It was elite sore loser tactics from a talented fighter who often took setbacks with honor. In 2021, McGregor lost the little honor he had left, and that’s why it was chosen as the worst MMA moment of 2021.
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