10 MMA Fighters Who are Humble in Defeat
It is easy to make a list of dominant and arrogant MMA winners and champions, but the list of fighters who are humble in defeat is much shorter. While they aren’t common, there have been several over the years.
Whether the MMA odds thought they would be winners or if their opponents were too dominant and too good on the night, these fighters still managed to stay positive and take a defeat on the chin.
Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious “Might Mouse” Johnson has been a fan-favourite MMA fighter for a few years now. Not only does he have an enjoyable and likeable personality, but he is also a very strong and outstanding fighter.
In defeat, he can congratulate his opponents, understand that someone has to lose, and, more importantly, always seems to come back stronger than before.
George St-Pierre
GSP is arguably one of the greatest MMA fighters ever. He finished his career with a remarkable record of 26-2, held numerous titles, and broke several UFC records. However, many will attest to how calm and collected he remained in defeat.
Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Emelianenko is easily one of the most dominant fighters ever to step foot in a UFC ring. His ice-cold demeanour was matched by an almost deadly ability to dismantle and defeat opponents. Even though he was so clinical, he does have a few losses to his name.
This cold calmness extended to how he lost as well; he took a defeat as it was, never dwelled on it, and would often move past it long before social media and journalists did. While not necessarily humble, he never took a defeat badly.
Kazushi Sakuraba
Kazushi Sakuraba is a god in the world of fighting, and the legendary Japanese fighter is one of the most humble people around. While still confident and maybe even slightly arrogant, disliking him has always been hard. Not to mention that he has a fondness for fighting people bigger than him, a trait that will instil humility very quickly.
Chael Sonnen
Regarded by many as one of the greatest trash-talkers in sports history, more often than not, Chael Sonnen’s bite matched his bark. However, underneath all his bravado and arrogance, Sonnen was still respectful when beaten. He would shake his opponent’s hand, reflect on his mistakes, and admits when someone was better; when you are the self-proclaimed greatest fighter of all time, accepting defeat will always be tough.
Alexander Gustafsson
Alexander Gustafsson is one of the best light and heavyweights the UFC has ever seen. He is strong on his feet and the mat and can defeat an opponent with punches or a perfectly executed submission.
You would think someone like that would be too cocky to be around, but Gus still manages to be one of the nicest fighters around. He doesn’t take defeats personally and often sees them as a way to rebuild instead of something that is career-defining.
Rafael Dos Anjos
Another fighter that seemingly no one has anything bad to say about is Rafael Dos Anjos. The Brazilian has been fighting since 2004, with many opponents talking about how respectful he is when he has won and lost. He may look tough, but Rafael is a bit of a softie underneath his rough exterior.
Holly Holm
While there are many great female fighters in MMA, few stand out for being as humble as Holly Holm. The Preacher’s Daughter lives up to her name and is a graceful winner as much as she is a graceful loser.
Randy Couture
Randy Couture is a sports legend that has never had to learn to be humble. Even when he was the biggest and best fighter in the UFC, he still managed to be one of the game’s most respected and humble fighters.
Stipe Miocic
Another cool-headed character is Stipe Miocic. Much like Gus, Stipe doesn’t seem to let a defeat phase him, and more often than not, will praise those who defeat him more than they will praise themselves. Very few fighters still in the octagon embody being humble as well as Stipe does.