4. Frank Mir vs. Mirko Cro Cop (UFC 119)
There may not be a bigger disappointment in the entire history of UFC than Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. The Croation fighter was an outstanding kickboxer and when he transitioned to MMA for Japan's Pride Fighting Championship he quickly made a name for himself with his brutal head kick KOs. He had amassed a very impressive 21-4-2 record when he made the jump to UFC in 2007. Right away the promotion had big plans for their new star and began feeding him opponents with hopes of showing off his skills to the audience and setting him up for a title shot. Eddie Sanchez was the first victim, losing by TKO in the first round, and Gabriel Gonzaga was lined up to be the second man to fall to Cro Cop. That didn't happen, and instead Gonzaga not only beat Filipovic, he beat him with his own signature move, a devasting head kick KO that sent Cro Cop to the mat like a sack of concrete. It was a huge "HOLY SH*T!" moment that no one saw coming, especially from a man primarily known for jiu-jitsu, and a mental defeat that Mirko would never fully recover from. Frank Mir seemed like a good matchup for Cro Cop, who had semi-gotten back on track with two straight finishes. The former HW champ was a strong BJJ player, but his striking left much to be desired and he would be clearly outmatched on the feet. The main event of 119 was set for September, 2010, with both men in the midst of quests for redemption to get back in the title hunt. For 14 minutes the ace striker and the submission specialist either stood and stared at each other or hugged in a warm embrace. The commentators compared it to a sparring session and even apologized to the fans for the hideous "fight" they were witnessing. With about a minute left, Mir tossed up a sluggish knee that caught Mirko in his chin and that was that. But not even a knockout finish could save this from being one of the worst fights ever.