10 UFC Stars Who Got Too Cocky

Why not end on a fighter who literally epitomises the word 'nonchalant'?

For years, Anderson Silva had chosen to completely ridicule his opponents by ducking, bobbing, dropping his hands or arrogantly dancing in front of them and for a time he found nothing but success with this attitude.

His brand of cockiness wasn't just raw charisma. 'The Spider' had spent years honing his craft and utilising his ability to get into a rival's head through his physicality alone. But, as with any successful MMA formula, sooner or later the world of fighting finds a better one and then a contender is forced to evolve or perish.

Silva did the latter.

Ruling over the Middleweight division in UFC for 2,457 days, Silva's mercurial nonchalance finally met its match when faced with Chris Weidman at UFC 162.

Silva was knocked unconscious - in the midst of dropping his hands in the usual blasé manner we'd become accustomed to - and never truly recovered from that knockdown.

He would lose the rematch - after snapping his leg with a check kick - and be defeated in the following 4 out of 6, with one of these being ruled a no contest due to Silva failing a drug test.

The arrogance started to subside and Silva now lacks that same aura that he had during his demoralising heyday.

However, it was fun while it lasted and Silva will (remarkably) always be able to say that he managed to be a cocky S.O.B, whilst consistently maintaining the respect of an adoring UFC faithful.