Bad Santa: These Fighters Got A Stocking Full Of Coal This Year

Christmas is one of the best times of the year. Families come together to exchange thoughtful gifts, reminisce about old times, create new memories, and dive into the plentiful eggnog.

It’s a wondrous experience for all that is good. But if you’ve traversed a less-than-acceptable path this past year, odds are Santa Claus is going to cram coal into your stocking.

Unfortunately for some mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters this Holiday Season, bad habits and ill-advised actions in 2015 will land them on Kris Kringle’s naughty list.

Due in part to unethical behavior, failed gameplans, and the inability to actually make it to the Octagon, these four coal-collecting combatants will have little to open on Christmas morning.

Johny Hendricks

Former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks was well on his way back to another title shot after handily defeating Matt Brown at UFC 185.

The Oklahoma native was scheduled to fight Tyron Woodley for No. 1 contender rights earlier this year, but was forced to pull out of the bout due to an intestinal blockage and kidney stone attack prior to weigh ins. While a serious set of physical ailments that needed immediate medical attention, this is not the only time Hendricks has absolutely exhausted himself to make 170 (albeit the first time he’s missed a fight).

It has been well documented that Hendricks has brought in countless nutrition experts throughout his career, specifically the always popular Mike Dolce. Despite the extra set of hands overlooking the 32-year-old’s diet, “Bigg Rigg” has continued old and often debilitating habits.

Owning his own steak house certainly doesn’t help.

As a result of pulling out of his UFC 192 co-main event bout, Hendricks subsequently handed over the next divisional title shot to Woodley on a silver platter. Luckily, regardless of yet another egregious weight cut, the UFC has permitted Hendricks to stay at welterweight.

Renan Barao

Like many beaten champions we’ve seen in UFC history, Renan Barao’s fall from grace has been puzzling.

Granted, the former bantamweight king was caught off guard by current champion T.J. Dillashaw back in 2014, but he looked even worse in the rematch at UFC on FOX 16 this past July.

The first of two Nova Uniao champions to lose their titles in the past two years (Jose Aldo being the other), Barao’s unprecedented troubles with Dillashaw has transformed a once invincible looking bantamweight into a desperate featherweight refugee.

What makes the Brazilian’s failed 2015 title reboot even more frustrating is the fact that he came to the cage with what seemed to be an identical gameplan to the first Dillashaw encounter. No new techniques. No adjustments in his striking. No answer to the champion’s dominating pressure.

The now forgotten star has a long way to go before regaining the steam he once possessed at 135 pounds. And while his two atrocious efforts opposite Dillashaw could easily be a product of a bad matchup, Barao simply looks like a shell of his former self.

Rousimar Palhares

Despite an unbelievable world-class grappling pallet, which may be the best in MMA today, there is simply no room in the sport for a guy like Rousimar Palhares.

As a hulking middleweight turned welterweight, Palhares usually possesses a significant strength advantage every time he steps inside of the cage. It’s a reason why he continues to produce in the most high-level of situations, but also a fiery catalyst in making grotesque decisions.

On multiple accounts, most recently his fight with Jake Shields at WSOF 22 this past August for the 170-pound strap, Palhares has failed to let go of submissions even after the referee has called the fight. This barbaric display of unsportsmanlike conduct was the only reason why the UFC had released him back in 2013.

At this level of athletic competition, holding a submission after the fight is over can be unforgivably detrimental to a fighter’s career. While Shields is one of the best grapplers in MMA in his own right, Palhares has also done this to guys who have little experience dealing with this sort of pressure/contortion.

Adding insult to injury, Palhares also managed to purposely gauge the eyes of Shields on more than one occasion during their title fight. He was eventually stripped off his championship and suspended indefinitely, in what can surely be considered the most disgraceful act of 2015.

Anderson Silva

The case of Anderson Silva is an odd one.

In hindsight, he should be considered one of the best (if not the best) fighters in the history of the sport. He defended his UFC middleweight title a staggering 10-straight times and holds the UFC record for most consecutive victories (16).

But after a failed drug test following his bout with Nick Diaz at UFC 183 this past January revealed that the aging Brazilian had performance-enhancing drugs drostanolone and androsterone pulsing through his veins, his once legendary aura of excellence was called into question.

While “The Spider had never failed a drug test before UFC 183, Silva’s unethical actions cut the MMA community deeply. His defense to failing the post-fight test was based around a “tainted” dosage of Viagra, which seems silly and disingenuous to say the least. He was later suspended for one year retroactive to Jan. 31.

It sounds insane to even think that Silva has to redeem his career after a corrupt 2015 campaign, but he may be forced to do just that assuming he gets the chance to compete next year.