In the world of combat sports, upsets and quick finishes are the name of the game, and sometimes, they come in the most unexpected packages. Did you know that a former opponent of Anthony Joshua once outdid even Brock Lesnar by knocking out a UFC legend in a blink of an eye? Let's dive into this surprising story.
On this day back in 2021, a former UFC heavyweight champion stepped into the ring for the final time.
Fast forward to the present, and Anthony Joshua is set to make his return, with a match against Jake Paul scheduled for December 19th in Miami. Joshua's recent victory was against Francis Ngannou, and he's been consistently facing top contenders since his knockout win against Wladimir Klitschko back in 2017.
Now, Jake Paul seems to believe he can expose flaws in Joshua's game when they meet on Netflix. But here's where it gets controversial: Many accomplished boxers have tried and failed to do the same.
One of the fighters who tried to dethrone Joshua, may have fallen short against 'AJ', but a comeback victory saw him swiftly defeat an MMA legend.
Here are the specifics of the upcoming fight:
- Professional heavyweight contest ✅
- Anthony Joshua's maximum weight: 245lbs ⚖️
- Eight, three-minute rounds ⏰
- 10-ounce gloves 🥊
Kubrat Pulev delivered a stunning knockout against Frank Mir in under two minutes at Triad Combat.
Eight years before Joshua was scheduled to face Jake Paul, he was originally slated to fight Kubrat Pulev in front of a record-breaking crowd. An injury caused the fight to be delayed by three years, and it eventually took place with a much smaller audience due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pulev aimed to exploit some of the weaknesses that Paul will attempt to capitalize on this December, but the defending champion proved too strong, stopping his challenger in the ninth round.
After suffering his second loss, with his first being against Wladimir Klitschko in 2014, Pulev took a break from the sport. He then competed under different rules less than a year later.
Triad Combat pitted MMA fighters against boxers in a triangular ring with two-minute boxing rounds.
On November 27, 2021, their inaugural event featured the likes of Mike Perry and a live performance by Metallica.
The main event saw Pulev knock out former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir in the first round, making him the promotion’s first champion.
Mir, who had experienced quicker knockout losses in his MMA career, famously became the first person to defeat Brock Lesnar before losing the rematch at UFC 100 via a TKO in the second round.
Did you know? Frank Mir was planning to return to MMA earlier this year.
Despite not fighting since his loss to Kubrat Pulev at Triad Combat 1, Frank Mir was announced to be making his return to MMA earlier this year.
The submission specialist's last MMA fight was a unanimous decision win over Roy Nelson at Bellator 231 in October 2019, before his contract expired.
Mir's planned comeback with the Global Fight League (GFL) was canceled in March after he announced he had undergone emergency surgery due to a spine injury.
The 46-year-old stated he would focus on his recovery to return stronger, both mentally and physically.
What are your thoughts on these quick knockouts and the crossover between boxing and MMA? Do you think Jake Paul has a chance against Anthony Joshua? Share your opinions in the comments below!
