Sherdog’s Top 10: Fighters Who Lost Their Pro Debuts

8. Jon Fitch
Fitch at the height of his power was almost universally regarded as the No. 2 welterweight in the world. Between July 19, 2003 and March 1, 2008, he rattled off 16 consecutive wins, leading to a title shot against welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 87. It was a terrific run of sustained success and hid the fact that the American Kickboxing Academy rep came up short in his first pro MMA match.

A then 23-year-old Fitch ran into Mike Pyle at a Revolution Fighting Championship event on July 13, 2002. Brian Ebersole, Jason Miller, Chael Sonnen, Rich Clementi and Kevin Randleman were also on the card. Fitch submitted to a rear-naked choke from Pyle 2:35 into round one, as his career got off to a rocky start. It was only the second pro fight for Pyle, who had lost to Quinton Jackson in his debut some three years earlier.

Continue Reading » Number 7