Silva-Sonnen or Kongo-Barry: What’s the ‘Best Comeback in MMA History’?

The votes are in, and the top two seeds are clashing in the final for a big unofficial honor.

No. 2 Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry

When: UFC on Versus 4 | June 26, 2011
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh
Result: [autotag]Cheick Kongo[/autotag] def. Pat Barry via knockout (puch) – Round 1, 2:39
The aftermath: The Kongo-Barry fight was moved to the main event after Nate Marquardt was not medically cleared to fight Rick Story. And despite early troubles of all kinds, Kongo hit his Hail Mary. Barry dropped Kongo twice in the first half of the first round with big right hands. But somehow, he managed to get back to his feet and put Barry away with a two-punch combination that became most analysts’ “Comeback of the Year” for 2011. Barry alternated wins and losses in the UFC over the next couple years, then signed with Bellator. There, he went 12-2 and finally got a title shot against dual champion Ryan Bader this past September. But when Bader landed an accidental eye poke, Kongo was unable to continue and the fight ended in a no contest. The loss for Barry started a 2-5 run to end his career; he retired in 2013.