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Where does Cheick Kongo's comeback KO over Pat Barry rank in the list of "Top UFC comebacks"?
JASON AMADI, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
I thought reaction to Kongo's comeback against Pat Barry was pretty overblown. It was a solid comeback, and Kongo has proven himself to be one of the heavyweight division's most durable fighters. But as far as all-time great comebacks, it isn't even close. The whole fight was basically a feeling out process followed by one exchange. It wasn't on the level of Frank Edgar's comeback against Gray Maynard, Anderson Silva's submission of Chael Sonnen, and it wasn't as dramatic Soctt Smith-Pete Sell either.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Well, I think it has to definitely rank up there on the all-time list. My personal favorite comeback of all time is Scott Smith's knockout of Pete Sell from The Ultimate Fighter 4 Finale. That was the best of all time, in my opinion. Kongo's knockout of Barry is great because Kongo had to battle back from being knocked out basically. I'd put it in the top five.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
It is ironic this question is asked of me today. I just picked up a $5.00 copy of the UFC's Ultimate Comebacks-2009. It was in the bargain bin at Walmart and hey, it was only $5.00. The UFC put 11 fights on that DVD. This is a very subjective question, so I will try to be a bit scientific. My favorite fight from the DVD Is the 2007 Roger Huerta versus Clay Guida fight that became an instant classic. When I watch both fights one after another, it is clear Kongo vs. Berry is much more exciting and more fun to watch. To me, it is the length of time from Kongo being almost KO'd and then knocking out Berry that makes this the best comeback.
CHRIS PARK, MMATORCH UK SPECIALIST
I would put it up there with the best of them. The Scott Smith comeback, Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg - it was mind blowing.
I genuinely thought that Kongo was out, so to then pull that out of the bag was something else.
No shame for Pat Barry, I felt bad for him as he must have thought he had the fight won. He will learn to be more patient and less reckless from this loss.
MATT PELKEY, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Its the best I've seen. It'll get a lot of comparisons to the the Scott Smith-Pete Sell finish from a few years back, but this was far better. In Smith-Sell, Smith back-pedaled, doubled over in pain from a shot to the ribs before blasting Sell with the knockout punch. But, he was never close to losing consciousness. It was just an abrupt turnabout in momentum. Pat Barry had Cheick Kongo doing the stanky-leg multiple times before Kongo planted his back against the cage and made his last stand. After a vicious right hook felled Barry, Kongo was still so out of it that actually fell on top of him before realizing where he was and throwing four or five more (unnecessary) shots on the ground. I've never seen someone so close to the brink of defeat not only come back to win, but do so in such a definitive manner while he's on said brink.
JAMIE PENICK, MMATORCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The comeback was fantastic, and made for one of the craziest sequences we've ever seen in the UFC, but it wasn't the best comeback. I'd have Anderson Silva's fifth round submission of Chael Sonnen and Scott Smith's buckled over knockout of Pete Sell above it personally, and actually Frankie Edgar coming back to force a draw with Gray Maynard would be above it as well if Edgar had been given the decision at UFC 125. But Kongo finding a way to survive Barry's onslaught after getting dropped twice and looking out, only to deliver those two punches to knock Barry to the ground when he was backed up to the cage, made for an excellent finish to Sunday's event.
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STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
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