WWE Elimination Chamber PPV saw one of the most shocking heel turns in history when John Cena, the perennial baby face of the company, turned ‘bad’ and low blowed his WrestleMania 41 opponent, Cody Rhodes.
SPEECHLESS. 💔
JOHN CENA just viciously TURNED on CODY RHODES at #WWEChamber! pic.twitter.com/jSyaCud7Wz
— WWE (@WWE) March 2, 2025
With the UFC and WWE so closely linked in recent times, we take a look at some of the biggest heel turns in UFC history, whether intentional or not.
Biggest Heel Turns in the UFC
Colby Covington
We can’t talk about heels in the UFC without talking about Colby Covington. One of the most hated men the UFC has ever had (especially in Brazil), Covington went on an impressive seven-fight run in order to gain a title shot.
After winning his first four on that run, he quickly realised that he just wasn’t that interesting. His fighting style wasn’t pretty, he wasn’t a notorious finisher and after his first seven fights he hadn’t seen a main card.
He was given the co-main event slot in Brazil, Chaos took to the mic to not only call out the then champion, Tyron Woodley, but also refer to the country he was fighting in as ‘a dump’, having just beaten their home hero. A brave move and certainly a heel turn.
5 years ago today, Colby Covington turned heel by calling Brazil a dump and has never looked back pic.twitter.com/twrvpQXJ59
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) October 28, 2022
Yoel Romero
A strange one on our list is Yoel Romero. Not quite your traditional ‘heel’, however, one incident certainly had fans turn on him.
Taking on Tim Kennedy at UFC 178 Romero was hurt and barley made his stool at the end of round two. He refused to get up off his stool. Joe Rogan believed that Romero’s cornermen had failed to leave the octagon on time, however, the UFC cutman applied too much Vasaline to a cut suffered by Romero and referee John McCarthy asked him to remain on his stool so they could wipe away the excess.
Sep27.2014
1 year ago today,
Tim Kennedy & Yoel Romero fought each other. It ended it controversy
“Stoolgate” pic.twitter.com/9yGdK6lhBG
— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) September 28, 2015
Solider of God went on to secure the TKO victory over Kennedy 58 seconds after his prolonged break, leading to much controversy and an unintentional heel turn for Romero.
Conor McGregor
Does this one need any explaining? You either love Conor McGregor or you hate him but like with all heels in this game, you tune in regardless.
Trash talking, taking things ‘too far’ and being the most arrogant, confident man in any room he steps into, there’s plenty of reasons not to like McGregor. That’s all without he outside of the sport incidents.
But that’s why we tune in to watch him fight. There’s a reason that he’s headlined nine PPVs. He holds the top six spots in most-bought PPVs in UFC history. He’s a megastar, simply put… but then again, most heels are.
Paul Daley
Semtex. One of the most recognisable faces in the world of English and European MMA, Paul Daley has fought for everyone. He’s brash and heavy-handed but, frustratingly, one dimensional. His wrestling has never been to an elite level and that’s what ultimately let him down, as well as what started his heel turn.
A veteran of EliteXC, Strikeforce, the UFC and Bellator, Daley, on paper should be adored by fans. He has a fan-friendly style and always comes to fight, just look at his fight with Nick Diaz. That fight is regarded as one of the best one round wars in MMA history.
His heel turn came when he faced a fellow fighter that has a large fan base of people that dislike him, Josh Koscheck. The Brit entered the UFC and went on a two-fight winning run and was matched in a title eliminator against the American, who himself was on a two fight winning run. Koscheck did what he always did, especially against a dangerous fighter like Daley, he wrestled.
At UFC 113, Koscheck took Daley down four times, landed a total of 83 strikes in comparison to Daley’s 14. He controlled him on the ground for 12:02 but never really searched for the finish. It was frustrating for everyone, the fans, Daley’s team and especially Daley himself. He let his frustration out… at the wrong time. After referee Dan Miragliotta broke up the action after 15 minutes, Daley decided to attack his opponent, looking to land a left hook. He claimed he hadn’t heard the bell, but that wasn’t enough for Dana White.
The UFC president banished Semtex from the UFC. Despite a 12 year career after his firing, it’s a shame that we never got to see Daley at the highest level for longer. Maybe this was one heel turn too far.
Sean Strickland
How can you have a list of heels without Sean Strickland? He was a particularly uninspiring figure ahead of his heel turn, which arguably made it so successful. Ahead of his fight against Alex Pereira back in 2022, no one really cared about watching a Strickland fight.
His risk-averse style isn’t pretty to watch, but he has to make people tune in somehow. How did he do this? Take to the mic and shock fans with his controversial takes, racist views and anti-LGBT beliefs. His rants have become infamous with UFC fans, many of whom don’t take much notice.
It’s an ugly way of self-promotion, and sadly, it worked for Strickland. He’s had two title shots across his UFC career thusfar. Many people tune in to see Strickland get knocked out, but regardless of the outcome, they tune in.
