The UFC is a worldwide phenomenon, with certain fights staying burned in the brains of UFC fans. The beauty of the fight world is that any big fight can turn into one that is remembered for years. Below we will highlight the best fights the UFC has showcased to date.
How Do We Choose the Best UFC Fights of All Time?
We have ranked the best fights of all time with a few factors considered:
- The fight’s title implications.
- The brutality of the fight.
- The leadup to the fight.
- How the fight finished.
What are the best UFC fights?
UFC fight can sometimes transcend time with so many being no less than incredible. Combat sport fans will remember where they were during these battles with images burned into their memories.
#10 Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit, 2016
The anticipation for the Lawler vs. Condit title fight could be felt by fans. The two fighters were two of the most exciting at the time and the fight lived up to the hype. There were wild strikes with this fight being the 2016 fight of the year. Lawler ended up winning the decision after 5 rounds of this title fight. The decision is still debated among fans with some arguing Condit should have won.
#9 Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry, 2011
The Kongo vs. Barry fight was one that many thought should have been stopped as Kongo looked unable to stand. Even Joe Rogan exclaimed that the fight was over with everyone agreeing except Cheick Kongo. Kongo did end up winning in amazing fashion with the fight being stopped by the referee.
#8 Kelvin Gastelum vs. Israel Adesanya (2019)
Gastelum is known for being a bull in the ring and looked to have Israel Adesanya on skates. The unorthodox style of Adesanya made it tough to connect on hard shots. The 5th round was a true battle with both men staying on their feet. Adesanya ended up winning the bout as this fight in 2019 helped bolster his career.
#7 Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Johnson (2017)
Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Johnson was the typical David vs. Goliath battle. Johnson almost best Gaethje and many thought he would complete the upset. Gaethje ended up with the win.
#6 Conor Mcgregor Vs. Nate Diaz (2016)
Conor McGregor is known for his unorthodox boxing style along with deceptive quickness. Conor’s quotes and trash talk are also legendary as he could be one of the most engaging fighters of all-time.
The toughest fighter in history could very well be Nate Diaz or his brother Nick Diaz. Knocking either Diaz brother has seemed impossible even by the most powerful strikers in the sport. Endurance along with toughness defines what Nate can do in the ring along with being quite the trash talker as well. Diaz’s talk carries into the ring where he can be seen making gestures or screaming at the opponent in the middle of a round.
The title fight went all 5 rounds for 25 minutes of grueling battle. The fight ended up with McGregor as the victor, but the fight was so epic that there was a second fight scheduled quickly. Diaz ended up winning this fight with a trilogy that has been teased but has not been scheduled yet.
#5 Dustin Poirier Vs. “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (2012)
Dustin Poirier has had an impressive last decade as he was the closest to defeating the unbeatable Khabib. Poirier lost to Chan Sung Jung which has the best nickname in all of sports as The Korean Zombie. The Zombie submitted Poirier with a choke but this did not stop Dustin as he has led an incredible career.
#4 Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, 2011
The impeccable technique combined with the courage to stand in there while taking punishment was a staple of Henderson vs. Rua. Henderson ultimately won the bout but Shogun has mentioned that this is the fight fans come up to him to talk about despite losing. The 5-round battle took endurance that can only be understood by those that have trained/competed in combat sports.
#3 Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar (2005)
Dana White credits this fight for putting UFC on the map as many remember watching this fight live. The fighters battled for a full 3 rounds with Griffin winning the decision. The picture above highlights how important striking is but also how important enduring painful strike can be.
#2 Jon Jones Vs. Alexanders Gustafsson (2013)
Jon Jones is truly a legend killer in the UFC with wins over names like Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans, and Lyoto Machida with many others to add. Gustafsson was viewed as not having much of a shot due to Jones’ hall fame resume.
Gustafsson put up a valiant effort with great footwork and seemed to do the impossible, he took Jones to the ground. Eye of The Tiger seemed to be playing as the underdog was looking impressive. Jones ended up winning by unanimous decision but Gustafsson cemented himself as a fighter to respect for all UFC fans.
#1 Robbie Lawler Vs. Rory MacDonald (2015)
Robbie Lawler will go down as a tough fight and one of the toughest in his weightclass. Lawler fought Rory MacDonald 2 years after their first meeting which was Lawler won in a split decision. The ring of the floor looked like someone spilled red paint on it as both fighters were bloodied. In fact, both look like they had been hit by a train.
Lawler ended up winning but it is a fight that could make a fan for life if new to the UFC. The staredown between rounds of two bloodied warriors is one for the ages.
Best UFC Fight FAQs
Who is the best UFC fighter of all time?
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jon Jones both have an argument for the best UFC fighter of all time. Jones had a much longer career that is still not finished, so due to the length of his career, he holds a stronger case for being the best UFC fighter ever.
Which fight had the most significant impact on the UFC’s growth?
Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar was truly a fight that helped grow the UFC. Without this fight, epic battles like Khabib vs. Connor McGregor might have never been possible as this is the biggest fight in UFC history.
Are there any recent fights that could be considered among the best of all time?
Both fights between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz are ones that fans will never forget. The series is tied 1-1 so fight fans likely want to see the tiebreaker before Diaz or McGregor decide to retire.
What are some of the most memorable knockout finishes in UFC history?
Anderson Silva has had an array of memorable knockouts against fights like Forrest Griffin and Vitor Belfort. Conor McGregor also makes the list with his lightning fast strike that knocked out Jose Aldo.
Which fights are considered the best in different weight classes?
At 135 pounds or bantamweight, the recent fight between Sean O’Malley and Aljamain Sterling is legendary.
At 145 pounds, Jose Aldo versus McGregor is a great fight with McGregor knocking Aldo out.
The 155 pound weight class is known in recent memory for the Khabib vs. Poirier epic.
At 185 pounds, the Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort is the best fight at this weight.
At 205 pounds, the Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones fight has been known to be one of the best ever.
At heavyweight, a fight resulted in a draw between Mark Hunt vs. Antônio Silva in 2013.
What was the best UFC championship fight of all time?
Jones vs. Gustaffson that is highlighted above is considered one of if not the best UFC title fights of all time.
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