Since its inception in 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has evolved from a niche combat spectacle into a global sporting powerhouse. It has delivered countless unforgettable fights where athletes displayed extraordinary skill, resilience, and heart. Some battles have been so epic that they hold legendary status among mixed martial arts fans and remain a hot topic of discussion today. In this article, we will look at five of the greatest UFC fights of all time, why the captivated audiences when they originally happened, and why UFC fans continue watching re-runs and footage years later.
Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar – The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale, 2006
The UFC struggled for mainstream recognition in the early 2000s, but that changed after the finale of the inaugural The Ultimate Fighter. On April 9, 2005, Forrest Griffin and Stephen Bonnar entered the Octagon and competed in one of the most intense battles the UFC has ever seen.
Griffin and Bonnar engaged in a relentless stand-up brawl for three rounds, each trading heavy blows with little regard for defense. UFC President Dana White, UFC fans, and people new to the sport were left open-mouthed and in awe of what they had just witnessed. The fight somehow went the distance, with judges unanimously awarding Griffin the victory. However, the real victory belonged to the UFC because the electrifying battle brought in a surge of fans.
Dana White credits this clash as the most important fight in UFC history, while fans and MMA experts voted the Griffin versus Bonnar fight as the greatest in UFC history. Check it out if you get the chance.
Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald 2 – UFC 189, 2015
Few fights in UFC history are as brutally compelling as the welterweight championship rematch between Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald at UFC 189. Lawler beat MacDonald with a split decision at UFC 167, which left a bad taste in MacDonald’s mouth. The pair agreed to a rematch two years later and fought for the UFC Welterweight Championship title that Lawler had won six months earlier.
Nothing could have prepared fans for what happened next. Both men unleashed calculated violence from the moment the opening bell sounded. As the fight wore on, MacDonald’s face became a bloodied mess, but he refused to give up and continued swinging punches as if his life depended on it.
A defining moment came at the end of the fourth round, when both exhausted and battered fighters stood in the center of the Octagon, staring each other down before returning to their corners. A few minutes later, in the fifth and final round, Lawler unleashed a ferocious punch that broke MacDonald’s nose, forcing him to collapse and ending the contest.
Many consider this fight the best-ever welterweight bout the UFC has run.
Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson – UFC 165, 2013
Jon Jones seemed invincible before September 21, 2013. The long-reigning light heavyweight champion had continually bulldozed his way through opponents thanks to his athleticism and fight IQ. Jones had a fear factor surrounding him, which gave him an advantage before a punch had been thrown. Then came Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165, who changed everyone’s outlook.
The Swedish challenger earned his title shot after winning six straight fights in the light heavyweight division. Gustafsson shocked the UFC world by inflicting the first take down of Jones’ career and also outstriking him in many exchanges. The Swede pushed Jones to his limits, and at several stages of the fight, it looked like Gustafsson could have claimed Jones’ crown.
However, Jones showed the heart of a champion, dug deep, and successfully defended his title against his plucky opponent. The judges eventually scored the fight unanimously in Jones’ favor, but Gustafsson could be immensely proud of his performance.
Jones and Gustafsson earned the Fight of the Night bonus, and the clash was voted the Fight of the Year (2013). Some consider it the best light heavyweight bout in UFC history.
Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen – UFC 117, 2010
Anderson Silva‘s fans were used to seeing their hero dismantle opponents in the middleweight division, but they saw a different side to the Brazilian’s game at UFC 117. Chael Sonnen dominated Silva with relentless wrestling and ground-and-pound for almost five full rounds and looked set to claim Silva’s middleweight belt.
With less than two minutes remaining in the final round, everything pointed to Sonnen winning by unanimous decision. However, Silva had other ideas. He locked onto Sonnen and deployed a triangle armbar that forced Sonnen to tap out.
The dramatic turnaround solidified Silva’s legacy as one of the greatest UFC fighters ever. Additionally, the fight was voted Submission of the Night, Fight of the Night, and Fight of the Year (2010). Watch a re-run as soon as you can!
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor – UFC 229, 2018
The best fights in any combat sport are often the result of fierce rivalry. No fight in UFC history carried as much bad blood as the battle between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. The pair had spent months trash-talking, and firing cutting insults at one another.
The fight was available on pay-per-view, and 2.4 million viewers bought in, making it the most-purchased UFC fight at the time. The fight did not disappoint, although McGregor’s legion of fans were left unhappy. Those fans expected the Irishman to put on a masterclass performance, but Nurmagomedov shone.
Nurmagomedov’s grappling was on another level, and he dominated McGregor with relentless pressure. A massive overhand right shook McGregor in the second round, and Nurmagomedov ended the contest in the fourth. Nurmagomedov secured a tight neck crank that forced McGregor’s submission.
What followed next was pure chaos. Nurmagomedov scaled the Octagon fence to attack McGregor’s team, leading to a mass post-fight melee! Despite the controversy, the fight was a masterclass in dominance and cemented Nurmagomedov as one of the best lightweight fighters of all time.
