Top 10 Best UFC Fights Of All Time
September 17, 2021 By Sourav
The Ultimate Fighting Championship promotes mixed martial arts around the globe. It is a tournament where world-class fighters compete based on their weight classes. There have been many ups and downs since the UFC began in 1993, but it still has a massive following worldwide. And we are going to discuss those ten best UFC fights of all time.
The UFC is one of the most dangerous games in comparison to the WWE. Athletes fight based on their skill level and win due to their performance and knocking down the opponent. While WWE wrestlers act and entertain, unlike other sports like WWE, that is planned before a match happens.
For a fighter to be the best in UFC, they must dedicate a lot of time and effort. Many fighters have achieved success while facing extreme challenges, such as Randy Couture and Mark Coleman. Therefore, we have run deep analyses to bring you the best fights of all-time in UFC. Let's get started.
Best UFC Fights | All-Time Ranking
10. Dan Hooker vs Paul Felder | 23rd February 2020
9. Clay Guida vs Diego Sanchez | 20th June 2009
8. Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar | 9th April 2005
7. Pat Barry vs Cheick Kongo | 26th June 2011
6. Weili Zhang vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk | 7th March 2020
5. Robert Whittaker vs Yoel Romero | 9th June 2018
4. Kelvin Gastelum vs Israel Adesanya | 13th April 2019
3. Mark Hunt vs Antonio Silva | 6th December 2013
2. Cub Swanson vs Doo Ho Choi | 10th December 2016
1. Robbie Lawler vs Rory MacDonald | 11th July 2015
Don’t Miss
• Best UFC Fights | Ranking Infographics
• FAQs Regarding Best UFC Fights
MMA or mixed martial arts is one of the most popular sports in the world. Besides, it is also one of the highest-paying sports the world has ever witnessed. It has surprised its fans with numerous amazing fights in its prime competition, UFC. And here is the best of those.
10. Dan Hooker vs Paul Felder | 23rd February 2020
In the top 10 best UFC fights of all time, we have Dan Hooker and Paul Felder at number 10. Mixed martial artist Daniel Preston Hooker is from New Zealand. He competes in the UFC's lightweight division. And Paul Robert Felder is a retired professional mixed martial artist from the United States and a UFC color commentator.
On 23rd February 2020, thousands of people gathered on the fight island to match these two giants. Hooker's initial strategy was to kick sharply and circle while using his length to drill Felder's lead leg at the start of the fight. While on the other side Felder's strategy included chasing and delivering powerful blows.
After the first round, Felder's leg was severely injured, and his one eye was swollen and closed. In any case, a five-round match was underway, and it was evident that winning the UFC was becoming a challenge for Paul.
Three rounds later, Paul was waisted, and his trainer pleaded with him to give up, but he refused to do so. He went through all four rounds, and Hooker hit him on the face so hard that he fell to the ground. And Judge Barry Foley declared Dan Hooker the winner of UFC. The match was thrilling and shocking for all UFC fans, and it received the most attention.
9. Clay Guida vs Diego Sanchez | 20th June 2009
On number 9, we've Clay Guida vs. Diego Sanchez out of the top 10 best UFC fights of all time. American MMA fighter, Clayton Charles, is currently affiliated with the UFC, competing in the Lightweight division. And Diego Sanchez is an American professional mixed martial artist. He competes in the Welterweight division.
The fight between these two greatest MMA fighters happened on 20th June 2009 where his fans gathered to see the incredible moments. Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida fought in one of the most iconic UFC fights.
In the battle, both fighters displayed tenacity and toughness. And the fight was widely considered one of the best MMA fights ever. After the third round began, both players rushed straight into attack mode. Although they appeared exhausted, they remained determined to fight until the bitter end.
During the middle of the octagon, they began trading strikes. Guida tried to take down Sanchez, but Sanchez quickly slid to his left and took Guida's back. After that, he started bleeding profusely, and despite his best efforts, he couldn't get up and fight. The judges declared Diego Sanchez as the winner of UFC.
8. Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar | 9th April 2005
On number 8, we have Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar out of the top 10 best UFC fights of all time. Griffin, a former Light Heavyweight Champion of the UFC, became a mixed martial artist after retiring in 2009.
At the UFC Performance Institute, he serves as Vice President of Athlete Development. And Stephen Patrick Bonnar is a retired mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler. The majority of Brannar's career was spent as a Light Heavyweight in the UFC.
The UFC fight between these two incredible hunks happened on 9th April 2005, known as the best fight of UFC history. Spike TV aired a three-round fight between Herb Dean and John Cena, the UFC's standard for non-title bouts. Bonnar attempted to counterattack from a distance against Griffin's kicks and punches in the third and final round. After Griffin clinched, he delivered several knees.
During the middle round, Bonnar landed several short punches. Bonnar, however, only counterattacked when the opportunity arose. Following a quick exchange of punches, Griffin held Bonnar in a Thai clinch and attacked with knees. That was the winning shot of Griffin, which made him the winner of the match. And the referees announced him the winner of the game.
7. Pat Barry vs Cheick Kongo | 26th June 2011
The Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo fight is ranked 7th out of the top 10 best UFC fights of all time. Patrick Joseph Barry was a former American mixed martial artist and kickboxer who competed as a heavyweight in the UFC. A former kickboxer and heavyweight mixed martial artist, Cheick Guillaume Ouedraogo fights for Bellator MMA.
As the best UFC fight of all time, Barry and Kongo's bout on 26th June 2011 was one of the most-watched matches. In the first round of the match, Barry slipped a jab from Kongo to land a massive overhand right behind the ear. As Kongo hit the canvas, his legs dried out, and as Barry followed up to finish the fight, referee Dan Miragliotta had his hands on "HD" milliseconds before stopping it.
Even though Kongo managed to get to his feet, a right hand from Barry knocked him back down. As a last-ditch effort, Barry attempted to deliver the same finish that Kongo lacked earlier. While Kongo stepped back again, Barry reached for his hands to extinguish his lights as he walked towards him.
Kongo planted his feet, using two right hands to do so. As Kongo walked around the octagon with his hand proudly raised, Barry continued to lie unconscious on the canvas, and then eyes rolled back into his head.
6. Weili Zhang vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk | 7th March 2020
On number 6, we have ranked Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk's fight out of the top 10 best UFC fights of all time. Zhang Weili is a Chinese mixed martial artist. Besides, she is widely considered one of the greatest female MMA fighters of all time.
She is the former Kunlun Fight strawweight champion and competes in the strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. And Joanna Jedrzejczyk is a Polish professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai kickboxer.
The fight between Weili and Joanna was held on 7th March 2020, which was regarded as the most outstanding women's fight in UFC history. Weili performed very well in the first round and seemed very confident. After the 3rd round, things became more brutal, and both were suffering from fatigue.
However, they continued to fight vigorously, not giving up. In the fifth round, Joanna made her stagnant on the ground, causing her to win the game. This match was considered one of the most extraordinary women's fighters.
5. Robert Whittaker vs Yoel Romero | 9th June 2018
On number 5, we have ranked Robert Whittaker vs. Yoel Romero fights out of the top 10 best UFC fights of all time. Robert John Whittaker is a New Zealand-born Australian professional mixed martial artist. And Yoel Romero Palacio is a Cuban professional mixed martial artist and former freestyle wrestler.
The fight between these two spectacular players was held on 9th June 2018 and got a vast watched match title across the globe. It doesn't have to be action-packed for the fight to be great, and that is what's happened in this one. Romero's reluctance to throw strikes slows the fight down at times, but his sporadic flurries and abnormal movements made exciting combat.
The fight certainly has its big moments as well. There are moments when insanity starts to unfold that make the audience jump out of their chairs. Its anticipation and chaos make it an all-time favorite rollercoaster, despite a few lulls.
They were unstoppable machines, and the game was challenging between them. After a brutal fight between Robert and Yoel, Robert patched a heavy punch right on Yoel's face and dropped him to the ground. That was the moment when the Referee announced Robert Whittaker as the winner.
4. Kelvin Gastelum vs Israel Adesanya | 13th April 2019
We ranked Kelvin Gastelum vs. Israel Adesanya fourth out of the top 10 best fights of all time. MMA fighter Kelvin Gastelum represents the United States in international competitions. His current division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship is Middleweight. And Israel Mobolaji is a Nigerian-born New Zealand professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer and boxer.
The fight between Gastelum and Adesanya was held on 13th April 2019 and is considered one of the best fights in UFC history. At one point between rounds during this fight, fans have noticed Adesanya look across the cage and say, "I'm prepared to die," and that statement alone encapsulates what was going through both fighters' minds at the time.
Although both sides faced adversity, neither could establish a sustainable game plan during the game. On the fight island, people were shocked and thrilled after watching them beat each other so humiliatingly.
Then he knocked down Kelvin and rendered him unconscious. Israel Adesanya, one of the richest MMA fighters of all time, won the match, which was announced the winner by Referee.
3. Mark Hunt vs Antonio Silva | 6th December 2013
On number 3, we have ranked Mark Hunt vs. Antonio Silva out of the top 10 best UFC fights of all time. Mark Richard Hunt is a New Zealand mixed martial artist and former kickboxer of Samoan descent, currently living in Sydney, Australia. And Silva is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer who competes in the Heavyweight division.
Two of the fittest male athletes of this generation came face to face in this bout. And this match between Mark and Silva was held on 6th December 2013 and got massive recognition as the best fight in the world.
One of the biggest fights was where both stood toe to toe and had thrown huge punches upon each other. Silva played amazingly in rounds 1,2, and 3. On the other side, Hunt performed well in the four and 5th rounds. However, the fight belonged to Big Foot.
The battle between them went viral on multiple platforms and sold enormous copies worldwide, which produced considerable amounts for UFC.
2. Cub Swanson vs Doo Ho Choi | 10th December 2016
On number 2, we have ranked Cub Swanson vs. Doo Ho Choi's fight out of the top 10 best fights of all time. Kevin Luke Swanson, known professionally as Cub Swanson, is an American professional mixed martial artist. And Choi Doo-ho is a South Korean mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in their Featherweight division.
The fight between these two giants happened on 10th December 2016, and worth watching again and again till now. In the first round, there was no competition, but it was fun. Both of them were trying to figure it out.
But after the second round, it became worse for both of them as they started delivering massive punches towards each other. Both fighters used their speed to swing backward and forwards to knock down their opponent.
After completing four rounds, it was miserable for both of them as they were going through heavy fatigue. In the fifth round, Doo was declared the winner. And with this win, he became one of the richest UFC fighters the world has ever seen.
1. Robbie Lawler vs Rory MacDonald | 11th July 2015
On number 1, we have ranked Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald's fight out of the top 10 best fights of all time. Robert Lawler is an American MMA fighter, competing since 2001. And Rory Joseph MacDonald is a Canadian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division of the Professional Fighters League.
Two of the highest-paid athletes came on the ring to face each other in a heated UFC battle. This fight has gained immense fame and recognition. It was held on 11th July 2015, between Robbie and Rory.
Lawler and MacDonald were known for their rivalry, but that does not stem from hatred, unlike most. It comes from their fierce intensity when fighting, and you can see this boiling over as the fight progresses.
It has always been said that these giants have the same kind of anger and power, which is why it is worth watching when they fight. There is a lot of violence in it, and the fight dynamics are unique.
Conclusion
UFC has more than 600+ participants, or you can say, players. It was tough to choose the best fighters between them. The bouts you have gone through above are considered the best UFC fights of all time. And most of the fighters have a massive fan following all across the world. They also make a tremendous amount of money from sponsorships on social media.
We hope you have enjoyed reading our article and especially the ranking. If you think we have missed any other best fight, please let us know in the comment box.
Best UFC Fights | All-Time Ranking | Infographics
FAQs Regarding Best UFC Fights
Q. What is the best fight in UFC history?
The best fight in UFC history was held between Cub Swanson vs. Doo Ho Choi on 10th December 2016. Both of these fantastic players played smoothly in round one. However, there was extreme animosity between them during the second round, which produced a world-class fight that will remain in memory forever.
Q. Which is the best women's fight in UFC history?
The best women's fight in history was between Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The battle between Weili and Joanna was held on 7th March 2020, regarded as the most outstanding women's fight in UFC history.
Q. What are the top 10 best UFC fights of all time?
According to the analysis of our expert panel, the all-time best UFC matches should consist of Jon Jones vs. Shogun Rua, Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga, Royce Gracie vs. Kimo Leopoldo, Matt Hughes vs. BJ Penn, Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo, Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Hughes, Karo Parisyan vs. Nick Diaz, Quincy Rampage Jackson vs. Dan Henderson, Carlos Condit vs. Rory MacDonald, and Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch.
Q. Who competed in the best UFC fights ever?
With a total fight time of 4 hours, 39 minutes, and 47 seconds, Jon Jones holds the record for the most prolonged title fight. He is still competing in the UFC and is a former two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Leave a Reply