The 5 best UFC fights that new fans should watch
With the UFC on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, there's no way to watch live events and become a fight fan. That's where we come in.
If you're a new fan of the sport, here are the five best fights from the past to check out.
Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald 2
UFC 189, July 2015
This all-time classic will show just how violent MMA can be. Instead of fighting at a more reserved pace due to the high stakes, Lawler and MacDonald went back and forth for nearly five rounds.
With the UFC welterweight title up for grabs, neither side backed down. MacDonald stunned Lawler with head kicks and elbows; Lawler marched the Canadian down and landed ferocious punches. And every time you thought the bout was about to be stopped, they kept swinging, preventing the referee from stepping in.
In the fifth round, Lawler crushed MacDonald's nose with a punch, sending the challenger down to the canvas. The damage had finally taken its toll on the "Red King" as Lawler retained the title via TKO, but both savages left the cage bruised and bloodied.
Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 1
UFC 117, August 2010
When this fight happened, Silva had already defended the UFC middleweight title six times and had won 12 straight fights. He was one of the most dominant champions in the promotion's history.
Fans were used to seeing Silva outclass - and destroy - his opponents. They expected nothing different against Sonnen, a lofty underdog.
The first four rounds of the fight shocked the world. As expected, it was a one-sided affair - but for the challenger! Sonnen repeatedly took Silva down and the Brazilian titleholder was unable to get back up. It seemed Sonnen was grappling his way to a ginormous upset.
With less than three minutes to go, Silva knew he needed a finish to continue his reign as champion. Out of nowhere, he threw up a triangle armbar and caught Sonnen, who couldn't do anything but tap. Silva retained the belt in one of the greatest comebacks of all time, proving that anything can happen in this sport.
Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez
UFC 205, November 2016
This fight is a perfect introduction to the UFC's biggest superstar.
After a pair of gritty bouts against Nate Diaz, McGregor was due for a clean, outstanding performance. He certainly delivered in this lightweight title fight.
McGregor picked the 155-pound champion apart right from the opening bell, busting Alvarez up with combination after combination. The Irishman finally dropped the American for good in the second round and became the first competitor in UFC history to hold two titles at the same time.
The historic win skyrocketed McGregor to new heights and cemented his status as the most popular fighter ever.
Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
UFC 248, March 2020
If you want a taste of what women's MMA has to offer, this is the fight to watch.
Yes, this bout happened not even two weeks ago, but I don't think recency bias is a factor. Not only was it the best women's fight in MMA history - it's one of the greatest fights of all time.
Zhang-Jedrzejczyk was literally nonstop action as the fighters barely stopped to breathe. They set a ridiculous pace in an entertaining first round and somehow kept that up for 25 minutes. As the fight progressed, it just got more and more fun.
Zhang, the strawweight champion, faced more adversity than in all her other UFC bouts combined, while Jedrzejczyk had to fight through a massive hematoma on her forehead. Both competitors proved so much in this epic slugfest, and Zhang ultimately took home a split-decision victory.
Diego Sanchez vs. Nick Diaz
"TUF 2" finale, November 2005
There's much more to MMA than just striking, and this fight will give you an idea of what to expect when two skilled fighters go to the ground.
Sanchez and Diaz put on a grappling clinic when they met nearly 15 years ago. "The Nightmare" had lots of success with takedowns and therefore recorded more control time than his foe, but Diaz was still solid enough as a jiu-jitsu artist to make the bout competitive.
The submission attempts, scrambles, sweeps, and transitions in this fight were insane. Sanchez and Diaz constantly reversed positions and the action kept moving.
Aside from his time spent on top, Sanchez's ground-and-pound was on full display and put him ahead on the judges' scorecards at the end of this very intriguing affair.