When it comes to sports matches, none are more high-intensity and brutal than MMA fights.
Compared to other martial arts, MMA is much more versatile with every player bringing a new style. It doesn’t just depend on how hard you can hit, speed and stamina are some of the other factors that make a successful fighter.
You never know what to expect when watching an MMA fight. All it takes is one hit and the underdog not expected to win can come out the victor. These unpredictable matches make the sport especially popular in sports odds.
Some of these intense matches will stick in your memory, or have you coming back to rewatch them online multiple times. These matches are the ones that make MMA fighting so interesting so we have compiled a list of some of the greatest fights that will stick with us forever.
This list is in chronological order by year in order to limit bias.
2005 – Forrest Griffin Vs. Stephan Bonnar
This was the result of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter and is what many consider to be the reason for a renewed interest in MMA. Many people watched the matches leading up to this one and everyone had their favorite to win.
The winner of this fight would be awarded a 6-figure contract and both fighters were determined to get it.
The fight was a stream of continuous action that you couldn’t take your eyes off. In the end, Griffin won but Bonnar also proved his talents and was given a contract as well.
2005 – Matt Hughes Vs. Frank Trigg
This fight was your classic hero-villain story. You had the American hero Hughes against villain Trigg in a fight that almost looks scripted in its storytelling.
Trigg came in early with a low blow that wasn’t caught by the referee but Hughes was on a comeback. He ended up carrying Trigg across the octagon, slamming him, and then choking him to victory.
2007 – Chuck Lidell Vs. Wanderlei Silva
When 2 fighters of equal power are set to fight, it is hard to predict who will win. Liddell and Silva are both power hitters so were meeting each other blow for blow.
In the end, Liddell won by slamming Silva into the ground.
2009 – Diego Sanchez Vs. Clay Guida
This was an all-out offensive battle with the supposed leader changing every round.
In the first round, Sanchez seemed to have a sure victory. But then Guida dominated in the second round.
In the end, Sanchez was declared the victor but it was up in the air until the end.
2010 – Jorge Santiago Vs. Kazuo Misaki
During this match, each player was able to show off their impressive boxing skills to create an equal match right until the end.
With just 30 seconds left in the third round, Santiago began a barrage of punches which inevitably gave him the win.
2011 – Frankie Edgar Vs. Gray Maynard
This was for the Lightweight Championship with Maynard coming in on the offensive early to demonstrate how badly he wanted it.
In the end, Edgar proved why he was the champion and retained his title.
2013 – Jon Jones Vs. Alexander Gustafsson
This match was so even that even today people argue over who the real victor was.
While it was given to Jones, there are many good arguments that Gustafsson did enough to get the victory instead.
2013 – Mark Hunt Vs. Antonio Silva
This was an absolutely brutal match with any normal person being knocked out cold after one hit. Some parts of the floor were stained red by the end of the match.
Hunt was an absolute beast during this match where every hit mattered. Silva was able to land many hits, despite the blood flowing down his face.
After 5 rounds it was declared a draw as both fighters went off to nurse their injuries.
2015 – Robbie Lawler Vs. Rory MacDonald
This was another absolutely brutal match where both fighters’ faces were almost unrecognizable at the end of it.
By the third round, it looked like Lawler had the victory in the bag, but MacDonald came in with an impressive right kick to Lawler’s head at the end of the third round.
This awakened an incredible back and forth in the 4th round with Lawler defending his title after MacDonald collapses.
2016 – Nate Diaz Vs. Conor McGregor
This was their second fight with Diaz achieving a victory in the first. McGregor was determined to show that he was the better fighter.
The match lasted the full 5 rounds, one of the few times we see McGregor fight for this long as he likes to finish his matches quickly.
It was an equally matched bout that had everyone on the edge of their seats. In the end, McGregor took the victory.
Conclusion
Each of these fights will go down in MMA history as some of the greatest fights to ever grace the octagon.
Remember that this list is a matter of opinion and that your favorite fights may differ from someone else.