10. Frankie Edgar vs. Grey Maynard 3 - UFC 136
Fighting not only for the lightweight title, but to close the book on their amazing rivalry, Frankie Edgar and Grey Maynard met for the third and final time just nine months after their instant classic second encounter. Dominated yet again in the opening rounds, Edgar miraculously survived the first round and came back to not only defeat Maynard, but finish him decisively with a crushing counter combination late in the fourth round.
9. Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar - The Ultimate Fighter Finale
While not the most technically sound battle witnessed inside the Octagon, Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar’s epic scrap remains one of the UFC’s most important fights. With a six figure contract up for grabs, and millions watching for free on prime time television, the two light heavyweights fought with an intensity and urgency that few have been able to replicate since. Griffin may have ended up with his arm raised, but both men succeeded in immortalising themselves thanks to their gutsy, hall of fame-worthy performances.
8. Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes 2 - UFC 179
Long before Conor McGregor’s ascension, Chad Mendes was seen by many as longtime featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s greatest challenge, and he showed just why when they met for the second time in Brazil. Unleashing his furious striking power, Mendes pushed Aldo harder than anyone before him, but the champion proved his worth by rallying back on multiple occasions to ultimately keep his reign alive. An extraordinary back-and-forth battle that acts as a powerful reminder of Aldo’s recently unappreciated talent.
7. Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald 2 - UFC 189
It may have started a little slow, but Robbie Lawler’s first title defense eventually evolved into one of the greatest welterweight fights of all time. Facing the favoured Rory MacDonald for a second time after a close first fight, Lawler managed to withstand the young Canadian’s diverse and punishing offense before securing his first victory as champion after a final straight punch landed in the final round smashed MacDonald’s already wrecked nose. Matt Hughes once remarked that a true champion must defend his title, and that’s just what his former protege succeeded in doing here.
6. Mark Hunt vs. Bigfoot Silva - UFC Fight Night 33
Few expected Mark Hunt and Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva’s Australia-based main event clash to go the distance, and even fewer predicted that their incredible five-round war would be an instant classic, widely considered one of the greatest heavyweight bouts in UFC history. For twenty five minutes, the two aging big men stood toe-to-toe and tested the other’s will with an assortment of devastating haymakers. Bloodied and battered but neither man beaten, the two warriors proved themselves as true heavyweight greats, and never in the history of the sport has a draw verdict been so warmly received as it was here.
5. Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen - UFC 117
Ruler of the middleweight division for five years at this point, Anderson Silva’s unbeatable aura took a considerable dent when Chael Sonnen came agonisingly close to backing up his now-legendary pre-fight trash talk and taking the title. Rocking Silva early and dominating from there with his excellent grappling, Sonnen was less than two minutes away from dethroning the Brazilian before a simple positional mistake allowed Silva to secure a triangle armbar combination, leaving the ‘American Gangster’ little choice but to surrender his inevitable victory.
4. Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler - 171
With Georges St. Pierre relinquishing the welterweight title after a second reign of over five years, Johny Hendricks seemed in prime position to succeed the Canadian as champion. Unfortunately for him, Robbie Lawler, a fighter who just two years prior was considered a washed-up relic of a bygone era, stood between him and the gold. Ultimately Hendricks wouldn’t be denied his glory, but not after engaging Lawler in a punishing twenty five minute thriller that went right down to the final seconds of the final round. One of the closest battles in fight history, and one that we would all be treated to again just a few months later...
3. Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson - UFC 165
Quickly surpassing Tito Ortiz as the most successful light heavyweight champion of all time, Jon Jones stood alone at the top of the 205 pound division. No one envisioned coming close to dethroning the champion...but that all changed when Sweden’s Alexander Gustafsson stepped up to give him the fight of his life. Matching the champion in almost every area for the entire duration of the bout, Gustafsson pushed Jones in a way that no one had done before, or since for that matter. Adversity shows the true measure of a champion, and while Jones has struggled with recent legal issues, his position as one of the sport’s top competitors cannot be denied thanks to his winning performance here.
2. Frankie Edgar vs. Grey Maynard 2 - UFC 125
Facing the only man to have beaten him at this point, Frankie Edgar faced tall odds both figuratively and literally when he put his newly acquired lightweight title on the line in a rematch against Grey Maynard. With clear height, reach and strength advantages, Maynard lived up to his nickname as he bullied Edgar in the early stages of the fight, dropping the champion multiple times with a series of debilitating blows. Bloodied but far from beaten, Edgar not only survived the initial onslaught, but managed to even the bout, forcing a split draw verdict from the judges after five rounds of razor thin, back-and-forth action.
1. Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua - UFC 139
Giving new meaning to the term ‘Rock 'Em Sock 'Em’, Pride veterans Dan Henderson and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua stunned audiences with their epic five-round war. Throwing all caution to the wind, the two legendary warriors put everything on the line as they traded blows in wild exchanges all across the Octagon. With a clear advantage heading into the ‘championship’ rounds, Henderson seemed set to coast to victory, but an amazing late comeback from ‘Shogun’ very nearly saw him snatch an unlikely victory.
After 25 minutes and five rounds of relentless action, the two men stood tall in the centre of the Octagon, almost certain of their participation in one of the sport's all-time great fights.
Honorable Mentions:
Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva - UFC 79
Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg II - UFC 52
Joe Lauzon vs. Jamie Varner - UFC on Fox 4
Agree? Disagree? What is the greatest UFC fight of all time? Leave your suggestions in the comments section below!
