(This story first was revealed Dec. 24, 2020.)
The UFC by no means has been shy about attempting to ship fireworks.
Historically, the promotion has preferred to shut out the calendar 12 months with a bang. (Though a couple of years, the best way the dates fell, it meant beginning the brand new 12 months with one, as an alternative.) However the level is, a giant pay-per-view all the time was one thing followers might stay up for across the holidays.
The previous few years, the UFC has shifted away from these, and the ultimate pay-per-view of the 12 months has been in the midst of December. However we nonetheless have reminiscences of these huge blowout occasions from the previous.
Within the spirit of the vacation season, right here’s our countdown of the most effective fights from the UFC’s previous year-end pay-per-views.
Disclaimer: Like all lists, this stuff are subjective. Possibly Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit was a really nice and aggressive battle, however Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey was removed from aggressive and only a mauling. Once we say “finest fights,” we additionally imply finest moments, so don’t get too hung up on Monday morning quarterbacking. Simply benefit from the look-back.
24. Cole Miller def. Dan Lauzon
Cole Miller vs. Dan Lauzon, UFC 108
Occasion: UFC 108Date: Jan. 2, 2010Result: Cole Miller def. Dan Lauzon through submission (reverse triangle choke and kimura) – Spherical 1, 3:05Notes: “Submission of the Evening” ($50,000) for Miller … Miller’s third UFC fight-night bonus award … Miller’s eleventh submission in 16 profession wins … Lauzon’s return to the UFC after greater than three years away … Lauzon’s brother Joe fought afterward the cardboard and misplaced to Sam Stout
23. Sam Stout def. Joe Lauzon
Sam Stout vs. Joe Lauzon, UFC 108
Occasion: UFC 108Date: Jan. 2, 2010Result: Sam Stout def. Joe Lauzon through unanimous determination (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)Notes: “Combat of the Evening” ($50,000 every for Stout and Lauzon) … Stout’s second straight “Combat of the Evening” award in a run that hit three in a row … Stout’s second straight win, which gave him his first profitable streak within the UFC … Lauzon’s fifth total UFC bonus award and second in a run that hit six fights in a row … first determination lack of Lauzon’s profession … Lauzon’s brother Dan fought earlier on the cardboard and misplaced to Cole Miller, who gained “Submission of the Evening”
22. Jon Jones def. Alexander Gustafsson
Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson, UFC 232
Occasion: UFC 232Date: Dec. 29, 2018Result: Jon Jones def. Alexander Gustafsson through TKO (punches) – Spherical 3, 2:02 – to win vacant gentle heavyweight titleNotes: The battle was a rematch from UFC 165 in September 2013, which Jones gained by unanimous determination in what was his closest battle to that time … Jones and Gustafsson every made a disclosed $500,000 for the battle; Jones was not scheduled to obtain a disclosed win bonus … the win was Jones’ 14th straight, which doesn’t rely his stoppage of Daniel Cormier at UFC 214, which was overturned to a no contest … the TKO end was Jones’ return to stoppages (once more, not counting the no contest) after determination wins in his earlier 4 fights … Gustafsson dropped to 0-3 in gentle heavyweight title fights, together with his earlier loss to Jones and a break up determination loss to Cormier at UFC 192.
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Jon Jones def. Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 232: Greatest photographs
21. Travis Browne def. Josh Barnett
Travis Browne vs. Josh Barnett, UFC 168
Occasion: UFC 168Date: Dec. 28, 2013Result: Travis Browne def. Josh Barnett through knockout (elbows) – Spherical 1, 1:00Notes: “Knockout of the Evening” ($75,000) for Browne … Win was Browne’s third straight first-round knockout and third straight “Knockout of the Evening” bonus, all in an ideal 3-0 2013 … After the win, Browne went on a 2-6 slide, together with a loss his subsequent outing in a title eliminator to Fabricio Werdum, who went on to grow to be heavyweight champion … Browne fought one battle forward of Ronda Rousey, whom he began courting lower than two years later and ultimately married … Loss was Barnett’s first by knockout in seven years
20. Jim Miller def. Joe Lauzon
Jim Miller vs. Joe Lauzon, UFC 155
Occasion: UFC 155Date: Dec. 29, 2012Result: Jim Miller def. Joe Lauzon through unanimous determination (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Notes: “Combat of the Evening” ($65,000 every for Miller and Lauzon) … bonus was Lauzon’s twelfth post-fight award in 14 UFC fights to that time and ninth in 9 fights … Miller and Lauzon had a mixed 54 fights heading into the bout, which was UFC 155’s co-main occasion … Simply the second time Lauzon had misplaced a call, although each of these setbacks had been “Combat of the Evening” winners … Miller was a substitute for Lauzon’s unique opponent, Grey Maynard … Miller and Lauzon fought in a rematch in August 2016, which was a break up determination win for Miller and once more a “Combat of the Evening” honoree.
19. Paul Felder def. Danny Castillo
Paul Felder vs. Danny Castillo, UFC 182
Occasion: UFC 182Date: Jan. 3, 2015Result: Paul Felder def. Danny Castillo through knockout (spinning backfist) – Spherical 2, 2:09Notes: “Efficiency of the Evening” ($50,000 for Felder) … battle was Felder’s second within the UFC and saved him excellent at 10-0 as a professional … knockout was Felder’s seventh in 10 fights to open his profession … KO was considered one of simply three finishes at UFC 182 to go together with eight choices … Felder’s spinning again fist KO was simply the third in UFC historical past.
18. Nate Diaz def. Donald Cerrone
Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz, UFC 141
Occasion: UFC 141Date: Dec. 30, 2011Result: Nate Diaz def. Donald Cerrone through unanimous determination (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)Notes: “Combat of the Evening” ($75,000 every for Diaz and Cerrone) … considered one of seven choices in 10 fights on the cardboard … center victory in a run of three straight wins for Diaz after his return to light-weight; all three had been bonus-winners … was Diaz’s ninth post-fight bonus in his fifteenth UFC battle … loss snapped a six-fight profitable streak for Cerrone that included his first 4 within the UFC after the merger with the WEC … Cerrone’s fourth UFC bonus in 5 fights … was Cerrone’s fifth battle within the 2011 calendar 12 months.
17. Alexander Volkanovski def. Chad Mendes
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Chad Mendes, UFC 232
Occasion: UFC 232Date: Dec. 29, 2018Result: Alexander Volkanovski def. Chad Mendes through TKO (punches) – Spherical 2, 4:14Notes: “Combat of the Evening” ($50,000 for Volkanovski and Mendes) … first bonus win in Volkanovski’s profession (and to date, solely bonus win) … considered one of 10 stoppages in 13 fights on the cardboard … Volkanovski’s sixteenth straight win on his method to a featherweight title shot and supreme title win … third loss in 4 fights for Mendes … second battle for Mendes after getting back from two-year suspension … Mendes introduced retirement after the loss and hasn’t fought since.
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Alex Volkanovski def. Chad Mendes at UFC 232: Greatest photographs
16. Cain Velasquez def. Junior Dos Santos
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos, UFC 155
Occasion: UFC 155Date: Dec. 29, 2012Result: Cain Velasquez def. Junior Dos Santos through unanimous determination (50-45, 50-43, 50-44)Notes: Rematch from UFC on FOX 1 in November 2011 … Dos Santos gained the primary battle as challenger by knocking out Velasquez within the first spherical … the 2 fought a 3rd time at UFC 166, which Velasquez gained by fifth-round TKO … considered one of eight choices in 12 fights on the cardboard … Dos Santos has fought 12 instances since his UFC 155 loss to Velasquez with a 6-6 report – and all six losses by knockout … Velasquez has fought simply 5 instances because the UFC 155 win over Dos Santos.
15. Rashad Evans def. Forrest Griffin
Rashad Evans vs. Forrest Griffin, UFC 92
Occasion: UFC 92Date: Dec. 27, 2008Result: Rashad Evans def. Forrest Griffin through TKO (punches) – Spherical 3, 2:46 – to win gentle heavyweight titleNotes: “Combat of the Evening” ($60,000 every for Evans, Griffin) … Griffin’s third straight bonus … first time two “Final Fighter” winners met in a title battle … after beating Quinton “Rampage” Jackson to win the belt in July 2008, Griffin misplaced it in his first tried protection … Evans stayed unbeaten, however like Griffin misplaced the title in his first tried protection in Might 2009;
14. Quinton Jackson def. Wanderlei Silva
Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva, UFC 92
Occasion: UFC 92Date: Dec. 27, 2008Result: Quinton Jackson def. Wanderlei Silva through knockout (punch) – Spherical 1, 3:21Notes: “Knockout of the Evening” ($60,000 for Jackson) … third bonus for Jackson in his first 5 UFC fights … considered one of eight knockouts in 10 fights on the cardboard, together with all 5 on the pay-per-view important card … trilogy battle for “Rampage” and Silva; Silva gained the primary two fights in PRIDE by knockout … the pair fought a fourth time in September 2018 at Bellator 206, gained by Jackson to even the collection at 2-2 … Silva’s fourth loss in 5 fights, together with three by knockout.
13. Johny Hendricks def. Jon Fitch
Johny Hendricks vs. Jon Fitch, UFC 141
Occasion: UFC 141Date: Dec. 30, 2011Result: Johny Hendricks def. Jon Fitch through knockout (punch) – Spherical 1, 0:12Notes: “Knockout of the Evening” ($75,000 for Hendricks) … considered one of simply three stoppages, all on the principle card, on the 10-fight occasion … third victory in a six-fight profitable streak for Hendricks that led to a welterweight title shot in opposition to Georges St-Pierre … simply the second knockout lack of Fitch’s profession … although the quickest end in Hendricks’ profession, at 12 seconds it doesn’t fairly attain the highest 10 quickest KOs in UFC historical past.
12. Alistair Overeem def. Brock Lesnar
Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar, UFC 141
Occasion: UFC 141Date: Dec. 30, 2011Result: Alistair Overeem def. Brock Lesnar through TKO (physique kick, punches) – Spherical 1, 2:26Notes: Overeem’s UFC debut after coming over from Strikeforce … considered one of simply three stoppages, all on the principle card, on the 10-fight occasion … Overeem’s eleventh straight win and a return to finishes after a call victory over Fabricio Werdum in Strikeforce … was Lesnar’s return 14 months after shedding the heavyweight title to Cain Velasquez … Lesnar introduced his MMA retirement after the loss, citing diverticulitis struggles, however returned to the UFC in 2016 for yet another battle.
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Alistair Overeem def. Brock Lesnar at UFC 141: Greatest photographs
11. Georges St-Pierre def. Matt Hughes
Georges St-Pierre vs. Matt Hughes, UFC 79
Occasion: UFC 79Date: Dec. 29, 2007Result: Georges St-Pierre def. Matt Hughes through verbal submission (armbar) – Spherical 2, 4:54 – to win interim welterweight titleNotes: “Submission of the Evening” ($50,000 for St-Pierre) … second bonus of St-Pierre’s UFC profession … Hughes was purported to battle Matt Serra for Serra’s welterweight title, however Serra withdrew with a again damage … St-Pierre changed Serra, who beat him at UFC 69, within the interim title battle … trilogy battle; Hughes gained the primary assembly at UFC 50, however St-Pierre gained the ultimate two … St-Pierre’s first submission win in additional than two years – he didn’t have one other until the ultimate battle of his profession practically 10 years later.
10. Chris Weidman def. Anderson Silva
Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva, UFC 168
Occasion: UFC 168Date: Dec. 28, 2013Result: Chris Weidman def. Anderson Silva through TKO (damage) – Spherical 2, 1:16Notes: Rematch from UFC 162, at which Weidman took the middleweight title from Silva with a second-round knockout … Silva suffered one of the grotesque accidents in MMA historical past when he broke his proper leg within the second spherical when Weidman checked considered one of his kicks … win saved Weidman unbeaten at 11-0 and was his third straight stoppage win … after his legendary unbeaten run of greater than six years, Silva suffered a consecutive loss for the primary time in his profession … Silva’s report because the loss is 1-5; Weidman’s is 4-5 because the win.
9. Cody Garbrandt def. Dominick Cruz
Cody Garbrandt vs. Dominick Cruz, UFC 207
Occasion: UFC 207Date: Dec. 30, 2016Result: Cody Garbrandt def. Dominick Cruz through unanimous determination (48-46, 48-47, 48-46) – to win bantamweight titleNotes: “Combat of the Evening” ($50,000 every for Garbrandt and Cruz) … Cruz’s fourth UFC bonus … Garbrandt stayed unbeaten at 10-0 to win the title … Cruz had a 13-fight profitable streak snapped for his first loss in practically 10 years … in Cruz’s 13-fight streak, seven had been wins in title fights within the UFC or WEC … considered one of six choices in 10 fights on the cardboard.
8. Chuck Liddell def. Tito Oritz
Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz, UFC 66
Occasion: UFC 66Date: Dec. 30, 2006Result: Chuck Liddell def. Tito Oritz through TKO (punches) – Spherical 3, 3:59 – to retain gentle heavyweight titleNotes: “Combat of the Evening” for Liddell and Ortiz (undisclosed payout) … set the North American MMA reside gate report on the time at $5.4 million … final of eight straight finishes on the occasion following a call within the opening battle … rematch from a UFC 47 battle in April 2004, at which Liddell knocked out Ortiz in the principle occasion … the 2 fought a 3rd time in November 2018 for Golden Boy Promotions – a knockout win for Ortiz to keep away from a 3-0 trilogy sweep by Liddell … Liddell misplaced the sunshine heavyweight title his subsequent battle to Quinton Jackson, which began a 1-6 slide to finish his profession … snapped a five-fight profitable streak for Ortiz, all of which got here after his first battle with Liddell.
7. Chuck Liddell def. Wanderlei Silva
Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva, UFC 79
Occasion: UFC 79Date: Dec. 29, 2007Result: Chuck Liddell def. Wanderlei Silva through unanimous determination (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)Notes: “Combat of the Evening” ($50,000 every for Liddell and Silva) … voted by many retailers because the 2007 “Combat of the Yr” considered one of simply three choices on the 10-fight card … final win of Liddell’s prolific profession – he went on a four-fight slide of knockout losses after this win … after his eight earlier wins had been by knockout, was Liddell’s first determination win since June 2002 at uFC 37.5 … was Silva’s return to the UFC for the primary time since UFC 25 in April 2000 … loss was Silva’s third straight, the one such skid of his profession.
6. Amanda Nunes def. Ronda Rousey
Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey, UFC 207
Occasion: UFC 207Date: Dec. 30, 2016Result: Amanda Nunes def. Ronda Rousey through TKO (punches) – Spherical 1, 0:48 – to defend ladies’s bantamweight titleNotes: “Efficiency of the Evening” for Nunes ($50,000) … second straight knockout loss for onetime dominant champion Rousey … was Nunes’ first bantamweight title protection and her fifth profession win in lower than a minute … quickest lack of Rousey’s profession … as of now, was Rousey’s ultimate MMA battle after a 12-0 begin … considered one of simply three finishes at UFC 207 and broke a run of six straight choices to finish the night time … Rousey made a $3 million disclosed payday for the 48-second loss; Nunes made a disclosed $200,000.
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Amanda Nunes def. Ronda Rousey at UFC 207: Greatest photographs
5. Ronda Rousey def. Miesha Tate
4. Jon Jones def. Daniel Cormier
3. Robbie Lawler def. Carlos Condit
Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit, UFC 195
Occasion: UFC 195Date: Jan. 2, 2016Result: Robbie Lawler def. Carlos Condit through break up determination (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) – to retain welterweight titleNotes: “Combat of the Evening” ($50,000 every for Lawler and Condit) … Lawler’s fifth UFC bonus and fourth for “Combat of the Evening” … Lawler’s third straight win in a title battle; he misplaced the belt his subsequent outing to Tyron Woodley … Condit’s seventh UFC bonus … loss for Condit began a run of 5 straight setbacks, which he lastly snapped in October.
2. Amanda Nunes def. Cris Cyborg
Amanda Nunes vs. Cris Cyborg, UFC 232
Occasion: UFC 232Date: Dec. 29, 2018Result: Amanda Nunes def. Cris Cyborg through knockout (punch) – Spherical 1, 0:51 – to win ladies’s featherweight titleNotes: “Efficiency of the Evening” for Nunes ($50,000) … occasion was moved to California lower than per week earlier than the battle attributable to headliner Jon Jones’ drug testing points in Nevada … Nunes’ return to featherweight for the primary time since 2011 in Strikeforce … Nunes grew to become first lady in UFC historical past to carry titles in two divisions on the identical time … first loss for Cyborg since her professional debut; snapped a 20-fight profitable streak.
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Amanda Nunes def. Cris Cyborg at UFC 232: Greatest photographs
1. Frankie Edgar vs. Grey Maynard
Frankie Edgar vs. Grey Maynard, UFC 125
Occasion: UFC 125Date: Jan. 1, 2011Result: Frankie Edgar vs. Grey Maynard declared spilt draw (46–48, 48–46, 47–47) – Edgar retained light-weight titleNotes: “Combat of the Evening” ($60,000 every for Edgar and Maynard) … Edgar’s fourth “Combat of the Evening” award … rematch from a a 2008 battle gained by Maynard … because of the draw, Edgar and Maynard rematched 9 months later at UFC 136, the place Edgar gained by knockout to defend the title … Maynard’s excellent 10-0 run was ended with the draw; he went 3-7 after UFC 125.
