3 UFC fights that you have to watch again

BY MARCEL MARIAK

Since its conception in 1993, the UFC fight promotion has gone through its fair share of different owners, rosters, and controversies. But one thing that the UFC has done consistently throughout the years is provided fight fans around the world with some of the greatest showdowns of all time! If you’re bored while sitting at home one afternoon or are simply in the fighting spirit, here are the top three UFC fights that you have to watch!

UFC 1: The Beginning
If you want to immerse yourself in the culture and rich history of the UFC, you have to start at the beginning. UFC 1 was the first time that the average American Joe was exposed to the sport of mixed martial arts! Although mixed martial arts and no-holds-barred fighting had gained popularity in Brazil in the form of Vale Tudo, North America was still going through its Bruce Lee punchy-kicky phase. At the time of the first UFC event, boxing and American kickboxing were still the most popular kinds of combat sports. UFC 1, appropriately dubbed The Beginning, set out to challenge the status quo and change the world of martial arts to what it is today. The event was primarily made by the famed Gracie family to promote the relatively unknown fighting style of Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu. BJJ master, Royce Gracie, would represent his family’s fighting style against several opponents from different fighting styles. In the end, the purpose of the event was successful. With Royce Gracie winning the tournament, he proved that Jiu-Jitsu is not only a crucial part of any fighter’s arsenal but also perhaps the most dominant martial art on earth.

UFC 190: Ronda Rousey vs Bethe Correia
Although almost every modern UFC event has a couple of women’s fights, there was a time when the UFC (and the MMA world as a whole) was a men’s sport. When Ronda Rousey became the first female fighter to be signed by the UFC, she made shockwaves in the fight world. Not only was she a superlative fighter with a high degree of skill in judo and grappling, but she also had the personality and presence of a superstar. As the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Rousey got a reputation for finishing fights with dominant control and submissions; and her dominant reign came to a boiling point when she defended her belt against Bethe Correia! There was no love lost between the fighters, with Bethe trash-talking and attempting to intimidate Ronda on every occasion. Rousey proceeded to make an example of her opponent by spectacularly finishing the fight in less than a minute. Setting the record straight, once and for all, that women belong in the UFC just as much as men do!

UFC 229: Khabib vs McGregor
The UFC 229 event was the culmination of one of the most notorious rivalries in the sport of MMA. In the main event, the undefeated Lightweight Champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, would defend his title against Conor McGregor. Not only was this a showdown between radically different fighting styles (Khabib being a lifelong grappler and McGregor being a famous striker), but it was also a showdown between two radically different mindsets. Khabib is known for being a religious and humble champion who fights for legacy and never lets money or fame get to his head. On the other hand, McGregor has built a brand and massive following around being brash, talking trash, and making bold predictions. Although McGregor had used trash-talking to tremendous effect in the past, this time he took it overboard. McGregor went as far as insulting Khabib’s family and religion. Even before the competitors stepped into the octagon, tensions reached a boiling point when McGregor and his crew attacked a coach bus that Khabib was in. In the end, Khabib dominates the fight and submits McGregor in the fourth round after displaying a fighting masterclass. After the bout is stopped, the hostility between the two fighter’s camps boils over as Khabib climbs over the cage and leaps into the crowd, starting a stadium brawl. If you’re a fight fan, this is a must-watch UFC main event!