Want to get into MMA. Watch these 11 Fights Now

MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world due to its aggressive, athletic, and physical nature. While these aspects draw in many fans, they can be intimidating to others. Seeing swollen faces after a stand-up war can be scary for those unfamiliar with boxing, seeing a fighter skillfully bait their opponent into a submission can be confusing for those who have never followed jiu-jitsu, and watching a master in dirty boxing or ground ‘n’ pound can be infuriating for those who never took up wrestling. Nonetheless, as with all forms of martial arts, MMA is for everyone to enjoy. In fusing different fighting styles together we also mix the cultures which are associated to each art. The result is an incredibly inclusive sport where traditions are respected, equality is not only understood but cherished, and diversity grows naturally. If you are a part of any culture, MMA is for you. Here are 11 fights for the potential MMA fan.

1) Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar; Ultimate Fighter: Team Couture vs. Team Liddell Finale. “The Catalyst to the Craze.”

The UFC would not be what it is today had Griffin vs. Bonnar not happened. The fight was the finale of the first Ultimate Fighter tournament and the first time the UFC was live on cable. The 3 round stand-up scrap was so entertaining that fans shook the arena by stomping their feet, there was a noticeable increase in TV ratings during the fights duration, and both fighters were awarded UFC contracts even though Griffin would walk away with the win. Both UFC President Dana White and former UFC, CEO Lorenzo Fertitta recognize the fight as one of the most, if not the most, important fights to happen in the UFC.

2) Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock; UFC 1. “David vs. Goliath.”

While fights in the UFC’s infancy could get pretty barbaric, the ones which involved Royce Gracie proved to viewers how technique could overcome strength and brutality. In UFC 1, Gracie would use his jiu-jitsu mastery to defeat Ken Shamrock who was seen as a favorite due to his size advantage, wrestling background, and ferocious nature. Shamrock and Gracie were the only two competitors in the UFC 1 tournament to be familiar with submissions, with Gracie having a strong advantage with his family being pioneers a new style of jiu-jitsu. The highly practical, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has become one of the most popular forms of martial arts today and it certainly played a part in Royce winning the first UFC tournament.

3) Fedor Emelianenko vs. Kevin Randleman; Pride FC: Critical Countdown 2004. “Don’t Call It A Comeback.”

“The Last Emperor,” Fedor Emelianenko was thought to be invincible during his time in Pride FC, a former MMA promotion out of Japan. During his fight with Kevin Randleman, Randleman picked Fedor up turned him almost completely upside-down and slammed him on his head. Fedor would go on to sweep Randleman and catch him in a Kimura, a common arm lock in many grappling arts, to end the fight. The remarkable recovery appeared to be proof that Fedor was more than human when considered alongside his nearly flawless record.

4) Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen; UFC 117. “The King Is Almost Dethroned.”

Anderson Silva was seen as a legend for not only beating his opponents but making them look foolish in the process. He would often showboat in the cage and taunt his opponents during his fights, forcing them to become over aggressive and allowing Silva to counter. These tactics didn’t work on Chael Sonnen, a former NCAA wrestler who had made many controversial comments regarding Silva to promote the fight. The lack of respect would transfer into Sonnen’s in-ring performance as he took Silva down with ease and used effective ground ‘n’ pound until being submitted via Triangle choke in the 5th and final round. Sonnen’s pro-wrestling style of communication would revolutionize how fighters promoted themselves and Anderson Silva’s show of heart would cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats.

5) Jon Jones vs. Mauricio Rua; UFC 128. “The Start of a Legacy.”

Jon Jones was the hottest prospect in the UFC before fighting Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. His reach, which was the longest in the UFC at the time, and unusual frame allowed him to use techniques which no one else had in their arsenal. Jones took on the role of a superhero by not only defeating Rua with relative ease at UFC 128 but also stopping a mugger hours before the event. Jones has yet to have faced defeat since his bout with Rua and is commonly regarded as the greatest fighter of all time.

6) Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey; UFC 207. “The Woman’s Division Shifts Gears.”

Ronda Rousey was one of the biggest stars the UFC had ever seen during her time as champion. Her presence was inescapable; she was on TV constantly and had even landed roles in movies like The Expendables 2 and Fast and The Furious 7. However, after suffering a head kick loss to Holy Holm at UFC 193, Rousey would not return to the octagon until a year later. Her comeback fight was against Amanda Nunes and it was quickly evident that the talent pool in the UFC’s woman’s bantamweight division had increased dramatically. Nunes defeated Rousey within a minute of the first round, using her superior footwork and boxing to earn the TKO victory.

7) Cristiane Venancio vs. Holly Holm; UFC 219. “Cyborg and the Preacher’s Daughter.”



8) Mike Russow vs. Todd Duffee; UFC 114. “Didn’t See That One Coming.”

Cris “Cyborg” vs. Holly Holm was one of the first fights which involved big names in a UFC womans’ division where one of them was not Rousey. Holm had gained a reputation after defeating Ronda Rousey who had been a dominant champion for almost three years. Cyborg had gained her reputation outside of the UFC for her impressive physique and blitzkrieg style. Both fighters had a chance to showcase their skills in the fight, with Holm utilizing her kickboxing background and Cyborg implementing a new strategy where she waited for her opponent to come in to land counter-strikes. Cyborg would win the fight by unanimous decision.

One of the best reasons to start watching MMA is the lessons it can teach you. While Todd Duffee and Mike Russow may not be the biggest names the sport has ever seen, their fight at UFC 114 works as a great reminder as to why you should never give up. Todd Duffee was once a top prospect in the UFC. He was big, strong, athletic, and looked like he was cut out of stone. Mike Russow on the other hand, clearly carried extra weight around and his focus was often challenged due to his position as a full-time police officer in Chicago. Most of the fight went as expected. Duffee dominated almost every exchange until Russow landed a right hand half way through the final round, knocking Duffee out cold.

9) Ryo Chonan vs. Anderson Silva; Pride Shockwave 2004. “The Impossible.”

Ryo Chonan’s upset of Anderson Silva in Pride was more than just a shock to the MMA world; it showed the utility in keeping a bag of tricks handy. Silva was dominating Chonan until he used a flying leg scissor to lead into a heel hook submission. Flying submissions are rare in MMA and often considered too risky to justify their reward. However, Chonan’s implementation of the rare technique caught Silva off guard enough to be effective.

10) Michael Page vs. Evangelista Santos; Bellator 158. “The Return to Old School.”



Michael “Venom” Page is well known for his background in point karate, which is typically considered an archaic art form in the modern era of MMA. Martial arts that are contested in a point style of competition are based around the idea that a fight can be ended with a single blow if enough energy, or qi, is produced. However, Page’s karate experience allows him to create distance, move in and out quickly, and deliver blows with devastating power. In his fight with “Cyborg” Santos, Page landed a flying knee which was fast, strong, and accurate enough to dent his opponent’s skull. Page has also revolutionized the style of being a practical showman, using in ring antics to frustrate his opponents into over committing and allowing him to land counters.

11) Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor; UFC 196. “Bigger Than Ever.”

After finishing Jose Aldo in just over ten seconds to win the UFC featherweight title, Conor McGregor made it perfectly clear that he had intentions that went beyond holding one belt. His first step in world domination was to move up a weight class to take on Rafael dos Anjos, the lightweight champion at the time. When dos Anjos pulled out of the fight due to a foot injury, Nate Diaz stepped in to take his place and the bout was moved up to 170 lbs. The fight was a spectacle of “Rumble in the Jungle” proportions, and the two fighters took part in their own press conferences where they promoted the event with language which could only be described as savage. While McGregor dominated most of the fight prior to the finish, Diaz used his signature cardio to withstand the Irish storm and won in the second round via rear naked choke.

MMA is not to be feared by potential fans. It is an individual sport which teaches life lessons you cannot get anywhere else. Its history is vast, its science is intriguing, and its ability to affect culture is impressive. Yet, there is only one way to find out if the sport is for you; order an event, watch it with an open mind, and listen to the commentary from experts. Chances are, you will catch the MMA bug and become hooked like so many have in recent years. What are some fights we missed? What fight impacted you? Leave a comment below.

About the writer. A lifelong fan of MMA, Dan Shust started covering the sport in 2015 after he graduated from Kean University with a B.A. in Communication Studies. When his ten-year wrestling career came to an end, he started practicing several different martial arts including Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing. He currently lives in Nashville, TN.

To learn more about the history and practice of martial arts check out the other articles in the Puncher “What is” series on Judo, Boxing, Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Sambo, MMA and more.

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