The hardest part about picking the Top 20 fights of the UFC's first 20 years is that there are so many great ones.

UFC president Dana White has fostered a culture in which the athletes are encouraged to put on a show, and matchmaker Joe Silva is genius at pairing fighters whose styles mesh. Thus, there are literally Fight of the Year contenders on a monthly, if not more frequent, basis.

There is no right answer on a list like this. The following 20 bouts are ones that appealed to me, for reasons I'll articulate. You may agree with most or agree with none, because that's how these things go. This is my list.

Just so I don't get a lot of questions, I am only considering matches that were held in the UFC for my Top 2o list. So, the two great matches between Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler in Bellator won't appear here. Nor will the sensational scrap between Leonard Garcia and Chan Sung Jung at WEC 48 or any of the many great fights in PRIDE, Strikeforce, WEC or any other mixed martial arts organization.

There are only two criteria for a fight to be on this list: That it happened in the UFC, and that I found it one of the 20 best in the promotion's history.

Let me know in the comments section which fight or fights you would have chosen as the greatest you have seen.

20. Frankie Edgar TKO4 Gray Maynard, Houston, Oct. 8, 2011, UFC 136

Edgar and Maynard had already competed in a classic match at UFC 125, that ended in a draw. And though rematches often don't live up to the billing, this one did. It was the third fight of the trilogy, with Maynard having one win and then the draw at UFC 125.

It was a continuation of their last bout, with both men showing great heart and resilience. Edgar himself was hurt in the fourth round, but caught Maynard with a big right that decked the ex-Michigan State wrestler. He finished him on the ground to retain his lightweight title in a match that yet again showcased his amazing recuperative powers.

They didn't quite match their slugfest from UFC 125, but they came close.

19. Wanderlei Silva TKO2 Brian Stann, Saitama, Japan, March 3, 2013, UFC on Fuel 8

There was never a chance this fight would go to the ground. Both men love to slug and it was a slugfest from the beginning until the devastating end at 4:08 of the second round.

Silva caught Stann with a right, followed up by a crunching left that earned him Knockout of the Night honors. The ending was typical of the entire fight, as the two hit each other with enormous shots throughout the match.

18. Cheick Kongo TKO1 Pat Barry, Pittsburgh, June 26, 2011, UFC Live 4

Pat Barry is a major knockout puncher, and when he hits men, they usually go out quickly. And that seemed to be what was in store when Barry caught Kongo with a right about two minutes into the fight. As Barry went for the finish, firing a volley of hard punches to the head and body, UFC analyst Joe Rogan said, "It's over."

Improbably, Kongo got up, but he was clipped by another massive right from Barry.

"Now, it's over," UFC play-by-play man Mike Goldberg said to Rogan.

Incredibly, unbelievably, it still wasn't over. Barry was swarming Kongo and firing punches, but again, Kongo managed to pull himself to his feet. As Barry moved in, Kongo fired a counter and Barry was out cold.

In all, it lasted just 2:39, but it was 2:39 of the best action ever.

17. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira W3 Randy Couture, Portland, Ore., Aug 29, 2009, UFC 102

The veterans showed they learned a great deal over the years, putting on a show with a back-and-forth match that was a showcase of all areas of MMA. The early portion of the bout was standing, and both men hurt the other several times.

There were plenty of momentum shifts, but Nogueira seemed fresher down the stretch and he pulled out a victory in a Fight of the Night battle.

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