The Greatest Forgotten UFC Fights Of All Time: Epic Battles In The Octagon

The UFC has staged some of the greatest and most memorable fights in the history of mixed martial arts. It has been a stage for epic battles, titanic title fights, and grudge matches that capture the world’s attention and define careers. In such a high number of events over the years, some truly breathtaking fights have fallen through the cracks of memory. These fights, even though perhaps not inducted into the collective memory, represent what MMA’s all about: heart, skill, and intensity. This article is going to walk you through some of the greatest ever-forgotten UFC fights—bouts worth being remembered for the drama, technical goodness, and stories they’re telling.

1. Frank Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz, UFC 22, 199
   Frank Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz is one of those fights that, while not exactly lost to the annals of time, doesn’t quite get its full due really from even the newest UFC fans. It took place at UFC 22, way back in 1999, for the then-inaugural UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Shamrock was the reigning champion coming into the event, so the young, cocky challenger was Ortiz. The fight itself was an exercise in game planning and conditioning.

Ortiz, obviously a ground-and-pound fighter, came out early to dominate the rounds with wrestling, taking Shamrock down several times and punishing him with strikes on the ground. But Shamrock had a plan up his sleeve, as any good veteran in this sport has. He weathered the storm, gathering energy while he made Ortiz spend his. In the fourth round, as Ortiz gassed, Shamrock turned on the gas.

He capitalized on a tired Ortiz to ensure a TKO win via strikes. The fight showed just where Shamrock’s fight IQ was—conditioning, among strategy, remains very challenging in today’s MMA.

2. Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald II (UFC 189, 2015)
   Although it is almost always marketed as one of the greatest in the history of UFC fights, the fight between Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald II does not receive the recognition it should from most fans, more specifically when talking about the most violent and litigious fights in this sport. Their first go-around ended in a split-decision win for Lawler, but the UFC 189 O2 rematch was something else entirely.

This was a wholesale war from the first second right through to the last, with both men showing beyond incredible toughness and resilience. The reigning welterweight champion, Lawler, and challenger MacDonald exchanged heavy blows for five grueling rounds in a bloody war of attrition. Almost considered a TKO win for MacDonald in the third round, a head-kick landing on the champion had many in surprise as to how—but somehow—Lawler lived through it.

All in the case until the fifth, Lawler connected with a shot that was by all means sealed to close the book on MacDonald’s already fractured and cut up nose and had MacDonald tumbling completely to the canvas in agony. Lawler came away with the TKO win, yet both displays were that of a hero. This fight symbolizes what that will and determination can look like for UFC fighters, even under extreme adversity.

3. Carlos Condit vs. Rory MacDonald (UFC 115, 2010)

Following his mythical rematch with Robbie Lawler at UFC 189, one forgets Rory MacDonald engaged in another war with Carlos Condit. The first took place when the youngster faced Condit in a fight that would become a defining moment in the careers of both men at UFC 115. MacDonald started very strong, using his wrestling and striking to control the fight in the opening two rounds. It looked like the Canadian prospect was going to cruise to a decision victory.

Known for his grit and high pace, Condit came to life truly in round number three. Sensing that perhaps he was behind on the judges’ scorecards, Condit poured it on, finding his range and raking MacDonald with shots that visibly had him rocked. With less than ten seconds to go, Condit scored a TKO win, further shocking MacDonald by sending him into his first professional loss.

The fight really was a proving ground for Condit, showing that he could come back into the game in times of need. It is remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in UFC history.

4. Randy Couture vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 102 (2009)

When two legends of the sport come face-to-face, this usually proves to be more than just terrific. This was certainly the case when Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira faced Randy Couture. Both fighters were in the late stages of their 30s, and many thought that time had well passed them by; they turned in a fight that served as an apt epitome of their legacies.

The fight continued on for three rounds, both men exchanging big punches, attempts at submissions, and positional control. Nogueira obviously has legendary-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He nearly submitted Couture several times, but to his credit, “The Natural” always shows that trademark resilience to survive and battle back each time. It went the full distance with Nogueira prevailing by way of unanimous decision, but yet again, the real winners were those who witnessed a display of greatness, huge hearts, and will from two of MMA’s greatest icons.

5. Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen I (UFC 117, 2010)

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen I at UFC 117 was one of the greatest dramatic and shocking fights in UFC history but is somewhat forgotten due to other great performances from Silva.

Sonnen had been antagonizing the reigning Middleweight Champion Silva for months before the fight; ready to go and best known as a wrestler, many thought Silva would quickly dispose of Sonnen. What happened instead was stunning. Sonnen dominated the fight over Silva for almost five full rounds by repeatedly taking the champion down and landing heavy ground-and-pound. Undefeated in the UFC to that point, while Silva had injuries with which he was contending, the champion had appeared human for the first time in his career.

But towards the end of the fifth, with just a little over two minutes remaining, Silva cinched in a triangle choke from the bottom that saw Sonnen tap—the rest, in what many have called one of the most incredible comebacks ever, is history. This fight represents the unpredictability of the sport and Silva’s uncanny ability to win from behind.

6. Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua I at UFC 139 – 2011

To most hardcore MMA fans, the fight between Dan Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua should be remembered amongst the greatest fights. It was truly a war between two legends of the sport that went five rounds, during which both showed amazing toughness and heart.

Henderson had it all the way early on, repeatedly putting Rua on the mat in the first few rounds with his trademark right hand. However, Rua fought back strongly; he showed incredible resilience and caught up amazingly in the middle rounds. By the fifth, both fighters were running on fumes yet still threw everything but the kitchen sink at each other.

They fought all the way to the distance. Henderson took it via a unanimous decision, but both men won loads of appreciation from the world of MMA with their showing. This fight is just the example needed to show the warrior spirit that classifies the sport of MMA.

7. Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley, 2011)

While not technically a UFC fight, the contest between Nick Diaz and Paul Daley at Strikeforce was an epic encounter that is definitely worth remembering. Diaz scored high with volume because of his relentless pace while facing Daley, who was previously hyped to be one of the most intimidating knockout artists in the sport. The fight was frantic, back-and-forth, and aggressive: it only lasted one fierce round long.

At one point in the match early on, Daly had succeeded in dropping Diaz, but he recovered quickly and proceeded to pile on the pressure through to the end. The two mixed martial artists traded heavy strikes back and forth, both of them getting rocked multiple times. In the final seconds of that first round, Diaz had landed a flurry of punches that finally spilled blood, and the referee was forced to step in, stopping it, and giving Diaz the TKO victory.

If anything, this fight is more than just a reminder of how tough Diaz can be and how well he can thrive in chaos; it’s also a powerful testament to Daley’s destructive power.

8. Josh Barnett vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pride FC: Final Conflict Absolute, 2006)

Before they would spend their years fighting for the UFC, Josh Barnett and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira would clash in a contest made under the Pride FC banner that is often called by many to be one of the all-time heavyweight contests. The two locked horns at the Pride Final Conflict Absolute event in 2006 in a fight that saw both men trade turns outworking one another throughout the contest.

The fight was a display of grappling and submission skills, with both men trying to secure multiple submissions and reversals throughout the bout. Barnett, who is a known catch wrestler, and Nogueira, overwhelmingly experienced in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, gave the crowd a technical showcase worth watching. The fight went to the ground, Barnett ultimately winning on points via split decision amidst close competition. In so many ways, this fight gets overlooked simply because it was part of Pride FC, not the Ultimate Fighting Championship—but it is still one of the best heavyweight fights in the history of mixed martial arts.

9. Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg II (UFC 52, 2005)

Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg remains one of the most famous comebacks in UFC history, although it is a fight that receives very little attention when all is said and done. The number one contender, Trigg, couldn’t force a submission in the first round of the fight. The referee didn’t notice as Trigg landed some shots on Hughes, who had his back turned.

However, through one of the weirdest, most improbable acts of strength and will, Hughes somehow flipped the position and picked Trigg up, carrying him clear across the Octagon before slamming him quite nastily to the canvas. Hughes took off after Trigg, slamming him down, quickly taking his back and cinching up a rear-naked choke that would leave Trigg no choice but to tap out in what was indeed one of the most dramatic turnarounds ever seen in the UFC. A fight that was a true mirror for the corroborated determination of Hughes; it remains a must-watch for any MMA fan who does not know much about the sport.

10. Clay Guida vs. Diego Sanchez (The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale, 2009)

A fight that many hardcore fans remember. This was supposed to be the fight of the century in reality, yet it does get a little bit overlooked when mentioning all-time great fights. It was a three-round war where both men would push the pace from start to finish, with Sanchez having the better of the early exchanges.

Sanchez nearly finished Guida in the first round from a swarm of strikes, but the near-supernaturally durable Guida weathered the storm and surged back in the later rounds for retribution. After that, the two had a non-stop brawl, throwing everything they had at each other. The bout went full distance, with Sanchez winning unanimously. More than that, however, both men took home Fight of the Night honors for their performance. It’s the kind of fight that serves to remind you about the relentless pace and intensity that makes mixed martial arts so great to watch.

Conclusion
Besides a variety of great UFC fights that have taken place, some best Octagon wars are often forgotten or overlooked. These battles, maybe not so much on a wide scale as in the fights that followed, brought forward with the drama, skill, and intensity that MMA is. From dramatic comebacks to technical masterclasses, these forgotten fights deserve to be remembered and celebrated for the epic battles they were. No matter if you are a die-hard fan of this sport or a freshman, these bouts are the must-watch fights for everyone willing to strengthen the superb history of the UFC and what kind of warriors have passed through the Octagon’s doors.