The Most Memorable UFC Fight Night Moments

Mixed martial arts competition, particularly the UFC, has given fans many jaw-dropping moments since it began. Although PPV events attract more people, the UFC Fight Night events have provided some of the greatest and most exciting moments in the UFC. These events, which are usually open to the viewers for free, help to reveal new talents, give the experienced fighters a chance to impress, and occasionally give the audience certain fights that will be remembered for years. This article gives an insight into the best UFC fight night, including the fights, knockouts, and other emotional moments that can be easily remembered.

The Rise of Conor McGregor: This fight was part of the UFC Fight Night 46 event.
From the event that happened on July 19, 2014, during the UFC Fight Night 46 held in Dublin, Ireland, Conor McGregor was on the path to stardom. When McGregor fought Diego Brandão, he knocked him out in the first round, with the home town fans loving it. This match was significant not only for McGregor but also for the UFC due to its attempt to break into Europe. McGregor had confidence, charm, and sheer fighter spirit in him, and it was this night that he started rising to fame in the MMA organization.

The Legendary War: Dan Henderson vs. Shogun Rua 2
The event, UFC Fight Night 38, on March 23, 2014, was a rematch between Dan Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, who fought for the first time in UFC 139. The bout was, as was expected, another brutal, back-and-forth war. Henderson, after receiving two knockdowns, was able to regain his footing to knockout his opponent in round 3. The bout proved the champions’ will, desire, and pain threshold, making them two of the greatest MVPs in the history of MMA.

Yair Rodríguez’s Last-Second Knockout: UFC Fight Night 139
The following are some of the shocking knockouts in the history of the UFC: One of the most stunning knockouts in UFC history was on November 10, 2018 in UFC Fight Night 139. A featherweight bout was between Yair Rodríguez and Chan Sung Jung, who is also famously known as “The Korean Zombie.” In the last second of the fifth round, Rodríguez connected with an upward elbow to the head that put Jung out of her misery. The amazing ending of the fight made Rodríguez receive Performance of the Night as well as Fight of the Night bonuses, and it is considered one of the most memorable finishes in the history of UFC fights.

Holly Holm’s Head Kick KO: UFC Fight Night 111
Bethe Correia vs. Holly Holm was good when Holly Holm knocked out Correia in the third round at UFC Fight Night 111 on June 17, 2017. Melissa Holm knocked out Bethe Correia with a head kick and a punch in the third round of the fight. The win was a much-needed bounceback for Holm, who was on a three-fight losing streak, and the fight reminded MMA fans of her striking abilities.

The Bisping vs. Silva Showdown: This Fight Night 84
At the UFC Fight Night 84 event, which took place on February 27, 2016, Michael Bisping was paired with former middleweight champion Anderson Silva. The bout was most expected due to Silva’s status as one of the best fighters in the history of MMA and Bisping, who has been a top contender for a long time. The fight was close, and after Bisping was dropped by a low blow and a flying knee from Silva, he was able to come back to get the unanimous decision. The win was a significant one for Bisping, which later earned him a title shot and the championship in the same year.

The Arrival of Justin Gaethje: UFC Fight Night 117
The professional mixed martial artist Justin Gaethje joined the UFC on July 7, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 117, where he fought against Michael Johnson. Gaethje, who had his back against the wall and is characterized by his high octane striking and unrelenting pace, had the audience on the edge of their seats. Though Gaethje took a lot of punishment and was on the brink of getting knocked out, he emerged victorious via second-round TKO. The bout got the Fight of the Night bonus, and people began to recognize Gaethje as one of the most entertaining fighters in the lightweight category.

Frankie Edgar’s Resurgence: The Event UFC Fight Night 57
The second match between Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson took place on November 22, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 57. Swanson was outclassed throughout the fight by Edgar, who is a former lightweight champion, displaying a very good ground game and striking ability. Further, in the fifth round, Edgar managed to win by submission through neck cranking, which proved that he was relentless in his pace and cardio. The victory was a careful move towards the achievement of the second featherweight title by Edgar, which also proved that he was one of the best fighters in the UFC.

Darren Till’s Breakthrough: UFC Fight Night: Gdansk
Darren Till scored a victory over the contender in the welterweight division on the October 21, 2017 UFC Fight Night 118 held in Gdańsk, Poland. Opposite veteran Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Till was at his best and was able to knock Cerrone down with strikes in the first round. The win placed Till in the limelight, and he received a Performance of the Night bonus and was slated for more big-name fights in the weight class.

Matt Brown’s Vicious Knockout: UFC Fight Night 40
Matt Brown fought Erick Silva on May 10, 2014, in UFC Fight Night 40, and this fight was one of the best of the year. Silva began the fight with the early advantage: he nearly knocked out Brown with a body kick; however, Brown proved to be quite a tough nut to crack. He did that and flipped the tables on Silva, applying pressure and striking his opponent. Brown was able to get the TKO victory in the third round, earning him the Fight of the Night bonus and also making him one of the most entertaining welterweight fighters.

The Return of Urijah Faber: UFC Fight Night 155
Urijah Faber was back in the octagon on July 13, 2019, for UFC Fight Night 155 after briefly retiring. Against the increasing prospect of Ricky Simón, at 40, Faber laid down a first-round knockout punch. The victory secured him the Performance of the Night bonus, and this gave the fans the indication that ‘The California Kid’ has much more to offer. It was surely a joy to the fans, while at the same time telling the world that Faber is still around and that he is as talented as before.

The Debut of Valentina Shevchenko: UFC Fight Night 80: Namajunas vs. VanZant
Valentina Shevchenko first fought for UFC on December 19, 2015, against opponent Sarah Kaufman in UFC Fight Night 80. Shevchenko, who is a decorated kickboxer and Muay Thai champion, was able to display her stand-up game and take the victory via split decision. From her performance, she was to pave the way to her successful career in the UFC, where she would be a champion in the flyweight division and one of the most skilled female fighters in the UFC and MMA.

Donald Cerrone’s Record-Breaking Win: UFC Fight Night 126
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone fought against Yancy Medeiros at UFC Fight Night 126 on February 18, 2018. Cerrone won by a first-round knockout, which made him equal the record for most wins in UFC history at that time. The win proved that Cerrone was not only here to stay but also active in the sport; he was awarded the Performance of the Night bonus. Cerrone cannot care who he has to fight, when, and where, and this makes him a fan favorite and a UFC legend.

The Stunning Upset: Johnson vs. Poirier
Michael Johnson and Dustin Poirier fought in a lightweight fight at UFC Fight Night 94 on September 17, 2016. Poirier was coming into the fight on a four-fight winning streak and was expected to win this fight, but Johnson pulled off the upset. Poirier was knocked out cold by a right hand from Johnson in the first round. This was perhaps one of the most memorable moments for Johnson, and it proved that anything can happen in an MMA cage, no matter how much is expected.

The Emergence of Francis Ngannou: UFC Fight Night 102
Francis Ngannou entered the octagon on December 9, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 102, fighting against Anthony Hamilton. Ngannou, whom many regard as being very powerful, won the fight in the first round by kimura submission. The above victory was among the early steps that saw Ngannou progress up the UFC heavyweight division, making him a feared knockout artist in UFC history.

Anderson Silva’s Return: UFC Fight Night: 117
Anderson Silva was expected to return to the octagon on November 25, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: 117, where he was scheduled to fight Derek Brunson. In this fight, Silva, whose last few fights were hampered by injuries and a long spell on the sidelines, displayed his striking and experience to pick a unanimous decision win. The fight was one of the biggest moments for Silva in his career, as it showed that he is still capable of fighting and winning at a high level, even if he had some issues with injuries and his age.

Conclusion
UFC Fight Night events are among some of the most interesting and thrilling events in the history of MMA. These events have brought the emergence of young talents, great upsets, and famous fights, which have proved the unpredictable nature of the sport. Some of the remarkable fighters, such as Conor McGregor, Dan Henderson, Yair Rodríguez, and Holly Holm, have also graced the list of the famous UFC Fight Night cards. Thus, one can confidently predict that the UFC and its fans will have numerous other exciting moments to witness in the future.