The Most Notorious Moments in the Octagon

The UFC organization has given fans thrilling moments of entertainment since its birth in 1993. These moments have included crazy ko’s, smooth transitions, and slick submissions, as well as some of the most questionable decisions as well as some of the most intense competitor rivalries. This article focuses on some of the most memorable battles in the octagon that have shaped mixed martial arts (MMA).

1. UFC 1: Royce Gracie’s Dominance
   The first UFC show that took place in 1993 aimed to solve the basic quandary of which martial art is superior to a full-contact fight. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) fighter Royce Gracie came to the Octagon and stunned the world by defeating his much larger rivals with his ground fighting. Gracie’s performance not only validated this style of martial arts but also paved the way for the incorporation of the modern sport of MMA. It is regarded as one of the most significant events in the history of MMA that he was dominating the early UFC events.

UFC 40: Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock
UFC 40 was a significant event for the UFC as it shifted the attention of the mainstream media to MMA. Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock were scheduled for a bout, and the two fighters had a bitter rivalry that made the bout very interesting. Ortiz was too strong for Shamrock, and after a hard fight, he knocked Shamrock down, and the fight was stopped in the third round. The show was financially profitable and contributed to the establishment of the UFC as a part of sports entertainment. The events in the build-up to this fight, namely the bad blood and promotion, paved the way for future feuds and slurs in the UFC.

The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale: Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar
The organization’s reality series, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), concluded in 2005 and is also credited with having single-handedly rescued the UFC financially. The fight Forrest Griffin had with Stephan Bonnar was a great, hard-hitting fight that showed the true spirit of a fighter and what MMA really is to mainstream society. The fight was fought until the decision, and Griffin was declared the winner by unanimous decision, but both fighters were offered UFC contracts. The fight success helped to take UFC to a new level, bring new fans to the sport, and increase its popularity among those who supported it earlier.

UFC 117: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen
The first bout between Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva and Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 is quite popular and has a memorable ending. Sonnen, who was a massive betting outsider, completely outwrestled Silva for four and a half minutes. However, in a dramatic twist, Silva had his opponent in a triangle armbar in the last five minutes of the fifth round, making Sonnen submit. This comeback win ensured Silva’s place among the legends of MMA and also underlined how truly capricious the sport could be.

UFC 126: Anderson Silva’s Front Kick Knockout
The front kick knockout by Anderson Silva on Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 in 2011 is among the most memorable stoppages in the UFC’s history. The current middleweight champion, Silva, provided a great kick to the face of Belfort at the right time that left him unconscious. The kick, which was not usual in MMA at that time, demonstrated the imagination of a fighter besides Silva’s striking ability. This piece of play has been watched over and over and is still one of the significant highlights of Silva’s football career.

UFC 189: Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald II
The Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald fight at UFC 189 in 2015 is often considered to be one of the best fights in the history of the UFC. This welterweight title fight was a contender for the ‘Fight of the Year’ because it was an absolute slugfest that saw both fighters knocked down and Bloody. Lawler won by fifth-round TKO, but the fight proved that both fighters have heart, and the sheer power of MMA was seen by the viewers. One of the most memorable pictures in UFC history is Lawler’s split lip and his animalistic roar after the win.

UFC 194: Conor McGregor’s 13-Second Knockout of José Aldo
Jose Aldo has been one of the biggest stars in the UFC since his fight against Conor McGregor at UFC 194 in 2015. Aldo, the current featherweight champion, had never been defeated for the past ten years. However, McGregor pulled off the impossible and knocked out Aldo in less than two minutes with just a left hook. This victory also anointed McGregor as the featherweight champion, while at the same time establishing him as a celebrity on the international stage. The knockout is one of the fastest in UFC title fight history and is considered one of the most memorable moments of McGregor’s career.

UFC 229: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor
UFC 229 featured the most anticipated and infamous fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor in 2018. The fight promotion involved a lot of trash talking and name-calling, followed by a post-fight brawl when Nurmagomedov choked McGregor in the fourth round. Nurmagomedov crossed the cage to attack McGregor’s team, and there was confusion both inside and outside the cage. The occurrence caused suspensions and fines for the fighters and is considered one of the most infamous events in UFC history.

UFC 162: Chris Weidman Ends Anderson Silva’s Reign
Anderson Silva lost his seven-year undefeated streak and his UFC middleweight champion title to Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in 2013. Chris Weidman KO’d Silva in the second round, taking advantage of Silva, who was showboating with his hands down. The loss shocked the MMA fraternity and put a stop to one of the longest title defenses in UFC history. It showed that being unbeatable did not apply to Silva and that there is always a chance for an upset in a fight in MMA.

UFC 100: Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir II
The UFC 100 event took place in July 2009 and was established as one of the significant events with the match between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir. The man, Lesnar, who had competed in the WWE previously, had fallen to Mir in a prior fight because of the submission. The second fight saw Lesnar get his revenge on Mir as he dominated the fight with his wrestling and ground and pound en route to a TKO win. The fight depicted Lesnar’s agility, and the fight received a record number of viewers on the pay-per-view platform, proving the ever-expanding market for the UFC. The post-fight hooliganism that Lesnar displayed and his boasting further enhanced the show, making it one of the most dramatic moments in UFC history.

UFC 202: Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor II
The match between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor at UFC 202 in 2016 was another back-and-forth fight after Diaz had defeated McGregor at UFC 196. The fight was everything that people expected it to be and more, as both fighters went all out in the five-round clash. McGregor emerged victorious in the rematch via a majority decision, and while both fighters got their wins, the respect earned by both fighters in this feud made it one of the most memorable in UFC history. It also defined both the fighters’ endurance and the victory of the underdog, which made both fighters’ legacies.

UFC 217: Georges St-Pierre’s Triumphant Return
Former UFC middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre is considered to be one of the best fighters ever and returned to the octagon in the welterweight division at UFC 217 in October 2017 after a four-year absence. St-Pierre stepped up to middleweight to take on Michael Bisping for the title. The fight was a true war in which St-Pierre emerged victorious in the third round via submission, making him one of the select few fighters to win belts in two divisions. They were great moments in UFC history, and they proved that he still has it and is a legend.

UFC 232: Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson
The first match between the fighters Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson at the UFC 165 event in September 2013 is traditionally regarded as one of the best in the history of the organization. The light heavyweight champion Jones was all set to face his biggest test in Gustafsson up until now. The bout was a five-round war, and both fighters showed that they had the heart and the skill. Jones defended his title with a unanimous decision, but the fight was very close, which triggered an immediate demand for the rematch. The bout was a good example of the fierceness of the division and the champion’s ability to go the distance.

The night when Holly Holm knocked out Ronda Rousey and became the UFC champion.
In the 2015 UFC 193 match, Holly Holm defeated the seemingly unbeatable Ronda Rousey through knockout to claim the women’s bantamweight championship. This woman had dominated this division, and most of her fights were won in the first round. However, Holm, a former professional boxer, was very tactical and indeed followed the game plan she needed by knocking out her opponent with a head kick in the second round. It caused a huge upset in the MMA world and ended Rousey’s championship. Many consider Holm’s victory one of the biggest shocks in the history of the UFC.

UFC 251: Jorge Masvidal’s Five-Second Knockout
To date, the fastest knockout in the UFC is the five seconds that were taken by Jorge Masvidal to knock out Ben Askren at UFC 239 in 2019. Masvidal jumped right at the beginning of the round and threw a flying knee that felled Askren right away. The spectacular finish made the round, put Masvidal as a dangerous striker, and catapulted him to superstardom. This knockout is one of the most watched moments in the whole history of the UFC and is considered one of the highlights of Masvidal’s career.

The UFC has provided a platform for some of the most memorable and notorious moments in sports history. From dramatic knockouts and historic upsets to intense rivalries and shocking controversies, these moments have shaped the narrative of the UFC and contributed to its rise as a global phenomenon. Each of these events has left a lasting impact on the sport, showcasing the unpredictability, excitement, and raw emotion that make MMA so captivating.