With the sporting world at a standstill, resources like UFC Fight Pass are proving essential for MMA fans looking to get their fix during the coronavirus lockdown.
The UFC’s streaming platform’s colossal archive offers a huge range of events to sit back and enjoy. Love the old-school PRIDE shows? They’ve got those. Hankering for the days of the WEC? They’ve got the full archive. And, of course, there’s the entire UFC event archive.
It means you can build a watchlist packed with some of the best MMA you could ever wish to see, and more than enough to last you through the entire coronavirus lockdown.
But if you’re going to dive in, why not dive in with some of the most significant events in UFC history, with maybe a couple of hidden gems thrown in for good measure? Here’s a watchlist to get you started.
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1. UFC 1
You can’t really start a journey like this anywhere other than at the very beginning.
Put simply, the event is iconic. The school sports hall-like surrounds of the McNichols Sports Arena, Bill “Superfoot” Wallace calling the event the “Ultimate Fighting Challenge,” Teila Tuli’s flying tooth and Art Jimmerson’s one boxing glove will all live long in the memory.
But, of course, UFC 1 was all about one man and one discipline, as a scrawny young sibling of the famed Gracie family stepped into the octagon, beat three men in one night and opened the world’s eyes to the wizardry of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Sure, it was crude – the rules were virtually non-existent back then – but it was the start of what the UFC has grown into today. Such has been the evolution of the sport since then, watching the fuzzy UFC 1 footage now is the MMA equivalent of viewing cave drawings of how man first started using tools. But, crucially, it was both eye-catching and entertaining, and it serves as a handy reminder of just how far the sport has evolved since that day.
If you watch UFC 1, you’ll probably want to watch UFC 2, then 3. But we’ll leave that to your own UFC Fight Pass rabbit hole. Instead, we’re jumping forward.
Next up: The first BIG rivalry in UFC history.
2. UFC 47
Peak Chuck vs. Peak Tito. If Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock was the UFC’s first rivalry, Chuck and Tito was the first one that really saw the sport start to cross over into the mainstream.
The pair had previously been friends and stablemates, managed by a little-known (at the time) Bostonian by the name of Dana White. But years later, after an acrimonious split between, they ended up as bitter rivals who both wanted the same thing, the UFC title.
Randy Couture had the belt after outpointing Ortiz in September 2003, and “The Iceman” and “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” faced off for the right to move one step closer to a fight for the gold.
Next up: The night that changed it all.
3. The Ultimate Fighter 1
Is this the most significant fight card in UFC history? If UFC 1 was the event that broke ground for the organization, The Ultimate Final Season 1 Finale saw the UFC make the crucial breakthrough it had struggled for so long to achieve – success on TV.
The tale of the Fertitta brothers throwing their final chips onto the table to pay for the production of TUF 1 in order to get it onto Spike is famous now, but while there have been many re-tellings of the circumstances surrounding the season, and the finale that sealed the deal for TUF 2, the event itself is certainly worth watching.
If you’re in the binging mood, prep for watching the finale by going through the full season as we’re introduced to the fighters for the first time. Then settle in for the finale, which finished with one of the most iconic fights in UFC history as Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar went toe to toe in a fight that, while not technically brilliant, still stands up as one of the most exciting battles ever seen inside the octagon.
Next up: The UFC’s first super show.
4. UFC 100: Lesnar vs. Mir 2
The UFC’s 100th numbered show was always going to be something big, and it certainly delivered.
Brock Lesnar’s demolition of Frank Mir, his foaming-mouthed rant through the cage, and his memorable post-fight interview were enough to generate headlines for days, but that was just one story on a night packed with drama.
Georges St-Pierre demonstrated his greatness with another virtuoso performance, while Dan Henderson scored the most replayed knockout in UFC history as he abruptly ended his TUF rivalry with Michael Bisping.
The rest of the card featured a host of big names, too. Japanese legend Yoshihiro Akiyama kicked off the pay-per-view, while Mark “The Hammer” Coleman took on Stephan Bonnar in a light heavyweight battle of the generations.
There was even a young light heavyweight making his third UFC appearance by the name of Jon Jones.
It was a huge night at the Mandalay Bay, and it saw the UFC level up with its biggest event to that point. UFC 100 set the bar for the big shows that came in the years that followed, as some of the biggest stars in the sport showed up and showed out in Las Vegas.
Next up: The UFC turns it up to 11 as Conor strikes gold.
5. UFC 189: McGregor vs. Mendes
There was something a bit different about UFC 189.
For starters, the opening of the show was different. Gone was the nu-metal thrashing of Stemm’s “Face The Pain.” Instead we had a dubstep mix of … Stemm’s “Face The Pain.” Then we had the UFC’s new on-screen graphics. They’re part of the furniture now, of course, but it looked so fresh, clean and sharp when they made their pay-per-view debut in July 2015.
But while some of the window dressing may have been a little different, it was the fights that delivered the goods as, after a relatively slow preliminary card, the final prelim between Matt Brown and Tim Means lit the blue touchpaper for arguably the most spectacular main card in UFC history.
All five fights produced finishes, with two flying knees, one sublime submission and a pair of TKO finishes in the night’s two title fights. The co-main event between Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald remains one of the most grueling toe-to-toe title fights we’ve ever seen inside the octagon, while Conor McGregor’s come-from-behind performance against Chad Mendes in the main event saw the Dubliner launched into the stratosphere as he became the biggest star in the sport.
The fights were outstanding, the finishes were spectacular, and the crowd was electric. We even had Sinead O’Connor. It was an unforgettable night, and one that is well worth a second, or third, look.
Next up: ‘I’m not surprised motherf*ckers’
6. UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz 1
Sure, the rematch may have produced the better fight, but that first fight between McGregor and Diaz was the fight that catapulted the sport into the stratosphere as a bloodied Diaz came back to submit McGregor and shock the MMA world, though Diaz himself was, famously, “not surprised.”
But the event was about more than that one incredible fight. The co-main saw Miesha Tate finally reach her destiny by capturing the UFC women’s bantamweight title with one of the greatest comebacks in women’s MMA history, while future UFC champions Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko battled toe to toe in their thrilling first meeting.
The atmosphere inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena was off the hook, and by the time Diaz had locked up his fight-winning rear-naked choke, it felt like the MMA world was in complete meltdown.
Next up: A future Hall of Famer finally gets his belt.
7. UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2
By the time UFC 199 was booked with champion Luke Rockhold set to defend his title in a rematch against former champion Chris Weidman, it felt like British contender Michael Bisping might not ever get his shot at the gold.
Time after time he fell at the final hurdle in his quest to get to a title shot. But, after a career-defining win over Anderson Silva in London, Weidman pulled out of the event with injury Bisping was ready for his chance and, when it came on just two weeks’ notice, he grabbed it with both hands.
Leaving a movie set in Canada and heading to the West Coast, Bisping arrived for fight week in Los Angeles relaxed but ready. Despite his comprehensive submission loss to Rockhold earlier in his career, he was adamant he had the champion’s number, and so it proved as he finished Rockhold to capture the middleweight title.
Bisping’s first-round knockout win over Rockhold headlined an excellent night of fights at “The Forum.” Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz went toe to toe in the final chapter of their longstanding rivalry, and there was that moment when Max Holloway pointed to the ground against Ricardo Lamas. Dan Henderson added another brutal knockout to his long list of finishes, while Dustin Poirier kicked off the main card with an impressive stoppage win of his own.
But don’t restrict your viewing to the main card for this one. Six of the eight prelims delivered exciting finishes, with the bout between Polo Reyes and Dong Hyun Kim delivering one of the UFC’s great unsung fights, and one of the best fights to kick off a UFC card.
Next up: The craziest fight card you might not have seen.
8. Cage Warriors 106: Night of Champions
UFC Fight Pass features a host of promotions from around the world, and London-based promotion Cage Warriors is one of the most respected of the bunch.
The British organization has served as a consistent proving ground for up-and-coming fighters looking to get into the UFC, with the likes of Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy and Joanna Jedrzejczyk all competing for Cage Warriors before getting their shot on the big stage.
In July 2019 the promotion headed to the historic Hammersmith Apollo in West London for “Night of Champions” as the promotion stacked the deck so many title fights, they couldn’t fit them all onto the main card.
Cage Warriors 106 boasted SIX title fights, each of which delivered a highlight of its own as the wildest UK show of the year produced one of the best fight nights of 2019.
If you’re a hardcore fan, you’ll already know all this. But for the rest of you, “Cage Warriors 106: Night of Champions” could well be the best 2019 event you haven’t seen. One warning: Expect blood. Lots and lots of blood.
Next up: MMA stars hit the mats.
9. QUINTET Ultra
After all those finishes – and all that blood – at Cage Warriors 106, you’ll probably be looking for a change of pace, and our penultimate pick is just what the doctor ordered.
QUINTET Ultra took place two days before UFC 245 in December 2019, as teams representing the UFC, WEC, PRIDE and Strikeforce converged on the mats at the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas.
Fans (and a handful of members of the MMA Junkie team) watched as a host of stars past and present battled it out in a good-spirited elimination grappling tournament that served up entertainment galore, as well as some unusual size and style matchups you won’t ever see inside the octagon.
The teams were all in relaxed mood heading into the event, but once the action on the mats got underway the competitive juices soon started to flow as the four teams put on a show for the fans.
Packed with nostalgia and plenty of entertainment, QUINTET Ultra was one of the most fun events I attended in 2019. If you haven’t watched it before, you’re in for a treat.
Next up: Crowning the “BMF” in The Big Apple.
10. UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz
Bringing things up to the present, where better to finish our list than with MMA Junkie’s 2019 Event of the Year?
UFC 244 had a little bit of everything. The President of the United States was in the house, and received a reception best described as mixed from the New York crowd. The Rock was also in attendance, as WWE superstar-turned all-round entertainment behemoth Dwayne Johnson arrived with the “BMF” belt. And, of course, we had a great card of fights.
The prelims served up a host of eye-catching finishes before the big names of the main card took over, with a knockout of the year contender, a back-and-forth welterweight war, the arrival of a new middleweight contender and, in the main event, the fight to be the Baddest Mother(expletive) in the game.
