2021 is coming to a close, and we must say, there have been some stellar MMA moments. With the sheer number of fights taking place, it’s hard to decide on the top 10 defining clashes. However, after keeping up with all of the action, we’ve put together our favourites. You might not want to remember them all, especially if you lost a bet, but you need to give merit where merit is due.
UFC 263: Brad Riddell Vs. Drew Dober
This Arizona tussle between Riddell and Dober blew us away. What makes it so special you ask? Within seconds after the first bell rang, Riddell demonstrated that he wasn’t there to mess around. Both of these fighters fired heavy commendable blows. However, when it came down to the scorecards, it was Riddell that came out victorious.
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UFC 266: Brian Ortega Vs. Alexander Volkanoviski
UFC 266 saw reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanoviski battle it out against Brian Ortega. Right from the start, Volkanovisk was running rings around Ortega with a high level of control. Out of an impressive 5 rounds, it was only the 3rd that wasn’t king to Volkanovisk. In the end, by the end of the 5th round, he had kept hold of his title.
UFC Fight Island 8: Mike Davis Vs. Mason Jones
Mike “Beast Boy” Davis and Mason “The Dragon” Jones clashed hard at UFC Fight Island 8. The match lasted for three rounds and saw an impressive 225 blows dealt. Although this match didn’t come to a knockout, the judges’ decision was unanimous – the Beast Boy defeated The Dragon and was crowned victor of the Octagon.
UFC Fight Island 7: Max Holloway Vs. Calvin Kattar
When it comes to featherweight, Calvin Katter and Max Holloway are up there with the greatest names. This 2021 clash at Fight Island 7 was particularly intense. When this match approached, Holloway had to prove his worth after losing two consecutive fights. Luckily for him, he was able to maintain power the entire game, which lasted 25 minutes. Despite a judge-declared win, one of our most favourable moments saw Holloway exclaim he’s the greatest boxer in the UFC.
UFC 262: Shane Burgos Vs. Edson Barboza
At UFC 262, Burgos and Barboza clashed in an extremely close bout. For two rounds, the two fighters were giving and taking equally. However, in a surprising third-round blow, Burgos was knocked out by Barboza. The most interesting part about the KO blow was that Burgos seemed to have taken it like a boss – until he fell moments later.
UFC Vegas 28: Santiago Ponzinibbio Vs. Miguel Baeza
Out of all the fights on the list, this one is a true crowd-pleaser. This impressive Vegas 28 clash had people dubbing it “Fight of the Year”. There’s no surprise that this war between Baeza and Ponzinibbio, two incredible welterweight fighters, went down so well. The power struggle between the two looked to favour Baeza. However, in the rounds to follow Ponzinibbio found his strength and won over the entire judge’s panel.
UFC Vegas 20: Pedro Munhoz Vs. Jimmie Rivera
Munhoz and Rivera clashed heads way back in 2015, with the outcome being horrendous for Munhoz. Fortunately, when the pair came together at Vegas 20, redemption was had for the underdog. Throughout this fight, Munhoz dealt impressive blows and Rivera’s leg got mashed. Despite this, he didn’t stop powering through in an attempt to win. Eventually, justice was served and “The Young Punisher” Munhoz won the fight.
UFC Vegas 25: Jiri Prochazka Vs. Dominick Reyes
If you watch MMA see impressive knockouts, then you should take a look at this Vegas 25 clash between Reyes and Prochazka. Early in the game, Prochazka brought the thunder and left Reyes’ face covered in blood. However, there were no signs of giving up from Reyes, who made an incredible comeback. Unfortunately, although it looked hopeful for a short time, Prochazka performed a spinning back-elbow that sent Reyes into a brutal knockout. With blood, sweat, and an attempted comeback, this UFC knockout will surely go down in history.
UFC 262: Charles Oliveira Vs. Michael Chandler
Straight in with a fantastic fight, Chandler and Oliveira didn’t disappoint when they locked in at UFC 262. The first round of this impressive fight saw Chandler put into an intense body triangle. Luckily, he managed to break free and smash Oliveira with a mighty punch straight to the face. At this point, the match looked like it could go both ways. Then, in the second round, Chandler was sent into a daze. From that point, there was no chance of a comeback. Oliveira went on to finish him off and claim the UFC lightweight belt.
UFC 257: Dustin Poirier Vs. Conor McGregor
Even if you don’t know much about the MMA world, you’ve likely heard the name Conor McGregor thrown about. After all, millions tuned in to see him take on YouTuber turned boxing amateur, Jake Paul. No matter what you think about him, there’s no denying that he’s one of the most notorious MMA fighters around. That being said, midway through their second round, Dustin Poirier managed to defeat the Irish powerhouse with a total knockout win.
2021 has been a fantastic year for sports all around, and MMA has been no different. We’ve seen plenty of knockouts and wonderful stories where the underdog comes out on top. Granted, there are plenty more fights to discuss and we could be here all day. Whether any of these bouts will be crowned the true “Fight of the Year”, who knows. What we do know is that the future of MMA is bright, and if you want to keep up with the action, remember to check the list of safe sites mentioned above.