Mixed martial arts has come a long way over the last few decades. What started as a niche sport has turned into a global spectacle, drawing fans from everywhere. Some fights stand out more than others, whether for their back-and-forth action, unexpected moments, or just how much was on the line
Growth of MMA
Over the past few decades, mixed martial arts has gone from a fringe sport to one of the most-watched fight formats in the world. The UFC led that shift by creating huge platforms for fighters, signing global broadcasting deals, and holding events across the U.S., Brazil, the Middle East, and Europe.
Today, UFC fighters are household names. But it’s not just fans who picked up on the growth, sportsbooks took notice, too. Nowadays, a wide range of UFC matchups are available for betting, which makes it even more useful to understand how bookmakers operate. Several fights are available for betting every time, and some bookmakers offer bonuses such as the Stake Sign Up Bonus, which can be used on a number of sports and competitions.
Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk (2020)
This women’s strawweight title fight didn’t just live up to expectations, it passed them. Zhang came in with a 21-fight win streak, while Jędrzejczyk had already cemented herself as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the division. Both refused to slow down across five rounds, throwing over 780 strikes combined.
The damage was clear by the end. Zhang’s face was swollen and bruised, while Jędrzejczyk had a hematoma so severe it looked like a second forehead. It wasn’t just the injuries that stuck with fans, it was the quality of technique mixed with sheer toughness.
Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit (2016)
When Lawler defended his welterweight belt against Condit, most people expected a brawl. What they got was even better. Both men landed heavy shots for five full rounds, with Condit pushing forward and Lawler countering with power.
By round five, both were bleeding and exhausted, but still throwing. The image of Lawler leaning on the cage with a blank stare after the final bell showed just how much both had given. Lawler ended up winning by split decision, but many believed Condit had done enough to earn the belt.
Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor II (2016)
McGregor wanted to fix his loss to Diaz earlier that year, and the rematch was booked at welterweight again. This time, McGregor came in more calculated. He landed early knockdowns, moved better, and didn’t burn out in the second round.
Diaz, however, never went away. He applied constant pressure, controlled the cage, and landed clean shots in rounds three and five. McGregor’s strikes were sharper, but Diaz’s pressure and volume kept things close. After five rounds, the judges gave McGregor the majority decision: two scored it for him, one draw.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor (2018)
This lightweight title fight had personal history and national pride behind it. Khabib controlled the fight on the ground from early on. McGregor had brief moments of success, but couldn’t stop the takedowns. In the fourth round, Khabib got the back and submitted McGregor with a rear-naked choke.
Despite the chaos, the fight itself was a clear display of control and pressure. Even though Khabib retired from the scene later, the bout itself remains one of the most-watched and talked-about matchups in UFC history.
Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson (2013)
By the time Jon Jones fought Alexander Gustafsson, many had already written the outcome in favor of Jones. He had torn through the division, defending his light heavyweight title. Gustafsson was seen as another name on the list, but the fight didn’t go how people expected
Gustafsson gave Jones one of the toughest nights of his career. His reach, movement, and takedown ability surprised nearly everyone, including Jones. He became the first fighter to take Jones down and the fight was later inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.