5 Best UFC Fights in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a truly special place when it comes to combat sports. Rightfully termed as the boxing capital of the world, Sin City has played host to iconic pugilists such as Muhamad Ali, Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, and Mike Tyson, to name a few. Watching a boxing match at the MGM Grand Arena would certainly be on your bucket list if you are a boxing fanatic. Same goes for the boxers, who consider it a dream to fight under the bright lights of Vegas.
Boxing, however, isn't the undisputed king of the combat sports world anymore as MMA has steadily risen to be a viable contender and arguably a more entertaining alternative.
UFC 33: Victory in Vegas was the first PPV organized by the UFC in Las Vegas on September 28th, 2011, a card which featured the likes of Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, and Jens Pulver. It turned out to be an underwhelming beginning as every fight on the card failed to live up to the hype. The five main card bouts all went the distance and none of them were as engaging as the fans would have liked.
Nonetheless, UFC and Vegas have a rich history as the Dana White-led promotion has held 119 events in the city -- the most amongst all locations. And out of those 119 events, we have picked the 5 best fights that are still part of MMA folklore.
#5 Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva - UFC 79, Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Don't we all remember the hilariously botchy Silva promo from UFC 61? It took the UFC another year to finally get the two veterans inside the Octagon, and surprisingly enough, it was the co-main event of UFC 79 which was headlined by the rubber fight between Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre.
The fans thankfully got their money's worth as Silva and Liddell indulged in a stand-up showdown. The fight had everything you could ask for -- an intense pre-fight staredown, two established names, and a satisfying pay-off.
It's a shame that Liddell vs. Silva happened a little too late. The dream fight pitting the most ruthless fighters of PRIDE and UFC took place when both the legends were in the final stages of their respective careers, however, it was one of the greatest bouts to have taken place in UFC's history and that's all the matters.