5 most exciting champions in UFC history
The UFC is at the peak of MMA entertainment. The promotion's fighters are not only the most skilled mixed martial artists in the world, they're also the most entertaining fighters across the globe. The breadth of variety in the UFC in terms of fighting styles and finishes is unmatched.
Thus, the promotion's champions are often expected to represent the sport and the organization accordingly. Alas, not every UFC champion fights in an exciting manner. In fact, it is common for fighters to adopt a more conservative approach to their bouts in order to mitigate their chances of losing their titles.
Jon Jones is an example of a fighter who was known for his entertaining bouts, but gradually became a far more conservative fighter after settling into his title reign. This list looks at the antithesis of such champions, exploring five of the most exciting champions in UFC history who have never had boring title fights.
#5. Robbie Lawler – former UFC welterweight champion
Robbie Lawler's championship success was an unlikely event. The 40-year old was a veteran of MMA at the time, becoming one of the few fighters below 205 lbs to peak in his later years. What ensued was one of the most exciting runs of any welterweight titleholder in UFC history.
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'Ruthless' captured his title from Johny Hendricks in a thrilling split-decision brawl that left fans clamoring for more. In his first title defense, the Californian TKO'd Rory MacDonald in a grueling war that was arguably the greatest fight in the promotion's history.
In his subsequent bout, Robbie Lawler defeated Carlos Condit via split-decision in yet another war, with all 3 of his successful title fights earning him Fight of the Year honors. Alas, his run could not last forever and 'Ruthless' dropped his title to Tyron Woodley via first-round KO.
#4. Cain Velasquez – former UFC heavyweight champion
Long before the days of Francis Ngannou and Stipe Miocic, the UFC heavyweight division was ruled by Cain Velasquez. The Mexican-American phenom was a terrifying force inside the octagon. His relentless pressure and high-volume kickboxing led to some of the most brutal beatings in the promotion's history.
The former NCAA Division I wrestler first captured the heavyweight against Brock Lesnar in a first-round drubbing that left 'The Beast' stumbling and bloodied. Unfortunately, his first title defense ended just as emphatically as he suffered an early first-round KO against Junior dos Santos.
If you missed prime Cain Velasquez, you missed a lot. https://t.co/wsxPUioDNn
After a vicious first-round TKO that left Antônio 'Bigfoot' Silva torn open and leaking more blood than most MMA fans have ever seen, the AKA standout earned his rematch against 'JDS'. Their second bout was one of the most dominant and uncomfortably brutal wins of the former champion's career.
The Brazilian boxer was so battered he remembered nothing after the first round. Only his otherworldly toughness kept him from suffering a TKO. Velasquez finally defended his title against 'Bigfoot' in a rematch that ended with another first-round TKO against him, this time he only needed 1 minute and 21 seconds.
His subsequent bout was a trilogy match against 'JDS', but the result was nearly identical to their second fight: an unsettling beating. Only this time, Junior dos Santos was TKO'd in the fifth round. The Mexican-American's reign of terror in the heavyweight division finally came to a thrilling end via a third round guillotine-choke against Fabricio Werdum.
#3. Conor McGregor – former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion
Conor McGregor is widely considered to be the most entertaining fighter in UFC history. The Irishman's combination of thrilling striking and indiscriminate trash talk earned him his place in MMA history as the sport's greatest-ever attraction. As a champion, 'The Notorious' was limited only by his refusal to defend titles.
Due to this decision, the Irishman has only taken part in three title fights, with each one being an exciting affair unlike any other. His first title fight was his star-making 13-second knockout against longtime featherweight kingpin José Aldo. Alas, 'The Notorious' never defended his title.
Four years ago today, Conor McGregor finished Eddie Alvarez to win the UFC lightweight title and become the UFC’s first Champ Champ
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Instead, he went on to challenge Eddie Alvarez for the 155 lbs title. At UFC 205, the Irishman made good on his promise to make history when he became the promotion's first simultaneous two-division champion after arguably the greatest-ever title-winning performance in the promotion.
The next time Conor McGregor entered the octagon for a title fight was at UFC 229 when he faced Khabib Nurmagomedov in the highest-selling pay-per-view in MMA history.
The bout was as controversial as it was exciting as the Irishman suffered a knockdown for the first time while also stealing a round from his undefeated rival en route to a fourth-round submission loss before a post-fight brawl broke out.
#2. Charles Oliveira, former UFC lightweight champion
Charles Oliveira is a record-setter and a record-holder. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt is responsible for the most finishes under Dana White's banner, while also punctuating his status as a submission specialist by holding the record for the most submission wins in UFC history.
The Brazilian is an action fighter who has not had a boring fight in an absurdly long time. As a champion, his performances were all must-see spectacles. He first claimed divisional supremacy in an exciting comeback win that saw him KO Michael Chandler in the second round after being rocked and dropped in the first.
#UFC269The two best lightweights on the planet throwing down!
Charles Oliveira & Dustin Poirier competing for the right to be crowned best in the world! 🏆 #UFC269 https://t.co/aTZVRLuHWz
His first title defense came against Dustin Poirier, and again the bout was as thrilling as it could have been. It was a back-and-forth affair that saw 'do Bronx' hurt numerous times before he turned the tide with his vicious knees to 'The Diamond's mid-section and head en route to a third-round rear-naked choke.
While he was stripped of his title at the weigh-ins for his bout with Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira nonetheless mounted an exciting performance against 'The Highlight'. After, as always, being rocked and hurt, he dropped his foe and tapped him out with a rear-naked choke.
Alas, 'do Bronx' finally tasted defeat when he and Islam Makhachev recently crossed swords for the vacant title. The bout, like all of the Brazilian's fights, was an exciting affair. Unfortunately, this time when he was knocked down, he was finished seconds later by an arm-triangle choke.
#1. Ronda Rousey, former UFC women's bantamweight champion
There is no such thing as a boring Ronda Rousey fight, much less a boring Ronda Rousey title fight. After the UFC acquired Strikeforce, 'Rowdy's status as the Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion was upgraded to the UFC women's bantamweight champion.
The Olympic bronze medalist delivered in spades, finishing all of her foes across her six title defenses, with most of her wins being first-round spectacles. Only Miesha Tate survived past the first round in a Fight of the Night winner that saw her eventually succumb to Ronda Rousey's irresistible armbar.
Feb28.2015
@RondaRousey makes the 5th defense of her UFC Bantamweight title,
when she finishes Cat Zingano with an armbar in 14 seconds https://t.co/fRbr4LCojB
In many ways, 'Rowdy' captured the same intrigue that boxing fans had during Mike Tyson's undefeated run. The judoka's fights were fast and furious affairs that made her seem unstoppable just as 'Iron Mike' did. Whether she was TKO'ing her foes or armbaring them, Ronda Rousey was a box office success.
The thrilling nature of her bouts was such that she became a crossover star who inspired an entire generation of young women to take up MMA. Even her two losses against Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes were exciting affairs that both ended via knockout.