5 MMA fights that will make a fan out of you!

There are fights, and then there are wars!The will to dominate and the propensity to fight has been an ever-present fixture in basic human nature throughout history. The hallowed battleground may have evolved from the sands of the Coloseum to the mat of the Octagon, but the inherent magnetism that draws us towards two warriors in battle has not diminished one bit.Despite the media responsibilities and marketing gimmicks that pervade themselves in the routine of an MMA fighter these days, it is the killer instinct lurking beneathall the formal niceties that really captures the fancy of the audience. Once that cage door shuts, that burgeoning warrior spirit takes centre stage.As mortals of a less aggressive and adventurous nature, we gawk in awe as these gladiators dispense all notion of their own well-being and put their body and mind through the grind, so as to entertain us. In riposte, we live each left jab, takedown and roundhouse kick vicariously through them - a symbiotic relationship that has catapulted MMA into the ever-expanding sphere of global appeal.This article summarizes 5 such fights that justify our fixation on the sport. These are fights that pushed us to the edge of our seats, seized with disbelief at the intensity and action on display. Here are 5 fights, after watching, that will make a MMA fan out of you, if you aren’t one already.

#1 Chuck Lidell vs Wanderlei Silva (UFC 79)

Unlike Mayweather vs Pacquiao, one fight that did deliver on its pre-match hype and then some, was the absolute all-out war that The Iceman and The Axe Murderer waged on one another. What had been considered a dream match-up given the two men’s domineering careers in their respective promotions, finally came to pass in 2007 when Pride was absorbed by the UFC.

Wanderlei Silva who was known for his relentless aggression and heavy-handed striking was pitted against Chuck Lidell, the consummate counter-puncher. The fight itself had the audience gasping at the ferocity with which these two legends fuelled each punch of theirs with unholy intentions.

After 5 rounds of full-blown exchanges between the men, Chuck Lidell eventually picked up the decision victory, but who are we kidding? The audience was always going to be the true winner in this one.