Top 5 fights to show to a new MMA fan

[Haggis McJackass]

Originally Posted by Primate

That's a pretty big call. That fight was fucking amazing, given the history (Phan getting absolutely robbed in their last encounter), added to the action in the fight (Phan getting dropped twice(?) in the last round after he'd trounced Garcia for the 5 previous rounds they'd fought) and the overall class and general likability of both guys involved... you don't really get that many fights like this.

Well, maybe I exaggerate a little bit.

But you know what I mean, it's not like it's a big fight. It's a good scrap and yeah, they are both classy guys but it's the kind of fight that is rapidly forgotten. Neither of them are big names, it was three fights away from the main event, it was a tremendous scrap but nobody bought that card to see that fight. And there are lots of fights that are like that. Lots of times the Fight of the Night, or strong FOTN contenders, comes from lower down in the card. I guess that's closer to what I meant.

[Del Boy]

Good thread

[Bill Butcher]

Kazushi Sakuraba v Carlos Newton
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira v Heath Herring 1
Frank Shamrock v Tito Ortiz
Wanderlei Silva v Rampage Jackson 2
Shogun Rua v Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

There are loads more on the same level as these but these are 5 of the best ever matches that show a bit of everything IMO.

[Bill Butcher]

Originally Posted by rekcutnevets

These are all fine mentions guys, I agree with what I'm seeing. I just don't think one can truly appreciate the sport with out seeing the first UFC promotions. I recommend watching UFCs 1-14, in their entirety, before trying to watching any other contests.

Before the first few UFCs, the majority of martial arts fans thought that top notch strikers could defeat anyone. The argument then was over which striking style was better. Most of the world had never heard of bjj. The game plan for the striker was simple. Don't let the wrestler, or judoka, grab you; and you win the fight. It's funny how easy it seemed to be able to avoid a clinch before 1993.

PRIDE may have given us better over all events, but UFC 1-14 is where the sport did most of it's evolving. BJJ had it's coming out party as the world's greatest stand alone fighting art in UFCs 1-4. Just when you thought bjj was all the rage, wrestling burst on the scene in UFC 4. Grapplers had taken over. It was soon known all over the few holds barred fight world that grapplers could beat any striker. That is until UFC 14. Maurice Smith shattered that myth when he picked up enough defensive grappling maneuvers to defeat, the then thought unbeatable, Mark Coleman.

Very good post.

Royce Gracie v Ken Shamrock from UFC 1 is a masterpiece in the artistic side of NHB fighting... all 58 seconds of it

[Rob_Floyd]

Santiago/Misaki II is another good one. Five round war with a little bit of everything. Basically something dramatic every round, and a finish in the last thirty seconds.

[RustBelt]

The fight that sucked me in was Forrest vs Bonner 1 when i watched it live!

[sugarngold]

Here's the five fights I would show them:

1. Royce Gracie vs Ken Shamrock.
2. Henderson vs Fedor
3. Cung Le vs Frank Shamrock.
4. Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen 1.
5. Frankie Edgar vs Grey Maynard 3

[sugarngold]

Five fights is really limited. I would like to pick five UFC, five Pride, five NHB, and five Strikeforce fights.

[Haggis McJackass]

Originally Posted by sugarngold

Here's the five fights I would show them:

1. Royce Gracie vs Ken Shamrock.
2. Henderson vs Fedor
3. Cung Le vs Frank Shamrock.
4. Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen 1.
5. Frankie Edgar vs Grey Maynard 3

I haven't seen Cung Le vs Frank Shamrock but good calls on the rest, they are all solid fights showcasing different aspects of the sport.

[roscoe]

Don Frye V Takyama
Wanderlei v Rampage 1 & 2
Griffen v Bonner
Liddell v Wanderlei
Shogun v Nog