A.Silva x C.Sonnen had one of the biggest fights in MMA history in 2010 Photo: Disclosure/UFC
In celebration of the 14th anniversary of the SUPER FIGHTS, we will present our readers with a series of special content with the best that has happened in combat sports since 2007. Now, let's remember the 14 biggest fights that defined the era, whether in MMA or Boxing. Remembering that the list is not in order of importance or chronologically.
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1 – Anderson Silva x Chael Sonnen I
The main photo of the article represents, for many Brazilians, the biggest fight of the legend's career Anderson Silva. In August 2010, the 'Spider' was heading towards his seventh defense of the middleweight belt (up to 83,9kg) against the loudmouth Chael Sonnen. Before the fight, there was a lot of provocation from the North American, even insulting the Brazilian fighter's family.
In the fight, for just over four rounds, Chael 'said and did'. He dominated the fight supremely, with many takedowns and without letting Anderson use his famous striking. The combat scenario was the same: the North American calmly took down the Brazilian and hit him on the ground until the end of the round.
With just over two minutes left in the fifth round, when everything seemed lost, Anderson managed to land a triangle. Sonnen still tried to resist but ended up giving the 'two taps', signaling his withdrawal. The 'Spider' achieved at that moment, his biggest and most difficult victory as middleweight champion.
2 – Anderson Silva x Chael Sonnen II
The rematch between A.Silva and C.Sonnen didn't have the same excitement as the first duel Photo: Disclosure/UFC
Almost two years after the historic duel, Anderson Silva e Chael Sonnen they met again in the octagon for the long-awaited rematch. Unlike the first confrontation, the champion maintained the belt more calmly. After a more 'blurry' first round, due to Sonnen's high level of wrestling, the Brazilian managed the knockout at the beginning of the second round and ended the rivalry with the loudmouth once and for all.
3 – Khabib Nurmagomedov x Conor McGregor
K.Nurmagomedov and C. McGregor were in the main fight of UFC 229 Photo: Instagram
In his first defense of the lightweight belt (up to 70,3kg), the Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov would have a tough challenge ahead: the former champion Conor McGregor who returned after two years (and a boxing fight) away from the Octagon. Before the fight, the Irishman heavily provoked the Russian, his family and even the 'Eagle' religion. Khabib's response would come after the fight ended and in a violent way.
During the fight, the Russian was supreme with his traditional grappling and dominated McGregor throughout. In the fourth round, Khabib used a guillotine choke and submitted the Irishman. After the fight, the champion decided to respond to the provocations with aggression and attacked the challenger's staff. There was widespread confusion between the two teams in a scene that recalled the old times of 'Vale-Tud0' here in Brazil. Both athletes were suspended and given a fine because of the confusion.
4 – Conor McGregor x Eddie Alvarez
C. McGregor x E. Alvarez Disclosure: Facebook/ Instagram
Then featherweight champion (up to 65,7kg), Conor McGregor moved up a category to challenge the lightweight leader (up to 70,3kg) Eddie Alvarez. The stage was carefully chosen for the grandeur of the event: For the first time in history, Ultimate set up its octagon in the historic Madison Square Garden, in New York (USA).
The main fight of UFC 205 was a monologue from the Irishman. With his sharp striking, the Irishman gave the North American a run for his money and won with a knockout in the second round. With the triumph, the 'Notorious' became the first athlete in the history of Ultimate to hold two belts simultaneously and entered the gallery of 'Immortals' of mixed martial arts once and for all.
5 – Frankie Edgar x Gray Maynard 3
F. Edgar x G. Maynard made a breathtaking trilogy Photo: Instagram/UFC
In his second title defense, the lightweight champion Frankie Edgar had an incredible battle that ended in a draw against Gray Maynard, the only man who had beaten him until then. A rematch was necessary to 'set the record straight' and just over nine months after the draw, the two athletes stepped into the octagon for the trilogy.
Maynard started the fight in a crazy way, dominating his striking and taking the champion to a knockdown more than once. However, Edgar 'incorporated' Rocky Balboa and landed a very violent upper body and attacked the challenger after seeing him swing. The final blow came from a right cross that obliterated Gray. The lightweight belt remained with Edgar and in spectacular fashion.
6 – Jon Jones x Alexander Gustafsson I
J.Jones x A. Gustafsson faced each other at UFC 165, in September 2013 Photo: Disclosure/UFC
Few champions in history have had such a devastating start to their reign and with opponents as qualified as Jon Jones. After 'running over' opponents like Rampage jackson, Rashad evans, Lyoto Machida In his first defenses of the light heavyweight belt, the champion would measure his strength against the rising promise Alexander Gustafson.
The Swede showed the world at UFC 165 that Jon Jones He was human like all of us. He faced the champion in the stand-up fight, managed to knock him down (something no fighter had ever done) and left his face badly bruised. The champion kept the belt after a decision by the judges that was very questionable and criticized by many, to this day.
7 – José Aldo x Chad Mendes II
J. Aldo and C. Mendes starred in the main fight of UFC 179 Photo: Facebook/UFC
With five defenses of the featherweight belt (up to 65,7kg), José Aldo was facing the first rematch of his career: in front of a packed Maracanãzinho gymnasium, the Brazilian would once again face off against the 'prince' of the division Chad Mendes. In the first meeting, the Tupiniquim athlete won with a beautiful knockout in the first round, but the story would be different this time.
Showing great evolution in his game, Chad gave the champion a lot of work and the two athletes fought a 'war' in the Maracanãzinho octagon. After 25 minutes of a real battle, the Brazilian had his most difficult title defense of his career so far, but won by unanimous decision from the judges, to the delight of the Brazilian fans.
8 – Amanda Nunes x Cris Cyborg
A. Nunes and C. Cyborg faced each other at UFC 232 Photo: Instagram/UFC
UFC 232, which took place in December 2018, pitted the two greatest fighters in the history of women's MMA in Brazil face to face. The duel was valid for the featherweight belt (up to 65,7kg), which belonged to Chris Cyborg, however, on the other side was the absolute bantamweight champion (up to 61,2kg) Amanda nunes.
If before the fight, there was any doubt about who was the greatest in history, that was resolved in the first round. Amanda managed to avoid Cyborg's takedown attempts and once again showing her excellent striking, she knocked out the veteran before the first bell sounded. With the triumph, the 'Leoa' became champion of two categories simultaneously, a fact that she still boasts today.
9 – Anderson Silva x Vitor Belfort
V. Belfort and A. Silva faced each other in February 2011 Photo: Disclosure/UFC
February 05, 2011. The middleweight champion Anderson Silva and your compatriot Vitor belfort they faced each other in what was being called the 'Fight of the Century'. Former training partners, the two fighters exchanged a lot of provocations during the week of the fight, which helped to increase expectations.
The first minute and a half of the fight was practically stopped, with very little action. In the blink of an eye, Spider pulled out a beautiful front kick that knocked Vitor out. With his opponent down, it only took a few more blows from the champion for the referee to stop the fight. Historic end to a historic fight.
10 – Robbie Lawler x Rory MacDonald II
R. Lawler faced R. MacDonald at UFC 189 Photo: Instagram
The first defense of the welterweight (under 77,1 kg) title by Robbie Lawler was a rematch against the then rising prospect Rory McDonald. The co-main event of UFC 189 delivered one of the most remembered fights in the organization's history. The fight was a true bloody battle and ended with a knockout of the then champion at the beginning of the fifth round, after just over 20 minutes of 'war'.
11 – Vitor Belfort x Evander Hollyfield – (Boxing)
E. Hollyfield and V. Belfort pose for a photo before the fight Disclosure: Twitter/ Thriller
Retired from MMA, Vitor belfort decided to venture back into boxing after more than 15 years. Before him, the legend of the noble art Evander Hollyfield at 59 years of age. The two athletes faced each other in the main fight of 'Triller Fight Club', which took place on September 11th.
Even when faced with a much older opponent, Belfort didn't want to play around in the fight. The Brazilian attacked the North American in a devastating way and knocked him out in the first round.
12 – Fabricio Werdum x Fedor Emelianenko
F. Werdum shocked the world by submitting F. Emelianenko Photo: Disclosure/Strikeforce
June 26, 2010 is a date that will never be forgotten by Fabricio Werdum. The Brazilian fighter was facing that day in the old Strikeforce event, the feared Fedor Emelianenko, heavyweight (up to 120,2kg) who boasted a 10-year unbeaten record in mixed martial arts.
The Brazilian ignored the fact that he was the underdog in the fight and shocked the world that night. Still in the first round, after being taken down by Fedor, the Brazilian athlete locked in a triangle and made the Russian give up. A historic night for world MMA, the day that 'the zebra walked' in the rings of HP Pavilion, in San Jose, California (USA).
13 – Anderson Silva x Júlio César Chávez Jr
A. Silva beat J. César Chávez JR in June 2021 Photo: Disclosure
'Following' the same path as Vitor belfort, Anderson Silva he also decided to venture into the noble art after retiring from MMA. The former UFC middleweight champion (up to 83,9kg) debuted in the new sport against former world champion Julio Cezar Chávez Jr.
In an event held at the Jalisco Stadium, in Guadalajara (MEX), the Brazilian dominated the fight and won the judges' decision. The victory impressed fans and the specialized press and motivated the Brazilian athlete to continue his career in the noble art for a while longer.
14 – José Aldo x Conor McGregor
C. McGregor quickly knocked out J. Aldo at UFC 194 Photo: Facebook/UFC
Every reign has its end. But what no one expected was that the period of José Aldo as featherweight champion (up to 65,7kg) would end in such a tragic (and quick) way. At UFC 194, in December 2015, the Brazilian was faced with the dangerous Conor McGregor, a star on the rise in Ultimate and who was already causing a lot of buzz inside and outside the octagon.
The fight, contrary to expectations, lasted less than the time taken by Bruce Buffer to announce the two athletes. After 13 seconds, the Irishman shocked the world by landing a left cross that quickly led to the champion's knockout. The final blow was unnecessary and the featherweight belt now has a new owner.
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