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Putting a list like this together, there will always be heated discussions. Everyone has their own opinion of what they think are the best mixed martial arts fights of all time. There is no right or wrong list when talking about your favorite fights of all time. Unless of coarse you put Kimbo Slice’s fights as your greatest MMA fights you have ever seen.

I have seen most MMA fights from all over the world and there is no scientific rating on how I ranked my list. I rated my MMA fight list based on how it made me yell, clap and how it made my jaw open.

So here are my greatest mixed martial arts fights of all time list.

Nick Diaz vs Karo “The Heat” Pariyson

UFC 49: Unfinished Business August 21, 2004

This fight was during what I call the middle ages of the UFC. The UFC was starting to regulate mixed martial arts in America and starting to bring in skilled well rounded fghters.

The fight between Nick Diaz vs Karo “The Heat” Pariyson was at a time where the buzz of the UFC was starting to begin. This fight was a back and forth fight, as both fighters came out and threw everything they had.

Pariyson showed what judo can do in the UFC as he was able to show people that judo can be affective in MMA. Parisyan is considered to be the best UFC fighter to have successfully adapted his Judo style to the no-gi rules of the Octagon. He was able to throw Diaz with amazing judo throws and Diaz showed his grappling abilities. Both fighters attempted submissions and both were able to get out of the submissions. The way these both fighters flowed was incredible.

On the ground and in the stand up this fight made me stand up and cheer. This fight had everything grappling, throws, both guys striking and even a tooth being knocked out (Diaz knee to Pariyson’s face).

Don “The Predator” Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama

Pride 21: Demolition, June 23, 2002

This MMA fight appeared at number one on Fox Sports Network's Best Damn 50 Beatdowns. This is without a doubt the single greatest brawl in the history of mixed-martial arts. They literally stood toe-to-toe and wailed on one another with haymakers. Takayama is well-known for his ability to endure massive amounts of punishment and that was apparent in this fight. Many PRIDE fans consider this to be one of the most exciting matches ever, Takayama faced Don “The Predator” Frye in a slugfest at PRIDE 21. Although he lost the match, Takayama solidified his reputation as one of the toughest Japanese fighters in history.

This fight had to be seen to be believed what both of these fighters where doing to each other. From the moment the bell rang, both fighters met at the center of the ring and wach fighter grabbed the back of the other fighters head and than both fighters started throwing punches to the other guys head.

If you like hockey this was a hokey fight at its best. It was a contest to see which fighter could take the most shots to the head and which fighter could throw the most punches to the head.

When I was this fight I stood up from my couch and my jaw was open the entire fight. To give you an idea of how brutal this match was you have to watch this fight.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva

 PRIDE Final Conflict 2003, Nov. 9, 2003

Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva was the most dominating fighter in the world from between 2000-2004. He racked off 14 wins in 15 mixed martial arts fights. This fight had a lot of “real” hype at the time.

This fight was the final fight that won Silva the Pride 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix. There was real animosity between the two fighters as Jackson was not scared of Silva and egged him on to fight, This enraged Silva that brought a special level of rage out of “The Axe Murderer.”

This fight was a perfect setting. There was so much hype in the event as Dana White brought in Chuck Liddell to win the tournament from the UFC. Also the semi finals were also much anticipated with semi final fights between Quinton Jackson and Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva vs. Hidehiko Yoshida

Both fighters went through their preliminary matches and it was a story everyone was waiting for. The finals of the 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix had a lot of hype to live up to.MMA fans had been salivating at the thought of Jackson and Silva fighting for some time and it all came ahead in the finals.


Silva was all over Rampage at the start of the fight but the Rampage started to turn the fight in his favor when he slowed the pace with top control on the ground. Rampage wanted to slow the pace of the fight on the ground but once the ref stood the fight up Silva began to take over. Silva landed a left high kick that KO’ed Jackson as he laid unconscious lying face first on the ring ropes.


The end result was one of the most memorable grand prix finals in PRIDE history and an explosive end to the single greatest MMA show ever.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Bob “The Beast” Sapp

PRIDE Shockwave, August 28 2002

This fight cemented Nogueira's legendary status. It was a fight where I stood up the entire fight and cheered when it was over.


Bob Sapp came into the fight weighing in at 350 pounds,A former professional football player he hit very hard, was inhumanly strong, and, was, well, huge. Nogueira on the other hand, was much smaller and less powerful, but was a Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu expert.


Sapp threw Nogueira around like a rag doll. He even slammed him on his head and was hit hard. Sapp was so big every time he missed a punch and hit the mat the whole ring shook. Nogueira had the big man in a number of submission but Sapp was so big Nogueira could not arm bar Sapp as his arm was too big. Same with the kimura.


In the opening minute of the fight, the 360-pound Sapp landed a pile driver on Nogueira (0:07 mark). Sapp had top control for much of the first round and took a beating. His left eye was nearly closed and he had a nasty cut under the eye.


Toward the end of the first round, evidence surfaced that Sapp was tiring. By the second round, there was no doubt. Soon after, Nogueira's submission game established itself in the form of an armbar.


Nogueira looked battered and beaten but would not give yup. But being so big meant he got tired quickly. In the second round Nogueira started to turn the tide and submitted him with a nasty arm bar.

This fight proved skill still prevailed over power and strength.

Royce Gracie vs. Kazushi Sakuraba

Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals 1 May 2000

To me this was one of the most pivotal points in MMA history. This was at a time where everyone thought the Gracie family was the most dominate fighting style in MMA. Royce wanted to prove that his family style of fighting was still unbeatable.


Sakuraba already beat Royler Gracie at Pride 8. Kazushi Sakuraba (a catch wrestler) defeated Royler Gracie by submission (the first loss by a Gracie on the world stage).


Royce Gracie came to PRIDE to avenge Royler’s loss by joining Sakuraba in PRIDE's first ever Grand Prix tournament. They met in the second round under special rules that included no time limits (though there were rounds). Royce wanted to place special rules for this fight (rules he thought would give him an advantage) and Sakuraba agreed.


This fight had no time limit. This fight lasted over an hour and a half. Early in the fight, Sakuraba nearly finished Gracie by knee bar. Later on, Gracie nearly caught Sakuraba in a guillotine choke. Gracie became unable to take Sakuraba down and Sakuraba used Royce's gi against him, something Royce used on his opponents.


Sakuraba's leg kicks eventually became too much for Royce. Royce's brother threw in the towel after an hour and a half of fighting, through which Gracie had suffered a broken foot.


And with that, the mysticism of Gracie Jiu- Jitsu was gone. A Gracie could be defeated, even Royce, and Kazushi Sakuraba, had proved it.


Because this was part of a tournament, Sakuraba had to go on and fight Igor Vovchanchyn later that night. He almost beat Vovchanchyn and took an early lead but exhaustion set in Sakuraba’s corner threw in the towel.


MMA fans were so inspired by his heart and dedication that he became known as the ‘Gracie Hunter’ and would go on to become the biggest star in MMA history.

Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonner

The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale, April 9, 2005


This fight had made mixed martial arts to what it is today. MMA was still on the fringe of sports but after this fight there was no doubt that MMA was here to stay. It was this fight that made UFC to what sit is today. This was the turning point for mixed martial arts in the United States. The UFC rolled the dice putting a reality show featuring 16 fighters on cable television. Griffin and Bonnar met in what was the most viewed fight in U.S. television history and they didn’t disappoint.


Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonner will forever be stars because of this fight. Was it pretty? No. this fight has no skill, no technique, no grappling and no real MMA skill. However, this fight was a display of heart, courage, and determination. What it was, was two fighters that wanted a UFC contract so bad and stood toe to toe in the center of the octagon and hit each other.


In other words, it was a brawl.


Afterward, via split decision, Griffin got the UFC contract. UFC commentator, Joe Rogan, thought it was one of the best, if not the best MMA fights they'd ever seen. This fight was on prime time TV and showed the world the excitement of MMA and brought about legions of fans to elevate the UFC and MMA to what it is today.


Not only was this a great fight but it was a pivotal moment in mixed martial arts history. When people talk about MMA in years to come they will talk about this fight.


Other notable great MMA fights:

Royce Gracie vs. Kimo Leopoldo UFC 3: The American Dream (on 9/9/94)

Tito Ortiz vs. Frank Shamrock UFC 22: Only One Can be Champion (on 9/24/99)

Diego Sanchez vs. Karo Parisyan UFC Fight Night 6 (on 8/17/06)

Tatsuya Kawajiri vs Eddie Alvarez DREAM.5 Light Weight Grand Prix 2008 Final Round (2008-07-21)

Luiz Azeredo vs. Takanori Gomi I Pride Bushido 7 (5/22/05)

Takanori Gomi vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri Pride Bushido 9 (on 9/25/05)

Wanderlei Silva vs. Hidehiko Yoshida Pride Final Conflict 2003 (11/9/03)

Josh Barnett vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Pride Final Conflict Absolute (9/10/06)

Quinton Jackson vs. Ricardo Arona Pride Critical Countdown 2004 (on 6/20/04)

BJ Penn vs Matt Hughes UFC 46: Supernatural (2004-01-31)

Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg II UFC 52: Couture vs. Liddell 2 (4/16/05)

Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva Pride 28: High Octane (2004-10-31)

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira Pride Shockwave 2004 (12-31/2004)

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mirko Filipović Pride Final Conflict 2005  (08-28-2005)

Any Sakuraba fight

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