Best Fights for Introducing People to MMA

Saw there wasn't a ranking for this and I feel for MMA this is an extremely relevant thread for people who might wonder what others think would be a good way of introducing MMA to their friends.

Based on attention span ;p

here you go wish, in no particular order...

I will give an explanation of why I picked these:
1. Big Nog/Sapp - Giant 350 lb dude beats up and controls the #1 HW in the world at the time in an action packed fight with Big Nog using his technical prowess in BJJ to make a HUGE comeback.
2. Jung/Poirier - High paced fight with insane sweeps, constant submission attempts, balls to the wall stand up until the finish with a faked TDD to a flying knee ending in a d'arce choke.
3 Sperry/Rua - Just an insane fight all around that goes everywhere and shows what MMA is all about.
4. Hughes/Trigg II - Hughes gets in A LOT of trouble and comes back after almost getting finished himself.
5. Rua/Diet Nog - High paced fight that displays awesome stand up and ground fighting. Need I say more?
6. Henderson/Shogun Rua - I don't think I need to explain.
7. GSP/Fitch - One of the biggest ass whoopings of all time, but GSP displays what it is to be the one of themost well rounded fighter in MMA history.
8. Machida/Rua - Shows what style match ups are all about and how calculating a MMA fight can be.
9. Jackson/Arona - Powerbomb
10. Pettis/Henderson - Another high paced fight that has the fighters going all out that has action going everywhere from the ground to the stand up.
11. Gomi/Pulver - My favorite MMA boxing style match. Very back and forth with a pretty awesome finish.

I wanted to put Sakuraba/Newton, but it is too much to introduce a high level grappling match to someone who doesn't understand anything that is going on when it hits the ground. It is an awesome match once people figure out the fundamentals of the ground.

1/ UFC first is about fighting, brawling, "without rules" for a new fan .. So lets get brawl and attract his attention ..


2/ UFC, or MMA, is not just a brawl of guys so drunk after a barbecue, lets introduce the ground game, dirty boxing, reversal, stand up, wrestling, GnP .. And 2 big Legends ..

3/ Cos its one of my favorite fight, even if Big Nog lost, in a bad way .. But its MMA, and everything can be reversed .. And show mor Ground game .. And how bad can be BJJ

4/5/ Show an Awesome history, for me, like Foreman/Ali, and all this sort of rivality .. I felt like an old man who was exciting like a child listenning to an old radio what happen during the fight !!!! Show as well the trashtalking, who is Sonnen, who is Silva, their skills, the first fight ending at 2 min of the end, the trashtalk again, the rematch .. And the attitude of Sonnen after the fight, cos its MMA, and fighting brings  RESPECT !!!  By both sides ..

How about the Jason von Flue vs. Jorge Gurgel fight from Season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter?

And if the person you show that fight to says it was "boring," then you're probably wasting your time with him.

My list

This was a great idea for a ranking. I would focus on recent fights because if they watch a fight and then find out the guys are no longer relevant, they might be disappointed (I know I was a few times). Later on, if they become a fan they'll go back and watch the classics.

* Edited at 07.20.2012, 5:26 AM ET *

Just bumping this because I feel this was a good idea for a ranking. :P

I personal think Rich Franklin vs Chuck Liddell is a great introduction to MMA. First you have two former champs.  It a short fight. it action pack. It back and forth. It has a definite winner. It shows a lot of heart. I think in a lot of ways it perfect choice.

* Edited at 09.25.2012, 6:24 PM ET *

Obviously I had to put the fight that got me hooked as #1

Lauzon vs. Varner

It shows the dimensions of MMA (striking, grappling, wrestling) that most fights don't offer and the fight finishes with a very unusual looking submission to people who don't watch MMA or grappling sports in general.

On Saturday, I think we had another good example in Dunham vs. Grant. Even if you don't agree with the decision, it was still a fantastic fight.