-
1
- Silva vs. Sonnen
- Anderson Silva | Submission | Round 5
- 2010 | UFC 117
-
Silva / Sonnen is deserving of the top slot because of the epic nature of the encounter -- it was a main event, for a championship belt -- and because Sonnen talked the bout from an average encounter into one of the top five UFC pay per views of the year. Even though much of the fight took place in Silva's guard there was action at the beginning of every round, with brutal shots landed by Silva. And then you have the classic finish with only moments remaining, and the symbolic overtones of Jiu-Jitsu technique besting the wrestler from the bottom. Despite some slow moments Silva / Sonnen is pure MMA at its finest.
-
2
- MacDonald vs. Condit
- Carlos Condit | KO/TKO | Round 3
- 2010 | UFC 115
-
Condit / MacDonald was a gorgeous fight from beginning to end, with an enormous range of MMA techniques on display. Excellent phase transitions from standing to ground from both men, particularly MacDonald in the opening two frames. Condit's come from behind win with little time remaining, and MacDonald's toughness to hang in there with a busted orbital in the final minutes, places this fight in the number two slot.
-
3
- Lesnar vs. Velasquez
- Cain Velasquez | KO/TKO | Round 1
- 2010 | UFC 121
-
4
- Akiyama vs. Leben
- Chris Leben | Submission | Round 3
- 2010 | UFC 116
-
5
- Henderson vs. Pettis
- Anthony Pettis | Decision
- 2010 | WEC 53
-
Once this one warmed up it really delivered. Great rounds 3, 4 and 5, and knowing the fight was neck-and-neck without a clear winner built the excitement. The cage kick that won Pettis the fight just put it over the top.
-
6
- Dunham vs. Sherk
- Sean Sherk | Decision
- 2010 | UFC 119
-
A very closely contested battle with debatable scoring means something interesting took place. No one can doubt the tenacity displayed by both men. Dunham stayed calm after a nasty cut opened up, and Sherk was relentless in looking for takedowns. This was a cool stylistic class with a very high skill level exhibited.
-
7
- Liddell vs. Franklin
- Rich Franklin | KO/TKO | Round 1
- 2010 | UFC 115
-
A short but sweet classic, Liddell / Franklin was absolute savagery for just short of five minutes. Two former champions pitted in a main event, Franklin battling through a broken arm sustained in the first minute, and a gruesome knockout finish that split Liddell's septum right to his nose. This was pure violence exhibited by two of the sport's early crossover stars.
-
8
- Garcia vs. Jung I
- Leonard Garcia | Decision
- 2010 | WEC 48
-
Slobberknockers have their place in MMA, and even if the Korean Zombie turns out to have a Kimbo-like rise and fall from prominence after his defeat by George Roop, any fight that creates this level of buzz warrants remembering as an all-time great. Plus tell me you weren't entertained. I have no problem with those who put this fight at #1.
-
9
- Varner vs. Cerrone II
- Donald Cerrone | Decision
- 2010 | WEC 51
-
A fight is always more interesting when the two guys hate each other, and this one was no exception. Even when the blows missed, it was high drama. The jawing and the sneering elevated this one to #6.
-
10
- Lesnar vs. Carwin
- Brock Lesnar | Submission | Round 2
- 2010 | UFC 116
-
An epic matchup between two larger-than-life goliaths which featured something increasingly rare in top-flight MMA -- a come from behind victory. Lesnar showed his championship mettle for the first time, in my view, by overcoming enormous adversity in the first round and regaining his poise.
-
11
- Soszynski vs. Bonnar II
- Stephan Bonnar | KO/TKO | Round 2 | UFC 116
-
This was a war, plain and simple.
-
12
- Semerzier vs. Swanson
- Cub Swanson | Decision | WEC 52
-
13
- Diaz vs. Noons II
- Nick Diaz | Decision | Strikeforce
-
This was the single best display of boxing skill from two combatants in the cage in 2010, and that includes both Penn vs. Edgar bouts. Both Noons and Diaz really, really know what they are doing on the feet, and for afficionados of the body shot this was amazing to watch. Both guys gave and took heavy shots and stayed poised. My respect for both men only increased.
-
14
- Machida vs. Rua II
- Maurício Rua | KO/TKO | Round 1 | UFC 113
-
There was something classic and timeless about both Rua / Machida matchups. Two true martial artists at the height of their powers, prepared mentally and physically to do battle, with very different camps and very different skillsets to support them. I can' think of a single fight from 2010 more open to debate going in as this one. People simply did not know who was better. They do now, of course.
-
15
- Sanchez vs. Thiago
- Diego Sanchez | Decision | UFC 121
-
16
- Cavalcante vs. Thomson
- Josh Thomson | Decision | Strikeforce
-
17
- Shalorus vs. Varner
- Fight Ends in a Draw After 3 Rounds | WEC 49
-
18
- Alvarez vs. Huerta
- Eddie Alvarez | KO/TKO | Round 2 | Bellator 33
-
fast eddie always delivers exciting stuff. he controlled the fight but also got rocked in the first round. he's not afraid to wade in there and take his chances.
-
19
- Emelianenko vs. Werdum
- Fabrício Werdum | Submission | Round 1 | Strikeforce
-
20
- Hamill vs. Jardine
- Matt Hamill | Decision | The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale
-
21
- Morecraft vs. Struve
- Stefan Struve | KO/TKO | Round 2 | UFC 117
-
22
- Faber vs. Aldo
- José Aldo | Decision | WEC 48
-
23
- Page vs. Johnson
- Demetrious Johnson | Submission | Round 3 | WEC 52
-
24
- Silva vs. Kyle
- Antônio Silva | KO/TKO | Round 2 | Strikeforce
-
25
- Sotiropoulos vs. Stevenson
- George Sotiropoulos | Decision | UFC 110
-
26
- Sotiropoulos vs. Lauzon
- George Sotiropoulos | Sub | RD 2 | UFC 123
-
27
- Riddle vs. Pierson
- Sean Pierson | Decision | UFC 124
-
Sloppy as hell, but entertaining and full of heart.
-
28
- Bisping vs. Akiyama
- Michael Bisping | Decision | UFC 120
-
29
- Story vs. Hendricks
- Rick Story | Decision | The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale
-
A great display of wrestling by both men; not huge on wild action but a lot of technique to study beneath the surface.
-
30
- Lytle vs. Serra II
- Chris Lytle | Decision | UFC 119
-
31
- Hughes vs. Penn III
- BJ Penn | KO/TKO | Round 1 | UFC 123