Top 4 UFC Fights Of All Time: Profiled

Earlier this week, we profiled the top UFC fights of all time. From our four lists, only one had full consensus and three had three-quarters consensus. Below, with the help of ExtremeProSports, we'll profile these four fights, showing you why they deserve the accolades.

Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg (UFC 52)-4 out of 4 writers

Short and absolutely sweet. This was a fight where the unthinkable happened. Trigg struck Hughes in the groin; Hughes then turned to referee Mario Yamasaki to complain. Poor move.

Yamasaki hadn't seen it, and Hughes got pelted with punches he wasn't ready for by Trigg. Next thing you know, Trigg has his back, and the choke is sunk in deep. Hughes begins to turn red, even purple. It seems as if his run as champion is about to end.

But this is Matt Hughes, remember. First, he escapes the choke. Next, he picks Trigg up in the air and walks him to his own corner.

Then perhaps the greatest slam of all-time occurs. Next thing you know, Hughes has Trigg in a rear naked choke. Then Trigg taps. It is perhaps the most exciting four minutes and five seconds in an MMA bout...ever.

Stephen Bonnar vs. Forrest Griffin (TUF Finale 1)-3 out of 4 writers

These two guys will forever be stars because of this fight. They set the precedent for great TUF finale fights, for sure.

Was it pretty? No. Was it a display of elite kickboxing techniques? Not in total, though there were some moments (such as Bonnar's spinning back kick). However, this fight was a display of heart, courage, and determination. In other words, it was a brawl; perhaps unlike any that had ever graced an MMA stage.

Afterward, via split decision, Griffin got the edge. Did he deserve it? Who knows? All we do know is that many people, including UFC commentator, Joe Rogan, thought it was one of the best, if not the best MMA fights they'd ever seen.

Matt Hughes vs. B.J. Penn (UFC 63)-3 out of 4 writers

Last time these two met, Penn had submitted Hughes via rear naked choke in the first round. Coming in, both fighters had a lot on the line. A win for Hughes would cement him as perhaps the greatest pound for pound mixed martial artist in history (in the eyes of many), while a loss might actually do the same for Penn. In short, legacies were on the line.

Penn dominated early on, doing something that no other fighter had ever been able to accomplish against Hughes; he stopped his takedowns. Somehow, Penn had managed stay balanced, often on one leg, as Hughes attempted a host of single leg takedowns against him.

Due to the UFC Welterweight Champion's inability to take the fight to the ground, Penn got his chance to throw punches. He immediately proved he was the better man on his feet. The man from Hawaii won the first round rather easily.

In the second, Hughes finally got Penn to the ground. Good thing, right? Well, not initially, anyway. Penn caught Hughes in a triangle choke that nearly did him in. But somehow, through sheer guts and determination, Hughes persevered and got through that round without tapping or passing out. During that round, unbeknownst to spectators, Penn injured a rib. In addition, he apparently spent all his energy trying to submit Hughes. This is a bad thing against a man that trains with Miletich Fighting Systems as they never gas.

In the third, Penn was a different fighter; a tired fighter. Hughes, on the other hand, wasn't. He beat Penn to the punch on several occasions and then took him down. And then he pounded his way to a John McCarthy stoppage.

Karo Parisyan vs. Nick Diaz (UFC 49)-3 out of 4 writers

After an intense pre-fight staredown, the welterweights immediately got down to business, with Sanchez landing a hard right uppercut before taking Parisyan down. The fast pace of the bout had the crowd roaring, and once both fighters stood, Parisyan struck with two judo throws that put Sanchez on the defensive for one of the few times in his UFC career.

In the second, the standup battle picked up where it left off in the first round, with Sanchez and Parisyan both taking good shots. One minute in, Parisyan picked Sanchez up and took him down, but Sanchez worked well enough from the bottom to stay out of serious trouble. With three minutes left, Sanchez rose and the welterweight contenders got back to trading punches. Sanchez got Parisyan (whose nose was now bloodied) back to the mat with a little over two minutes left and started to attack with big shots from the top position. Parisyan rose, but now his right eye started to show signs of wear as well, and Sanchez got his foe back to the ground before the bell sounded.

Taking a well-deserved break for the first few seconds of the final round, both Sanchez and Parisyan soon resumed hostilities on the feet, with Sanchez landing the crisper punches. Parisyan got even though, taking Sanchez to the mat and working from the top. Sanchez got out of trouble quickly and tried to sink in a choke, but Parisyan escaped. Seconds later, things got even worse for ‘The Heat’ as Sanchez got on top and started opening up with both hands. Parisyan showed the heart of a lion though, and with little under two minutes left he made it back to his feet. Sanchez scored with a series of uppercuts and a knee though (the knee knocking Parisyan’s tooth out), and the fight appeared to be slipping away from ‘The Heat’, something that was made a certainty as Sanchez pounded away at Parisyan until the final bell tolled.