The 10: Top September Skirmishes

The former heavyweight champion dominated, out-wrestling Ortiz from the outset and leaving no question as to who was the superior competitor. When Ortiz rolled for a desperation kneebar in the fifth round, Couture defended and have him a little pat on the butt for his efforts — a little “nice try, kid” from the steely veteran, who swept the scorecards to emerge as the undisputed light heavyweight champion and become the first man to hold UFC gold in two different weight classes.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson def. Dan Henderson (UFC 75)

It’s difficult to truly convey the gravity of this contest for those that weren’t around to experience it, but this was a massive fight in the moment.

Jackson had claimed the UFC light heavyweight title with a jarring first-round knockout win over Chuck Liddell at UFC 71 just a few months earlier, while Henderson was making his promotional debut after claiming the PRIDE middleweight title with a third-round knockout win over Jackson’s rival Wanderlei Silva in February. This was the MMA equivalent of the Champions League Final — the UFC champ versus the PRIDE titleholder — and the anticipation was incredible.

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Henderson was the better of the two early, utilizing his wrestling in the clinch, his control on the canvas, and his ability to dictate the terms of engagement to neutralize Jackson’s striking power. But “Rampage” had some success in the first half of the second and third, stung Henderson early in the fourth, and closed things out by swarming the PRIDE champion.

Jackson won a unanimous decision to defend his UFC light heavyweight title and establish himself as the top light heavyweight in the world.

Demetrious Johnson def. Joseph Benavidez (UFC 152)

The first flyweight title fight in UFC history was an absolute barnburner between two men that would go on to lead the new division for the majority of the next decade.

Johnson earned his place in the inaugural championship pairing with a dominant win over Ian McCall after their first encounter was declared a draw, while Benavidez entered as the favorite, having stopped Yasuhiro Urushitani and been a dominant force up a division at bantamweight before that.

For five rounds, they battled in every phase at a frenetic pace, exhibiting outstanding technique, conditioning, and skill throughout. Neither man was able to establish clear dominance, one responding each time the other found success and started to push for control, until there was no time remaining on the clock.

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The judges were split — one seeing it 48-47 for each fighter, and the third turning in a 49-46 score for Johnson, making “Mighty Mouse” the first flyweight champion, a title he wouldn’t relinquish until after establishing a new record for the most consecutive successful title defenses in UFC history.

Jon Jones def. Alexander Gustafsson (UFC 165)

Going into this contest, most expected the dominant champion Jones to turn back the challenger with relative ease, given he’d done the same to a host of legendary names to cement his place atop the light heavyweight division, but Gustafsson had no intention of letting that happen.

This was the kind of fight that grabbed your attention immediately and never let go.

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The challenger put the champion on the deck in the first round and from that point forward, it was a dogfight, each man battling hard to establish their dominance, and neither allowing the other to ever quite get there. Late in the fourth round, with a massive gash above his eye, Jones hit a spinning elbow that staggered Gustafsson and finally swung the momentum fully in his favor.

Jones survived to retain his title, but Gustafsson didn’t lose anything in the loss. Instantly heralded as one of the best championship fights in UFC history, it was enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020.

Cat Zingano def. Amanda Nunes (UFC 178)

In order to understand the significance of this fight, you first have to know everything Zingano battled through on her way to UFC 178.

Seventeen months earlier, she scored a come-from-behind stoppage win over Miesha Tate to earn a championship opportunity and a chance to coach on Season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Ronda Rousey, only to suffer a serious knee injury and be forced from the fight and the show. While she was rehabbing, Zingano’s husband committed suicide.

Just making it back to the Octagon was a victory, but in the opening round, it looked like a win was not coming. Nunes dominated early, pummeling the returning Zingano, before the former Olympic wrestling hopeful started to have some success in the final minute. She parlayed that into controlling things the moment the second round began, and early in the third, a throw in the center of the Octagon gave her the opportunity to climb into mount.

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From there, the ground-and-pound rained down, the blood started spilling from Nunes’ head, and the fight was waved off. Zingano rose to her feet, a mix of elation, sadness, satisfaction, and heartbreak showing on her face.

This wasn’t just a comeback victory in the cage, but a comeback victory in life for the first mother to earn a victory inside the Octagon.

Amanda Nunes def. Valentina Shevchenko (UFC 215)

Nunes and Shevchenko first faced off at UFC 196, opening up the main card just a couple bouts before Miesha Tate would rally to submit Holly Holm and claim the bantamweight title. While Nunes started well, Shevchenko, then in just her second UFC appearance, rallied late, and most in attendance believed had the fight continued into the championship rounds, the promising sophomore would have secured the victory.

Following Nunes’ championship win at UFC 200 and one scheduled meeting that was scuttled at the last minute, the two would run it back with five rounds to work at UFC 215 and it was even more competitive than their initial encounter.

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To this day, bringing up the outcome of this fight can spark arguments — some folks steadfast in their belief the champion did enough to secure the win, while others are vehement that a new champion should have been crowned. The judges were split on how they saw the fight as well, with Nunes eking out a split decision win.

Almost five years later, “The Lioness” is back on top of the bantamweight division, while Shevchenko has been a dominant force at flyweight. Might we finally be moving towards a third meeting between the two?

Merab Dvalishvili def. Marlon Moraes (UFC 266)

The first half of the opening round of this fight was technical and tactical, Moraes attacking with heavy low kicks before Dvalishvili caught one and used it to secure a takedown. When they got back to their feet, they were each respectful of the other’s strength, neither wanting to get caught.