Hot Take Most impressive perfomances in MMA history considering the opponent's difficulty level

[Popocatepetl]

Cejudo-DJ 2

Im pretty sure everyone knows Cejudo lost that fight, but the UFC was never gonna let DJ leave with the belt.

 

[Mammothman]

Stipe vs Werdum and Ngannou 1

 

[Mammothman]

That was one of the more shocking performances in history to be honest.
People forget just how good Barao was at the time.

#3 p4p iirc behind Jones and Aldo, his streak was insane.

 

[Popocatepetl]

#3 p4p iirc behind Jones and Aldo, his streak was insane.

When TJ beat him it felt like TJ was going to rule the world forever.
Just shows that styles make fights is a real thing.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Ya, on paper it doesn't look like it. But anyone who was watching UFC back in those days know Shogun was still a dangerous dude.

Perfect example is Mark Hunt. Dude looks like trash on paper, but everyone knows he a dangerous guy.

Yes yes Shogun still dangerous, but that doesn't make it a more impressive title win. DC would be an objectively better win

 

[DanDragon Machi]

Did you see randy vs vitor 1?
I'd put randy vs chuck 1 over your 10.

Shit ronda vs Holy gotta be on there . Forrest vs Shogun 1

I think Randy x Vitor III was most dominant than Vitor I and Liddell I
Hell, Randy got two 10x8 till tko Vitor

 

[Jawth]

I know we hate him, but Conor starching Aldo like nothing was a huge deal.

 

[Erimo]

Not a P4P context, but Belture’s performance should always be mentioned at this kind of thread imho.

 

[Gregoire1]

Jones vs DC 2
Jones vs DC 1
Werdum vs Cain
Cody vs Cruz
TJ vs Barao
Cejudo vs DJ 2
Merab vs Yan 1
Conor vs Aldo
Islam vs Oliveira
Chimaev vs DDP

 

[snaportap21]

You'll never really get one against DJ.

Like the Cruz fight?

 

[Greyscale]

Jones vs Shogun wasn't all that impressive given that Shogun obviously had awful gameplan and kept diving for leglocks giving Jon the dominant position

 

[snaportap21]

I was expecting Sean vs Izzy in this thread
Sean beat him at his own game: pure striking


It was expected from Anderson to beat Forrest
Shogun had a lot of injuries and looked one weight class smaller
It was known JDM is a striker who got grappled by Holland and Islam has top ground game

I would add Reyes vs Jones

Also, I don't get the hype with Alvarez
He came to UFC, lost to Cowboy, won two SPLIT decisions vs Gilbert and Pettis (both on losing streaks) and beat RDA.
And got a TS. The RDA win was good, but that's it. And then lost big time vs Conor.
Oh, and he beat Gaethje... when Gaehtje was a sloppy brawler who used to stop punches with his head.

Reyes vs Jones? That was a close fight that could have gone either way. No way was that a clear win for either guy. All these other fights are dominant wins.

 

[MCDojoMMA]

Jones - DC 2
Jds - werdum
Ilia - volk
Rockhold - weidman
Shogun - rampage
Rampage - chuck
Vitor - wanderlei
Machida - rashad
Werdum - cain

 

[Brca031]

No Stipe vs Ngannou 1?

 

[Mammothman]

When TJ beat him it felt like TJ was going to rule the world forever.
Just shows that styles make fights is a real thing.

I still remember what I did that day so clearly, it was truly shocking.

 

[VinceArch]

Like the Cruz fight?

The one where Cruz had to resort to wrestling in rounds 3, 4 and 5 because he lost the striking in rounds 1 and 2? That must've sounded pretty good in your head, I guess.

 

[MrCoffee]

The way this one was done:

 

[RainyMonday]

Cody vs Cruz is still up there for me
Belcher vs Palhares deserves an honorable mention for the game plan Alan chose to follow

 

[HNIC215]

Every GSP fight -> he was never the stronger fighter in certain categories but many times ended up besting his opponents with their strengths.

Very rare to see in fighting.

 

[Popocatepetl]

I still remember what I did that day so clearly, it was truly shocking.

I sat stunned for at least 20 minutes afterwards like a dunce.