What single fight would have changed UFC history the most if the opposite outcome happened?

[r-harper-1]

Not ludicrous at all. Look back at how others judged the fight as they watched it. There are people who scored that fight for Whittaker. Not saying Adesanya winning is a crazy thought but the fight could be scored for Whittaker. It's been awhile but I remember 4 and 5 being Whittaker rounds and 1 through 3 being Adesanya rounds but round 2 was close.

Whittaker fought to survive after getting dropped early…..4-1 for Izzy …. Fairly easy work

 

[KO Shotz]

Chael winning was gonna freeze the division for about one year since they would probably give silva a rematch to avenge the NC, since Chael popped after the fight

You're probably right, but it would've changed ufc history with Chael dominating Anderson the way he did if he didn't get caught by a sub.

 

[BigGucciSosa]

If Michael Johnson beat Nate Diaz we would have never gotten the Conor callout. Nate would not have been as big of a star as he became. Also Alex not being saved by the bell in the first Adesanya fight would have changed a lot.

 

[Necrocrawler]

You're probably right, but it would've changed ufc history with Chael dominating Anderson the way he did if he didn't get caught by a sub.

Chael’s ego would be higher since he would have “former champion” on his name (like josh barnett)

The trash talk about the rematch would have been incredible also

 

[FriskyRandy]

I’ll start, Aldo KO’s McGregor in 13 seconds.

-McGregor doesn’t become the mega star which helped bring the UFC firmly into the main stream.

-McGregor doesn’t usher in the double champion era, which for better or worse changed fighter aspirations shifting away from defending the title.

-Khabib doesn’t become nearly as big of a name without this rivalry and the Dagestani presence in the sport likely isn’t as prevalent.

-Nate Diaz doesn’t become as big of a name. The BMF belt doesn’t happen and Masvidal doesn’t become as big of a name either.

Imagine how many men wouldn't have been punched in the face and women that wouldn't have been raped if Aldo won

 

[Krimzon]

if Chael survived Jon Jone's gnp, he would've been the the second person to defeat Jon Jones and the first person to win the LHW title from Jon and have an even bigger profile than he does now, and we'd never hear the end of it.

If crocop kicked gonzaga in the head, then he would've kicked randy in the head. Joe Rogan would've cried on air. And pride never die guys would still be using it as proof why ufc was inferior. Crocop probably would've went on to kick Brock in the head.

 

[Senbonzakura]

If Forrest and Bonnar never had a banger of a fight. Its possible we arent even talking about the UFC or MMA in general (well stateside that is)

 

[jeskola]

Al Iaquinta KOs khabib

 

[El Panteron]

Jones vs. Reyes- If Reyes had been given the decision there would likely be no discussion of having Jones in the GOAT conversation.

Eh? Jones was firmly in discussion before the fight even happened.
Hell I have Jones losing the fight and still he's obviously one of the best to ever do it.

The fight is there already and Jones's lost it, a change on the wiki page doesn't upend his whole career.

 

[VAfan]

BJ beating GSP in the 2nd fight would have shaken things up considerably.

 

[PharoahHeight]

If hominick would've finished the exhausted Aldo...

His fall from the top was just terrible...

 

[Aluminati]

If Jones misses the spinning back elbow on Gus in the first fight, Gus wins the round and the belt.

 

[Aluminati]

If CM Punk throws the knee instead of the punch in his first fight, he likely retires undefeated in MMA.

 

[geardo]

The Griffin-Bonnar snoozefest is the only correct answer for me.

But just to say something a bit different, I firmly believe an UFC 251 McGregor-Masvidal as the first event ever in fight island in the middle of peak COVID era would've sold 3M PPV.

It’s dumbfounding that they were never able to make conor-mas or conor-nate 3 before conor went full cte coke head.

 

[Aegon Spengler]

Forrest vs Bonnar as a snooze fest would be the most important, absolutely.

One that hasn’t been mentioned is if Penn had beaten GSP at WW in their second fight and became double champ. There would have been a trilogy fight but in between who knows where it would have gone.

 

[whocares]

Conor KO's Khabib, sits on the LW title for 7 years with Dana's approval, Sherdog changes its name to ConorChat24/7.com and the only discussion allowed is about Conor refusing to fight interim champ Islam Makhachev, who isn't a big enough draw to deserve the shot

 

[BjPenn2017]

If Patrick Cummins actually beat DC when he took the fight on short notice - I think that would’ve had a catastrophic ripple effect on MMA at the time

 

[TheCryingElite]

Imagine how many men wouldn't have been punched in the face and women that wouldn't have been raped if Aldo won

I’m not so sure about that. I think he would have done a poorer version of all that. Maybe would have had to actually be punished for it, though.

 

[sanguinius]

Jones vs. Reyes- If Reyes had been given the decision there would likely be no discussion of having Jones in the GOAT conversation.

Whittaker vs. Adesanya 2- This one should have gone to Whittaker and extended Adesanya's MW reign when it really should have ended here. It also could have stopped Strickland becoming a champion.

Shevchenko vs. Nunes 2- Had Shevchenko gotten the nod in a very close fight it's doubtful she would have moved to Flyweight when she did, and if she did not move I wonder what the first days of Flyweight have looked like. Would Nicco Montano have defended against someone else or would she still have basically been cut for not fighting?

?
Jones already had a secured legacy before coasting through Reyes. Was that your first time watching him?

 

[Fluffernutter]

Ben taking down Jorge