The Perfect UFC Event Built With 2021 Fights

This fight was all the reasons I think bantamweight is the best division in the UFC at the moment and why I love this sport wrapped into one — an ultra-competitive, back-and-forth affair between two elite talents, where a case could be made for any number of scores being viable after five rounds.

Fighting for the first time in more than two years, Dillashaw showed he is as good as ever, waltzing into the Octagon rust-free to go 25 hard minutes with Sandhagen, who had stamped himself as one of the top contenders in the 135-pound ranks with his incredible 28-second flying knee finish of Frankie Edgar in February.

Even if you disagree with the verdict, there is no denying this was one of the best fights of the year. For me, it’s the gold medal winner in that category, and deserving of the main event slot on this ultimate 2021 fight card.

Julianna Peña def. Amanda Nunes by submission (UFC 269)

It’s rare when a highly anticipated fight manages to exceed expectations because the versions we conjure up in our heads are pristine and perfect.

On top of that, Gaethje and Chandler asked to be the first fight of the pay-per-view main card for the UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden in November, and that just got everyone even more hyped to see these two lightweight standouts locked in the Octagon together in NYC.

The 10 Best Fights Of 2021

Despite all that, these two lunatics — and I say that lovingly — still managed to leave everyone with their jaws on the floor, going toe-to-toe for 15 non-stop minutes to violent goodness that ended with both men battered and bloody, and Gaethje standing triumphant.

These two are a different kind of tough, and this fight was something else.

Merab Dvalishvili def. Marlon Moraes by TKO (UFC 266)

This feels like the somewhat forgotten chaos-fest of the year.

Positioned as the final preliminary card fight of September’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas, the first half of the opening stanza as tactical, with Moraes banging home low kicks and Dvalishvili timing one up to secure a takedown. The Brazilian worked back to his feet rather quickly, and just before the midway point of the round, the craziness kicked off.

Moraes hit Dvalishvili with a left hook that caused him to sit down, and for the next 30 seconds, the former title challenger tried to put his rubber-legged adversary away. Dvalishvili not only managed to survive but secure a takedown and started opening up with ground-and-pound towards the end of the frame, hurting Moraes with a series of hammerfists through to the horn.

When the round ended, Dvalishvili was excited and Moraes was exhausted, and when they came out to begin the second, Dvalishvili connected with a right hand that clearly hurt Moraes again. He chased him to the canvas and started smashing home elbows and punches from top position, “The Machine” battering the Brazilian with an incredible deluge of offense that ultimately brought the fight to a close in the final minute of the round.

This was Guida-Santos but with higher stakes and a closer near-finish prior to the comeback. Dvalishvili finished the bout landing well over 100 consecutive unanswered blows, securing his seventh straight victory with an incredible comeback.

Amanda Lemos def. Montserrat Conejo by KO (UFC Vegas 31)

Amanda Lemos opened this fight, the 500th women’s fight in UFC history, with a hard kick to the body, following it up with a check left hook as she pivoted out to her left to avoid the advancing Conejo. Each time the Mexican grappler pressed forward, Lemos angled off and landed a strike, and when Conejo looked to close the distance 30 seconds into the opening round, the Brazilian leaned back and connected with a right hand that sounded like a line-drive double to the gap.

Conejo’s momentum kept her coming forward and Lemos exited and hit her with another clean shot as she tumbled to the canvas, but the first one was really all she needed. While the tough-as-nail Conejo quickly popped up to her feet and stumbled backwards across the Octagon in an attempt to get clear of any more punishment, Lemos celebrated a second straight first-round stoppage victory.

Not only was this a laser-beam of a right hand with a beautiful left behind it, but it was also an excellent piece of game planning by Lemos and her team. She took complete advantage of Conejo’s aggression and need to close the distance, making her pay in sudden fashion.

Mason Jones def. David Onama by unanimous decision (UFC Vegas 41)

Bontorin stung Kara-France with a right hand a little over a minute into the first round of their clash at UFC 259 in early March. He scooped him in the air, deposited him on the canvas, and climbed onto his back, searching for a rear-naked choke about 20 seconds later.

For the next three minutes, the New Zealander patiently defended the Brazilian’s advances, fighting the hands, avoiding dangerous spots before Kara-France finally shook Bontorin off his back with 25 seconds remaining in the round. After stepping back to gather himself and allow Bontorin to get back to his feet, Kara-France stepped forward with a right hand that landed flush on the side of the Brazilian’s head.

Bontorin took it well, avoiding the follow-up missiles, and started to walk down Kara-France, who had circled out to reset. As Bontorin got into range, the City Kickboxing representative hit him with another right hand bomb that caused Bontorin to stiffen. An uppercut and an overhand right followed and the Brazilian fell forehead first into the canvas, as the ecstatic New Zealander started sprinting around the canvas in celebration.

There was some confusion following the stoppage as the referee never made the “It’s Over!” signal with his arms, resulting in Kara-France nearly running over and clubbing Bontorin once more while he was laying on his back, but thankfully the ref stepped in and stopped that from happening.

This was the first of two examples this year of why Kara-France’s nickname is “Don’t Blink!” He may be a flyweight, but he hits like a much bigger man, and only needs to land one to snag a victory.

Ian Garry def. Jordan Williams by KO (UFC 268)

Molina and Aoriqileng squared off in their joint debuts early in the night at UFC 261.

Through the first two rounds, the Dana White’s Contender Series graduate and the Chinese newcomer ran level, the latter winning the opening frame on all three scorecards thanks to a solid takedown and nearly two minutes of top control, and the former tying things up by scoring a pair of knockdowns in the second.

Knotted up at one round apiece in their shared debuts, the final five minutes would decide it, and Molina came out and showed the aggression and grit that earned him his contract in the first place, throwing well over 200 significant strikes, landing at a nearly 60% clip, and generally putting it on Aoriqiling to secure the victory.

The final two rounds of this fight were terrific theatre, and the gameness Molina showed in the last frame really resonated with me. He’d looked solid on the Contender Series, but this performance made him a must-watch fighter for me, with his follow-up win over Daniel Lacerda leading to “El Jefe” landing a spot on my list of Fighters on the Rise for 2022.

Matthew Semelsberger def. Jason Witt by KO (UFC Vegas 21)

Robertson earned a place on this list by introducing everyone to the term “neck cuddles” following her first-round submission win over Cachoeira a couple weeks ago in Las Vegas.

Entering on a two-fight slide, Robertson needed a victory, and in order to get that, she needed to get the fight to the ground. Through the first couple minutes, she was forced to stand with the Brazilian, and ate a few shots for her troubles, but just before the midway point of the round, she changed levels, put “Zombie Girl” on the canvas, and started working.

Robertson quickly passed to half guard and threatened with a kimura, taking Cachoeira’s back momentarily in the ensuing scramble. When the Brazilian dropped her shoulders to the canvas, the Canadian shuffled into side control and started bashing home elbows before deftly climbing into mount. She moved to a very high mount, setting up an armbar, but Cachoeira sniffed it out, only for Robertson to get under her neck in the scramble that followed.

With no hooks, Robertson squeezed on the choke, maintaining her grip and tightening her squeeze even when Cachoeira illegally stuffed her thumb into her eye on two different occasions.

This was a savage finish from “The Savage,” who remains an intriguing fighter in the flyweight division.

Trevin Jones def. Mario Bautista by KO (UFC 259)

Only one event this year had 15 fights, so this was an automatic berth situation, but it was an impressive finish nonetheless.

Jones and Bautista got the action going at UFC 259, spending the opening five minutes trading strikes in space and grinding in the clinch along the fence. Neither man gained any kind of considerable advantage, but each landed a smattering of solid blows, especially in the second half of the frame.

Following the break, Bautista came out a little more aggressively, moving and feinting on the outside, leading the exchanges early in the round. But after a little flurry from the MMA Lab product in the center of the cage, Jones came forward looking to land something of his own and clipped Bautista with a lead uppercut that took his feet out from under him. Jones followed him to the canvas and pounded out the finish.

Not only did Jones get UFC 259 off to an explosive start, but his win over Bautista in March also stands as the cracking opener to this collection of the best fights from each spot on the fight card for 2021, as well.