5 best UFC fights of 2022

UFC fights dominate headlines in a manner that matchups from other promotions simply cannot match. Fans across the globe tune in, hoping to see the world's best mixed martial artists compete for the sport's ultimate prize. MMA is a spectacle, so high-level fighters are often the most entertaining ones.

Thus, whenever high-level fighters cross swords, there is a possibility for fireworks to ensue. In 2015, the UFC hosted what was arguably the greatest fight in the promotion's history. Robbie Lawler defended his welterweight title against Rory MacDonald in a war for the ages.

Seven years later in 2022, there is yet to be a fight capable of dethroning the co-main event classic from UFC 189. However, incredible fights still took place and this list compiles five of the best fights from events this year.

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#5. Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa, UFC Fight Night 209

After failing to capture the undisputed UFC heavyweight title against Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane was in a position he never envisioned. He had just tasted the first loss of his professional MMA career, to a former teammate no less. Meanwhile, Tai Tuivasa was on a different path.

The Australian power-puncher was surging with five straight KO wins. So when the UFC chose to hold an event in Paris, 'Bam Bam' was chosen as the Frenchman's dance partner. It was a clash between a power-punching brawler and an elusive, athletic kickboxer.

Heavyweight fights often transpire in one of two ways. Either they end in an early knockout or they're slogging affairs with both men gassed out. However, when 'Bon Gamin' and 'Bam Bam' shared the octagon, it was a chaotic matchup between speed and power.

While Tuivasa dropped Gane in the second round, both fighters ended up rocking each other more than once. The Frenchman found frequent success with shots to the body before capturing the TKO win in a thrilling and bloody three-round fight.

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#4. Sean O'Malley vs. Petr Yan, UFC 280

UFC 280 was overshadowed by Islam Makhachev's ascension to the lightweight throne as well as T.J. Dillashaw's severe shoulder injury. Thus, not as much attention was given to Sean O'Malley's bout against Petr Yan. Not only was it Fight of the Night, but it was one of the best fights of the year.

It was by far 'Sugar's' toughest fight. He was largely untested against the divisional elite at 135 lbs, yet his foe was a former champion in the division. The bout was meant to reveal O'Malley's ceiling and it surely did. His striking looked dangerous throughout the entire affair, forcing Yan to resort to his wrestling more than usual.

It led to a full blend of mixed martial arts techniques as the fight progressed. It was action-packed with both fighters hurting and wobbling each other multiple times. At the end, 'No Mercy' and 'Sugar' were battered and bruised. It was a hotly contested bout and O'Malley was declared the victor via split-decision.

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#3. Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns, UFC 273

Khamzat Chimaev has had a chaotic 2022. He stunned the MMA world for his massive weigh-in miss prior to UFC 279. It led to the cancelation of his bout against Nate Diaz and bumped him down into a co-main event fight against Kevin Holland. However, his previous bout was against Gilbert Burns.

At UFC 273, 'Borz' faced the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist. The matchup was his first against a top-three foe. It represented the first major test in the undefeated Chechen's career. Inside the octagon, the two clashed in a bloody and thrilling affair that revealed Chimaev's ceiling.

Burns was dropped and Chimaev was rocked badly during the bout. He quickly abandoned his wrestling after an armbar attempt from his foe. Thereafter, the fight devolved into a wild brawl that saw both men push each other to the absolute limit. 'Borz' ultimately won by split-decision in a war where he showed a lot of heart.

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#2. Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland, UFC on ESPN 42

At UFC on ESPN 42, Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson turned back the clock. At 39 years old, he faced a taller, younger and more athletic foe: Kevin Holland. A sniping power-puncher with a penchant for creativity, 'Trailblazer' was a favorite heading into the matchup.

He was larger than 'Wonderboy', more powerful and facing an opponent who was far past his prime. Once the two stepped inside the octagon, Thompson and Holland had a fight for the ages. While neither man was knocked down, both were rocked on various occasions.

It quickly devolved into a bloody brawl that forced 'Wonderboy' to adopt a grittier approach to his striking. Eventually, 'Trailblazer' could take no more. Having sustained a broken hand during the bout, he was unfit to continue. His corner threw in the towel, a rare moment in MMA, awarding 'Wonderboy' a TKO win.

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#1. Jiří Procházka vs. Glover Teixeira, UFC 275

The greatest fight of 2022 was between Jiří Procházka and Glover Teixeira. At UFC 275, the Czech phenom ascended to the divisional throne by defeating his Brazilian foe. The two took part in one of the most thrilling contests in the history of the light heavyweight division.

In what many thought would be a classic striker versus grappler matchup, a full-fledged MMA bout with every facet of the sport ensued. Procházka and Teixeira were evenly matched in both striking and grappling, leading to a back-and-forth battle.

The two men were rocked and wobbled and put in near-finishing sequences on multiple occasions. Yet somehow they both persevered. On the mat, reversals were frequent, eventually leading to the end of the bout in the fifth round after both men were bloodied and battered.

By the end, exhaustion had taken hold. It led to an improbably outcome with Procházka, a white belt, submitting Teixeira, a seasoned black belt.