5 best UFC PPV fights of 2022 so far

#2. Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane - UFC 270

Ngannou defeated Gane via unanimous decision

The action in this UFC heavyweight title fight may not have surpassed that of the previous entry on this list, but the storylines within this bout took it to another level. The most significant of which was that this was the last bout of Ngannou's current contract, making it a huge fight for the champion with free agency looming.

On top of that, in the days leading up to the fight, it became clear that Ngannou had suffered a serious injury in training. This became apparent when he uncharacteristically headed out to the octagon wearing two knee-braces. Gane out-pointed him in the first two rounds and things did not look good at all.

However, Ngannou then shockingly employed a grappling-heavy offense and repeatedly took Gane down to the mat. He found success in this department which led to him securing a unanimous decision victory that showed the huge improvement he's made in that area.

It was a fight with incredibly high stakes and still produced an intriguing fight that kept fans on their toes.

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#1. Gilbert Burns vs. Khamzat Chimaev - UFC 273

Chimaev defeated Burns via unanimous decision

This fight might not have been five rounds, it may not have had a title on the line but it still just might be the best fight we've seen this year. This fight was all about Khamzat Chimaev and finding out just how good he is. Not only did he prove himself, but Gilbert Burns let the world know who he is in the process.

The bout was tightly contested, with Chimaev securing the first round when he knocked Burns down with a jab in the closing moments. The second round featured a gutsy performance from the Brazilian, who bounced back to become the first man to take a round from 'Borz'.

Chimaev somehow found the strength to re-assert himself in the third round and ultimately claimed a unanimous decision victory. He has the potential to be the brightest star on the roster one day and while his performance may not have been perfect, it produced a truly incredible fight.