5 UFC mid-fight antics that dazzled the crowd

#4. UFC 207: Cody Garbrandt vs. Dominick Cruz

Since making his UFC debut on January 4, 2015, Cody Garbrandt rose to the top. The bantamweight possessed impressive speed and power. He disposed of his opponents swiftly before getting the title shot.

On December 31, 2016, he faced champion, Dominick Cruz. Cruz had defeated some of the best bantamweights, including Urijah Faber, Demetrious Johnson, and T.J. Dillashaw. However, Cody 'No Love' Garbrandt was dominant.

The fight was a slugfest, with 'No Love' finding success on the feet. Garbrandt began taunting the champion from round one. He expertly dodged and countered his opponent's strikes. He pointed at Cruz every time he'd dropped him with a punch.

'No Love' even broke out a few dance moves mid-fight. He did it more than once, and the crowd loved every moment of it. At the end of five rounds, Garbrant won via unanimous decision. The performance against Cruz is often considered his best.

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#3. UFC 264 Prelims: Michel Pereira vs. Niko Price

Michel Pereira has had a long career in combat sports. He began competing in 2007 but made his UFC debut in 2019. The Brazilian has always had a flair for unusual techniques. He is acrobatic, frequently mixing in superman punches, backflips, flying knees, and more. He had already racked up twenty-two victories before heading to MMA's biggest stage.

It was his eccentricity that sparked controversy during UFC 264. The Brazilian welterweight faced Niko Price on July 11, 2021. The fight was fast-paced and Pereira pressured his opponent early on. Price rallied back in the second and third rounds. It was an intense back and forth contest.

In the second round, 'Demolidor' knocked down Price. He then proceeded to backflip into full mount on his opponent. His unorthodox move made the crowd cheer wildly, but Pereira stomped Price while landing the flip. The referee's decision to let the fight continue invited criticism from many.