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Grudge matches are the soap opera aspect of MMA. They bring the drama to another level as they tell a story not always present in sports. There's nothing more compelling than seeing two fighters with genuine bad blood for each other slug it out in the ring.
Whether the animosity is professional or personal, there's a palpable sense of tension as the stakes are higher. Pride, bragging rights and, ultimately, legacy are on the line. You can never script a drama better than that.
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At UFC 268, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman faces his bitter rival Colby Covington in a rematch to finally settle the score. This main event bout reminds us of some of the most heated grudge matches in recent memory. Here are some of the most memorable ones:
#5. Angela Lee and Xiong Jing Nan battle for MMA supremacy (ONE Championship: Century Part 1)
This MMA grudge match for the ONE atomweight belt was a rematch between the champion Angela Lee and Xiong Jing Nan. Their first fight took place at strawweight, where Lee was the challenger and Xiong was the champion.
It was a fiercely contested bout where both fighters shined in their respective games. Lee caught Xiong in an armbar that almost ended the fight in the fourth round. In the fifth, however, Xiong's striking prowess overwhelmed the Canadian-American for the TKO victory.
In a thrilling display of storytelling only seen in MMA, the second bout was almost a mirror of the first. In the fourth round, Xiong caught Lee with a left hook that almost ended the night. In the fifth round, Lee scored a jaw-dropping bodylock suplex to a tight rear-naked choke to defend the belt and tie the score 1-1.
Though there wasn't much bitterness between the two, this MMA grudge match between Lee and Xiong was fueled by sheer competitiveness. Both were vying for a place in history by becoming ONE's first female double champ. The greatness of the first fight gave way to this stunning MMA war and deepened the rivalry even more. A third fight isn't on the table yet but we're hoping it happens in 2022.
#4. The rivalry between Bibiano Fernandes and Kevin Belingon makes MMA history (ONE Championship: Century Part 2)
Much like the previous entry, this MMA grudge match wasn't born out of genuine hatred but of sheer competitive spirit. Well, almost. Bibiano 'The Flash' Fernandes' domination of his weight class was only halted by one Kevin 'The Silencer' Belingon. The Filipino striker was the only one to power through the Brazilian jiu-jitsu wizard's grappling pressure to nullify his game.
They split their first two bouts 1-1 with the third dance causing much controversy and drama. In the rubber fight, the Filipino was disqualified after hitting Bibiano with elbows in the back of the head. Though the foul was unintentional, the ending stirred some bitterness between the two high-level fighters.
Facing each other for an unprecedented fourth time, Fernandes and Belingon aimed for a definitive end to their rivalry. Belingon was aggressive as always, but Bibiano upped the grappling attacks and choked his opponent in the second round. The grizzled Brazilian closed out the greatest rivalry in ONE Championship history in an unforgettable grudge match.
#3. Stockton vs. Dublin (UFC 202: Diaz vs. McGregor 2)
Now it's time for some genuine bad blood. The grudge match between MMA megastar Conor McGregor and Stockton's favorite son Nate Diaz was historic in all aspects. This event holds the second-highest MMA pay-per-view buy rate of all time and it's easy to see why.
McGregor had a rocketship strapped to his back until Diaz put the brakes on his ascent to the top. Submitting McGregor in their first fight, Diaz was the perfect foil for the Irishman. His street thug approach to fighting and world-class cardio proved problematic.
The level of anticipation and buzz for the 2nd fight was through the roof. Two larger-than-life characters running it back not for a title, but for sheer disdain for each other. The two delivered a classic slugfest akin to the bloodbaths of the olden days. With McGregor inching out a decision in their second dance, perhaps a third battle is in the future.
#2. An MMA grudge match between two alpha males (UFC 217)
Now this is personal. The MMA grudge match between TJ Dillashaw and Cody 'No Love' Garbrandt was deeply rooted in hatred for each other. It wasn't fake beef to sell a fight whatsoever. The two started out as teammates and brothers in the famed MMA stable Team Alpha Male.
Enter Duane 'Bang' Ludwig. The veteran striker was hired by the team as their new striking coach. Soon after, Dillashaw won the UFC bantamweight belt but broke free from the team, following Ludwig to another gym. His departure cut under the surface and caused hostility from his previous cohorts.
Everything came to a head at UFC 217, where Garbrandt was the champion and Dillashaw was the challenger. You can feel the animosity emanating from every punch and kick thrown. Dillashaw won the grudge match by knocking out Garbrandt in the second round, after himself getting knocked down in the first. It was a classic back-and-forth affair that thrilled fans throughout.
#1. "Let's talk now" (UFC 224: Khabib vs. McGregor)
The mother of all grudge matches. The event involved the return of McGregor, the most recognizable figure in modern MMA, so getting people to watch was easy. However, what made it the most-watched MMA event in history was the real beef between the fighters.
The long, drawn-out saga of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor was well-documented by the media. From gang-style bus attacks to verbal shots on religion and country, the road to UFC 229 was riddled with intense drama.
The fight, however, was a mauling. Despite moments of success by 'The Notorious', Khabib simply had the entire fight inside his fist. 'The Eagle' drowned McGregor in relentless wrestling and otherworldly pressure.
The grudge match ended with Khabib choking out his tired foe. The story didn't end there though. In the immediate aftermath, a brawl ensued, marring the greatness of an otherwise historic event.
