Which is the greatest UFC heavyweight fight of all time? Listing down the top five bangers that shook the MMA world

Naming the best UFC heavyweight fight of all time is a task rooted in subjectivity. There have been an array of slugfests and thrilling brawls in the division's history, and today, five pivotal heavyweight fights will be examined.

#5. Cain Velasquez vs. Brock Lesnar

Cain Velasquez entered the contest with an 8-0 record, but was the underdog heading into the fight. He earned a technical knock out over Brock Lesnar in the first round to secure the title.

#4. Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez 3 - UFC 166

Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez were regarded as two of the greatest heavyweights during their prime years. The pair went to war three separate times, but their trilogy bout was by far the bloodiest affair of them all.

Velasquez thoroughly dominated dos Santos, landing big punches consistently before earning the TKO stoppage in round 5.

#3. Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo - UFC on Versus 4

Cheick Kongo pulled off arguably the most remarkable comeback win in MMA history against Pat Barry in 2011. Barry hurt Kongo in Round 1 with a series of punches, and the Frenchman seemed to be out on his feet before landing a punch that knocked Barry out cold.

#2. Randy Couture vs. Tim Sylvia - UFC 68

Randy Couture did the impossible against Tim Sylvia at UFC 68 in 2007 when he came out of retirement after more than 12 months to reclaim the UFC heavyweight title.

Couture had not competed at heavyweight in five years and gave up seven inches in height to his opponent. Despite the odds being stacked against him, 'The Natural' dominated Sylvia thoroughly.

#1. Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic 3 - UFC 252

The trilogy fight between these two all-time greats took place in August 2020 and was set to decide the greatest heavyweight in MMA history, according to UFC president Dana White.

Daniel Cormier announced he would retire following the trilogy fight, which added to the pre-fight anticipation alongside White's comments. The bout was a competitive affair that was awarded to Stipe Miocic after going all five rounds.

Jon Jones welcomes Daniel Cormier to commentate UFC heavyweight fight against Ciryl Gane

Jon Jones will be making his return to MMA as a UFC heavyweight against Ciryl Gane. The pair are set to headline UFC 285 in March and will battle for the vacant heavyweight title.

'Bones' has welcomed former rival Daniel Cormier to commentate on his UFC heavyweight title fight. The pair shared one of the most heated rivalries in UFC history, but it seems they have put that behind them.

About the author

Liam is a MMA and Boxing writer at Sportskeeda. His journey into MMA journalism began with a high school diploma in 2017, but his passion for writing led him to diverse experiences, including internships in research and writing roles and accounting work.

Liam's fascination with MMA was sparked by Conor McGregor, with Dustin Poirier's bout against Dan Hooker in 2020 sealing his love for the sport. Poirier remains Liam's favorite fighter, whom he admires for his attitude, fighting style, and persona both inside and outside the cage. He is an advocate for the removal of the 12-6 elbow rule in MMA.

Liam strives to report precise and relevant information by cross-checking his work, reaching out to relevant sources for comments, and adhering to Sportskeeda's guidelines. His work has been recognized on popular MMA platforms, with his article headlines featuring in YouTube recaps and appearing onscreen during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.

Outside of work, Liam enjoys playing cricket, practising Brazilian jiu-jitsu, cooking, music, and reading.

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