A Look At The UFC’s Most Iconic Moments

Popularly known as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the UFC has got a huge draw from what was a no-name sport and is a major international phenomenon that has captured the attention of millions. The company’s history is chock full of that; super fights, the most jaw-dropping knockouts, and everything else that makes the sport what it is today. And these are important milestones to look at when it comes to UFC Best Bets and the best UFC Picks, as well as parlays. Look in depth at some of the company’s most important moments when the sport broke into the mainstream.

The Early Days

Back in 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was founded as a way to match fighters from different martial arts disciplines against each other to see which discipline worked best. In the early days, there were no rules, no weight classes or safety measures in place, drawing hardcore fight fans and controversy. But the company matured from its madness-riddled roots and formalized to include weight divisions, stricter regulations and fighter safety. One reason why UFC expert picks today are so detailed is that fights are much more competitive and skill-based than they were in earlier years.

Reality TV Meets Fighting

UFC’s catapult into fame was almost sealed in 2005 due to the creation of a reality television show called The Ultimate Fighter, wherein fighters would compete for an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight contract. It introduced the sport to a more extensive audience and gave eyes and ears to the prevailing personality and backstory of the athlete. That all culminated in one of the most exciting MMA fights ever, as Forrest Griffin took on Stephan Bonnar in a first-season finale so electric, it is often credited with saving the Ultimate Fighting Championship from financial collapse. Chalk it up to nostalgia, but fight fans still recall this as a moment they had to see and one that played the most pivotal role in UFC’s eventual mainstream success.

The Conor McGregor Era

No discussion of iconic UFC moments can be done without mention of Conor McGregor’s impact. McGregor brought showmanship to the octagon that introduced a level of charisma to the promotion, helping the UFC reach new heights of exposure in the ever-growing combat sports world. He was one of the most polarizing, exciting figures in sports because his rise to stardom came with kinetic trash talk and knockout power.

He cemented that legend to ever further heights with a spectacular win in 2015, when McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds to win the Featherweight title. Over the years, McGregor’s bouts have become fan favorites for the house when placing UFC picks and parlays and it’s easy to see why everyone is anxious to see the man known as the Notorious return to the Octagon.

Ronda Rousey’s Dominance

Ronda Rousey had broken down barriers and set the stage for women in mixed martial arts. It was in 2012 that she became the first female champion of the UFC and her run of incredible arm-bar submissions quickly made her a superstar. Her dominance inside the Octagon and marketability outside of it helped bring in a new wave of fans, proving that women’s fights could be just as exciting as the men’s.

That fight against Holly Holm back in 2015 is probably one of the most popular fights to ever happen under the UFC banner, where Holm handed Rousey her first defeat via an amazing head-kick knockout and proved to be a turning point in the sport’s evolution.

A Rivalry for the Ages

Regarding legendary UFC fights, there has been no one more ironclad than Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor’s bad blood. Rogan described their buildup to their fight at UFC 229 in 2018 as all trash talk, all personal insults and legal issues. Khabib submitted McGregor in the fourth round when fight night did come around. And of course, the drama carried on outside of the cage, when one of the contestants’ team got into a post-fight brawl. This fight handed a couple of valuable lessons to those placing bets on UFC expert picks: Khabib can really talk grappler and McGregor has his vulnerabilities.

Anderson Silva’s Reign

Anderson Silva is widely regarded as one of the best to ever step foot inside the octagon. The benchmark of his reign as Middleweight Champion from 2006 to 2013 was what MMA was built off. For finishing fights spectacularly, whether it be with his precise striking or his slick submission game, Silva quickly became a fan favorite.

But one of his really most iconic moments came in 2010 when he knocked out Vitor Belfort with a front kick to the face; a knockout that still today shows up in Ultimate Fighting Championship highlight reels. His bouts were always hot topics for UFC picks and parlays, with the knowledge that Silva could end a fight at any moment with a flash of brilliance.

The Emergence of Heavyweights

The UFC’s heavyweight division is really full of some of the most exciting knockouts in the sport’s history. It is a powerful story, when Brock Lesnar didn’t become a WWE wrestler, he would have instead headed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he’d be a dominant force. He was a pure heavyweight giant and his rivalry with Frank Mir brought two heavyweight fights so memorable. Heavyweight bouts attract a lot of attention because knockouts are common and these are perfect UFC best bets and predictions because of it.

Israel Adesanya

The rise up the middleweight ranks from Israel Adesanya was really nothing but meteoric. With a then-undefeated streak, in addition to flashiness both inside and outside of the Octagon, Adesanya quickly became one of the biggest stars currently under the company banner. With his capability of taking down opponents through striking with such precision, many fans compared Adesanya to the great Anderson Silva. Performances like Adesanya’s title-winning bout with Robert Whittaker, are exemplary of why the the company is such an exciting sport. His fights are appointment television for any fans making UFC expert picks.

The Unstoppable Growth

The UFC’s ascent from underground competition to a global phenomenon is a story of distinctly appealing sports. From McGregor’s rapid ascension to stardom to Ronda Rousey’s dominance, Khabib’s epic rivalry with McGregor and more, UFC’s really become must-watch entertainment in its own right. That excitement, unpredictability and the talent they have on display has got fans coming back for more. If you’re following UFC expert picks or creating your own predictions, the sport’s growing – and it has no signs of stopping. UFC’s fans—and bettors—can expect more legend-cultivating moments in the years ahead as it continues to break new ground.