Top 5 rematches in MMA history, ranked
When it comes to rematches in blended martial arts, there appears to be like to be minute room for mediocrity whether we’re talking about the expectation or the consequence.
If the first strive against captured our imaginations, then we as human beings are inclined to let expectations high-tail wild when going into the 2d meeting. But to this point as outcomes saunter, MMA sequels seem to either proceed to pile on the circulate atop the intrigue of the fear a la “Aliens,” or they correct stay up leaving us with that feeling we had after we walked out of “The Matrix Reloaded.”
That mentioned, this sport has given us hundreds of “Godfather 2” candidates over the years that are value acknowledging.
So, with that in mind, I idea it would possibly maybe perhaps really be fun to revisit a few of essentially the most memorable sequels in MMA by itemizing my prime five rematches of all time.
As frequent, these lists teach my non-public tastes and are now not supposed to lend a hand as some last authority. That mentioned, I genuinely feel very strongly about now not only my listing but also my honorable mentions on the tip – that are bigger than tough ample to lend a hand as their have faith prime five.
5
Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway 2 at UFC 236 (April 15, 2019)
This would possibly maybe additionally sound extraordinary, but the truth that another folks will be inflamed about this strive against’s low placement on the listing whereas others ask it making the reduce within the first mumble makes this a ultimate match for the No. 5 slot.
Following a Fight of the Twelve months efficiency from Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum within the co-headliner for UFC 236, Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway peaceable managed to ship an instantaneous classic for the intervening time lightweight title.
April 13, 2019
UFC 236
Intervening time Title Fight
Dustin Poirier defeats Max Holloway
by process of Unanimous Decision (49–46, 49–46, 49–46) pic.twitter.com/2OYdUjEiJG— Ocelot MMA (@Ocelot_MMA) October 18, 2023
No longer only does this strive against listing two pound-for-pound greats going by scheme of off in their primes, but it also offers a bevy of technical layers for fellow strive against nerds and analysts alike to peel apart.
The dynamic used to be a cultured one which featured the builder in “Blessed,” who attempted to frame out the muse for his offense within the face of a demolishing typhoon that used to be “The Diamond.”
4
Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes 2 at UFC 179 (Oct. 25, 2014)
Even supposing this strive against is essentially toward the stay of whatever listing I assign it on (which is pretty a lot of them), it is going to admire to resolve for No. 4 right here.
Other than for Jose Aldo’s 2d meeting with Chad Mendes being an all-time giant MMA strive against, it also equipped the entire depth – and even controversy – that can take a rematch to the next stage.
Happy retirement to Jose Aldo. One in every of the opponents that made me change actual into keen on MMA. Right here’s highlights of my favourite fights of all time, Aldo vs Mendes 2. Long dwell the King Of Rio..#MMA #JoseAldo #UFC pic.twitter.com/51a9lcbvPk
— Sweet Pugilism (@DreamsR4Real999) September 19, 2022
Aldo would possibly maybe perhaps also admire obtained by unanimous option, but it used to be an extremely-competitive contest that featured among the top likely-stage exchanges that this sport has seen in more than one phases.
It used to be so fair that I grasp in mind throwing any rooting hobby I had on the time correct out the proverbial window. I genuinely handle this strive against.
3
Jorge Santiago vs. Kazuo Misaki 2 at Sengoku 14 (Aug. 22, 2010)
Despite Jorge Santiago’s 2d meeting with Kazuo Misaki earning the stay problem for my prime five middleweight fights, it finds itself at No. 3 on this listing.
Between each fights ending in Round 5 to the truth that Misaki used to be up on the cards sooner than his corner threw within the towel within the rematch, it’s onerous now to not handle the tragic poetry that would possibly maybe be amplified in these gigantic fights.
13 years within the past this present day, MMA’s 2010 Fight of the Twelve months takes mumble at Sengoku 14 in Tokyo.
Jorge Santiago vs. Kazuo Misaki II pic.twitter.com/fCjrVbaBzK
— caposa (@Recorder_Hitman) August 23, 2023
Even supposing every man can lay disclose to impressive careers that saunter past their series collectively, their rematch at Sengoku 14 used to be an all-time-giant MMA strive against that deserves to be talked about more.
From lend a hand-and-forth knockdowns to tight submission makes an try that will make you stretch the boundaries of your breath handle Michael Schiavello did all by scheme of this name, this strive against has all of it.
2
Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald 2 at UFC 189 (July 11, 2015)
Rory MacDonald
In a strive against that the majority other folks seemingly admire in their prime problem, Robbie Lawler’s rematch with Rory MacDonald will admire to resolve for 2d on this listing.
Recently inducted into the UFC’s Hall of Fame for fair motive, this 21-minute conflict contained correct about the entire lot you too can ask for.
A strive against for the ages 🙌
ICYMI: Robbie Lawler vs Rory MacDonald 2 is headed to the #UFCHOF! pic.twitter.com/RlP7RdObTU
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
Whether or now not we’re talking about lend a hand-and-forth circulate to regarded as one of the ideal staredowns of all time, all people remembers the first time they witnessed Lawler vs. MacDonald 2.
No longer only is it with out ache regarded as one of essentially the most attention-grabbing welterweight wars of all time, but this battle also completely represents each the trace and reward of accumulating expertise.
1
Wanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson 2 at PRIDE 33 (Feb. 24, 2007)
Notching the No. 1 problem is a classic from the Pride Battling Championships catalog that also holds correct in my coronary heart.
That you would possibly maybe additionally now not survey Wanderlei Silva’s 2d meeting with And Henderson on many lists, but there’s no denying the ancient significance of this matchup.
Share 2 of the lead-in video for Wanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson 2 at #PRIDE33
For me, the Dan Henderson intro and ending is the ideal fragment of this highlight kit… pic.twitter.com/jrLEAgVHs1
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) October 27, 2023
Other than for the truth that this strive against headlined what’s extensively idea about regarded as one of essentially the most attention-grabbing MMA cards of all time, Henderson used to be making an try to simultaneously retain two belts by dethroning a dwelling myth and Pride’s lone middleweight champion in Silva (who sat on the proverbial throne for over half a decade at that level).
Hell, this card used to be so fair that even the UFC’s Joe Silva and Lorenzo Fertitta attended to absorb the circulate.
Round 1 of Wanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson 2 at #PRIDE33
It’s a minute little bit of a uninteresting burn that begins to acquire fire toward the tip with each males aesthetic the other
(Easter egg: you too can survey an mad Joe Silva and Lorenzo Fertitta within the target audience playing themselves all by scheme of replays) pic.twitter.com/xXVqmDPkP1
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) October 27, 2023
Round 1 used to be a minute little bit of a uninteresting burn but it positively picked up toward the tip of the frame with each males aesthetic every other on more than one events.
Even supposing Henderson largely dominated spherical 2 by process of floor-and-pound, Silva came lend a hand tough within the third, forcing his American foe to dig deep into his internet of methods.
After some more lend a hand-and-forth circulate, Dan Henderson knocks out Wanderlei Silva in spherical 3 to stay The Axe Assassin’s middleweight reign and change into the 1st fighter to simultaneously retain 2 essential belts in MMA’s fashionable generation
One in every of my favorite all-time MMA fights and moments #PRIDE33 pic.twitter.com/BKB0M2T5wr
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) October 27, 2023
After landing a sneaky spinning backfist, Henderson entered a pocket commerce that reminded the hundreds that he carries crushing knockout energy in each arms.
And proper handle that, Henderson became the first fighter to simultaneously retain two essential titles in two a form of weight classes all by scheme of MMA’s fashionable generation. A feat that’s peaceable extremely sophisticated to attain this present day.
*Honorable mentions: Gray Maynard vs. Frankie Edgar 2 at UFC 125, Robert Whittaker vs. Yoel Romero 2 at UFC 225, Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Moreno 2 at UFC 290, Minoru Suzuki vs. Maurice Smith 2 at Pancrase 8, Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 2 at UFC 257
For a deeper dive into this topic, genuinely feel free to take a study Dan Tom’s episode on the topic by process of The Offer protection to Ya’ Neck Podcast.
