Five biggest MMA fights of 2021
Five biggest MMA fights of 2021
By Tom Masters
MMA has had yet another massive year in 2021, with a large number of incredibly important fights across the year.
As 2021 comes to a close, it feels like a good time to analyse and reflect, looking back on what has been a year of immense success for MMA as a whole.
So, here are our five biggest fights of 2021.
Justin Gaethje v Michael Chandler - lightweight, UFC 268.
One of the biggest fights of the year on paper did not disappoint as it went all the way to the wire.
Chandler started the better of the two fighters and with a series of right-hand blows that sent Gaethje to the fence.
But in the second round it was very much the other way around and Chandler somehow avoided a knockout from a massive blow to the head which sent him to the floor.
A fight that kept swinging back and forth with both fighters gaining momentum before losing it ended up in a unanimous points decision for Gaethje, who took the win.
Alexander Volkanovski v Brian Ortega - featherweight, UFC 266
For many this was the fight of the year, and it is clear to see why.
It started off with two rounds of expected caution before the bout suddenly burst into life in the third round.
Having been fending them off all fight, Ortega was able to withstand another one of Volkanovski’s patented low kicks and this time pin him down with a knee-tap takedown.
This drama continued for the remainder of the contest, with Volkanovski going to work breaking Ortega's spirit as he pounded the American fighter with brutal blows until the final bell.
That Ortega somehow managed to finish the fight despite clearly struggling was astonishing in itself but nothing could stop the Australian retaining his featherweight title with a unanimous decision win.
Dominick Reyes v Jiri Prochazka - lightweight, UFC Fight Night: Reyes v Prochazka
This was another fight that promised a lot before a punch had been thrown and once again it did not disappoint.
Prochazka’s strikes were relentless and despite everything that Reyes attempted to throw at him, there would simply be no stopping him.
Reyes did pin Prochazka at one point, only for the Czech fighter to get up and knock him clean out at the 4:29 mark of the second round with a spinning back elbow.
Max Holloway v Yair Rodriguez - featherweight, UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodriguez
Holloway is not known for boring fights, and this was certainly not a boring fight.
Rodriguez began the contest on top and probably took the opening round, but it did not take long for Holloway to get himself back into control.
By the end, Rodriguez had blood coming from several cuts on his face, while Holloway's own face was swollen and bleeding from above his right eye.
Another fight where either man could’ve taken it at any moment, in the end Holloway enhanced his legend and took the victory via a unanimous decision after hanging on in the fifth.
Gregor Gillespie v Diego Ferreira - lightweight, UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw
After a long-awaited return to the ring for Gillespie after his loss to Kevin Lee which resulted in an 18-month hiatus from the sport, it was time for him to shine.
What ensued was a frantic thriller, as most of the fight was fought on the ground leading to pure excitement and an exhibition of grappling.
Ferreira so nearly took the fight in the first round as the men wrestled for domination but before long, Gillespie took control as his opponent seemed to tire due to the high pace of the contest and managed to win by stoppage in the second.