6. UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz 1
Sure, the rematch may have produced the better fight, but that first fight between McGregor and Diaz was the fight that catapulted the sport into the stratosphere as a bloodied Diaz came back to submit McGregor and shock the MMA world, though Diaz himself was, famously, “not surprised.”
But the event was about more than that one incredible fight. The co-main saw Miesha Tate finally reach her destiny by capturing the UFC women’s bantamweight title with one of the greatest comebacks in women’s MMA history, while future UFC champions Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko battled toe to toe in their thrilling first meeting.
The atmosphere inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena was off the hook, and by the time Diaz had locked up his fight-winning rear-naked choke, it felt like the MMA world was in complete meltdown.
Next up: A future Hall of Famer finally gets his belt.