The Evolution of MMA

UFC has come a long way.  This article originally started as "the best UFC fight of all time", and gradually evolved into a history of MMA's evolution.

I was thinking about the concept of the "best ufc fight of all time" as I was playing UFC undisputed (very fun game, by the way) and, I realized I'd never attempted their "unlockables" section; odd, considering I've owned the game since some time in late 2009.  When playing Forest vs Bonnar in an effort to recreate the best fight of all time, I found myself wondering why it was that so many thought this to be the case.

I've noticed my preference for fights has fluctuated throughout the years.

Sometimes I've been inspired by the passion or the heart of a fighter, ie Arturo Gatti when he broke his hand, and still went on to win the fight with only one hand, or, the classic match up of Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar

In both cases, it could be argued that there wasn't a huge level of technical proficiency.  

However, there's something amazing about the raw emotion one can find in these types of situations.

Where by all rights, a fighter (or, in the case of the TUF Season 1 finale, both fighters) should be beaten, broken, or even knocked unconscious, and yet, somehow, they keep going.

We love it in cinema, as well.  Rocky comes to mind nearly immediately, but, Bloodsport and a million others have capitalized off of this human need to see us triumph over adversity through sheer force of will and a strong heart.

And, it cannot be disputed that this is why many are touting the Bonnar vs Griffin fight to be the best MMA match of all time.

Certainly it is not due to either fighter's technical proficiency.

Their punches are sloppy, their kicks off target, their entire performance is actually quite horrible.  And yet... and yet:  I, like many others, love this fight.

Is it because we identify with the fighters in some way?  Is it because we see these two inept fighters, going at each other for a million dollars and think to ourselves "yeah, that's what I would do"?

Perhaps.  Perhaps we are simply inspired by someone who refuses to know when they are beaten.  Someone who rises above it all and says "My name is Neo" after they've been beaten.

If you look at Matt Hughes vs Mike Swick II, it is a utterly fantastic fight, as, again, the fighter triumphs over seemingly insurmountable odds.

At some point, my tastes fluctuated to that of technical proficiency.  

Fighters like Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva, and BJ Penn began sprouting up out of the woodwork.  Long time reigning champions like Chuck Liddel, Matt Hughes and Tito Ortiz began fading away.

Perhaps gone were the days of the big bruiser with a single fighting strategy, and, in came the reign of the complete fighter.  The truly mixed martial artists.

And, with them, came a sense of wonder.  The same feeling one might get from watching any art form done well.

Seeing a master at work is an awe inspiring thing.

These were true masters of their craft.  While Tank Abbot could entertain the early UFC crowd, he wouldn't even make it as a referee in the new world.

While this new era of skilled fighters was being born, so too was UFC taking greater measures to capitalize off of the WWE style soap operas.

Forrest Griffin brought fourth a whole new revenue stream for the UFC.  That of the emotionally charged match.  People wanted FORREST to win, not just "the karate guy".

Yes, Chuck Liddel had been a recognizable fighter long before Forrest, but, Forrest was the first fighter the public had gotten to know as a person.

They could relate to him.  Empathise with him.  And ultimately ROOT for him, emotionally.

He had a sense of endearing, self deprecating humor which the MMA audience immediately enjoyed.

So, while starts like GSP were on the rise, the UFC began marketing effectively.

Marketing... emotionally.

The interviews became more in-depth.  The press conferences more widely distributed, and soon, males had a soap opera to replace the WWE.

Fighters had their entrance music, their crying soft sides, and, the audience slowly evolved.

All but gone were the plaid shirts, mullets and side burns, and in their place was the well dressed crowds of Las Vegas and other wealthy cities.

The sport had officially arrived.

And with it, came a more... refined sense of ratings.

Now, my favorite fight was Georges st. Pierre vs Matt Serra.  Not because of a triumph of adversity per se, but, instead, because of a total dominance from a fighter I felt "deserved" to win.
There was a fight between the two, where Serra had done "the impossible" and defeated GSP.

People were awe struck and shocked at the outcome, and, the audience felt betrayed.  How could their idol be de-throned by someone such as Serra?

Still emotionally driven, now our choices for "best fights" were based off of the complete domination from a fighter who we liked.

Still, some fights were good because the fighters were good... but...

It was a new era.

What is your favorite fight?  And, perhaps most importantly... why?

Does the fighter clearly win every round?  Does the fight end abruptly?  Does the fight go back and fourth and end in a split decision?

I will post my official top fights in the next article.