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UFC title fights are what every fighter dreams of earning. It's a chance for mixed martial artists to crown themselves as the greatest fighters in their divisions. Furthermore, ascending to the status of a champion comes with monetary perks, like a percentage of the revenue made by the promotion's PPV sales.
Furthermore, it comes with a higher base pay. Thus, UFC fighters have more than enough motivation to do everything in their power to secure decisive wins in title fights. Unfortunately, a knockout or submission win isn't always on the cards. Sometimes, their opponent is simply too tough or skilled to be finished.
In these situations, the input of cageside judges is required. Ideally, fighters do enough to reliably win every round. But closely contested fights are common amongst well-matched foes. It's up to the judges to decide who the winner is, but sometimes they make a decision that's so controversial it becomes historical.
#5. Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway 2, UFC 251
Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway have enjoyed a memorable rivalry in the featherweight division. The two men are among the greatest 145'ers in MMA history, with only José Aldo potentially ranking above them. The pair have faced off a total of three times, but their second bout remains their most contentious one.
'Blessed' controlled the action for the first three rounds, showcasing the adjustments he made to counter 'The Great's' calf kicks. He teased a jab to draw his foe's calf kicks (which counter jabs by targeting the lead leg as the opponent steps in) before stinging a one-legged Volkanovski over the top with punches.
Despite dropping the Australian star twice and securing the first three rounds in the eyes of many fans, Holloway was declared the loser of a split-decision. The MMA world contested the decision, but the judges had the final word.
#4. Jon Jones vs. Dominick Reyes, UFC 247
It's been years since fans last saw Jon Jones score a dominant win inside the octagon. The former kingpin of the 205 lbs weight class had a string of disappointing but ultimately successful performances in the cage during his last two outings. UFC 247, however, featured a result that fans couldn't agree with.
Jon Jones faced Dominick Reyes. At the time, 'The Devastator' was an undefeated force known for his athleticism and lethal knockout power. When the two men finally squared off, 'Bones' found more than a worthy adversary. In the eyes of the bout's spectators, he found a superior.
Reyes spent the first three rounds thoroughly outstriking Jones and denying most of the latter's takedowns. He had his opponent stumbling on several occasions before his gas tank failed him in the final two rounds of the fight. Even then, everyone was sure Reyes had done enough to capture the divisional throne.
Instead, the judges ruled the bout a unanimous decision win in Jones' favor. Fans in attendance booed the decision, with others around the world describing the result as a robbery.
#3. Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski, UFC 284
UFC 284 was headlined by a matchup that was originally billed as being contested for the lightweight title and the P4P crown. The former was owned by Islam Makhachev, while the latter was owned by Alexander Volkanovski. Since the bout, nothing has changed.
The Dagestani phenom retained his divisional throne despite his opponent's spirited effort. Many fans and even fellow fighters disagreed with the result. Throughout the bout, 'The Great' countered most of Makhachev's attempts at outwrestling him while stunning him several times.
In the fifth round, Volkanovski found himself looming over Makhachev on the mat after dropping the latter against the fence. He finished the round with ground-and-pound, but his efforts were in vain. Islam Makhachev was declared the winner by the judges, with many in shock.
Even the likes of Nate Diaz expressed his belief that the reigning lightweight champion had lost the bout.
#2. Lyoto Machida vs. Maurício 'Shogun' Rua, UFC 104
The Machida Era, coined by UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, began in May 2009 after Lyoto Machida KO'd Rashad Evans to capture the light heavyweight title. The first challenger to 'The Dragon's throne was Maurício 'Shogun' Rua. The two crossed swords at UFC 104 in a clash of different striking styles.
One was a Shotokan specialist, while the other was a Muay Thai expert. What ensued was a closely-contested bout with a clear victor in the eyes of spectators. 'Shogun' outstruck 'The Dragon' and seemed to have landed the more damaging blows between the two.
So when Machida was declared the winner, chaos engulfed the arena. Boos rained down the cage, and countless MMA figures, including fighters on good terms with Machida, felt that the judges had made the wrong decision. The outcry was so great that it led to an immediate rematch between the pair.
#1. Georges St-Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks, UFC 167
There was a point in time during which the MMA world described Georges St-Pierre's win over Johny Hendricks as one of the biggest robberies in the sport's history. Back in 2013, the UFC was a different organization in several ways. Not only did the promotion have a different roster, but it had different stars.
Among those stars was Georges St-Pierre. The Canadian great was a long-reigning welterweight champion and the owner of an 11-fight win streak. Meanwhile, Johny Hendricks was a surging contender on a 6-fight win streak with only one career loss. Thus, it was only natural for the two to cross swords.
'GSP' faced 'Big Rig' at UFC 167 in a bout that even the promotion's president Dana White believed the former All-American wrestler had won and that an immediate rematch was required. The narrative was that Hendricks won his rounds more clearly, while St-Pierre barely squeezed past his own.
By the end of the fight, the Canadian was far more battered and bruised than his foe. But when the judges announced 'GSP' as the winner, fans everywhere decried the decision, with some even calling it the worst robbery in UFC history.
