5 times that a year began with a classic UFC title fight

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#2. Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard – UFC 125 (2011)

Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard started 2011 with an unforgettable bang

When the UFC announced that the headline bout of their first show of 2011 – on New Year’s Day to boot – would see Frankie Edgar defend his UFC lightweight crown against Gray Maynard, few fans expected a classic.

After all, the two men had already squared off in early 2008. In a fight that was as dull as dishwater, Maynard outwrestled Edgar for a unanimous decision victory.

Any suspicions that their rematch would be dull, though, were blown out of the water when ‘The Bully’ dropped Edgar in the opening moments of the fight with a crushing right hand. The fight looked all but over as Maynard attempted to seal the deal, but despite dropping ‘The Answer’ again, somehow Edgar survived the round.

When he wobbled to his corner, though, it looked like it was only a matter of time before he’d be finished. Incredibly, though, the champion came roaring back. He used his speed to catch Maynard with some clean punches of his own before stunning him with a huge bodyslam midway through the round.

From there, the fight was on. Over the next three rounds, the two wrestlers went toe-to-toe on their feet and takedown-for-takedown when they grappled, with neither man able to really dominate the other.

With the action not slowing down for a second, the fans in attendance were completely engrossed by the fight. In the end, with nothing to separate the two, the bout was declared a draw by the judges.

It was a fair ending to what was an instant classic fight. Although 2011 had a number of other great bouts later on, it’s arguable that none of them topped this lightweight classic.

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#1. Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit – UFC 195 (2016)

Robbie Lawler's war with Carlos Condit in 2016 was a stone-cold classic

Considering that it was sandwiched between two Conor McGregor-headlined events, UFC 195 – the first event of 2016 – was largely flying under the radar. However, it’s safe to say that the welterweight title bout that headlined it, Robbie Lawler vs. Carlos Condit – would not be overshadowed by any fight that year.

Despite neither man being a big trash-talker, both ‘Ruthless’ and ‘The Natural Born Killer’ had become renowned for their exciting fights inside the octagon. Hopes were high for a great fight between them.

Nobody could’ve guessed the fight would be as good as it turned out to be, though. The wild brawl began in the first round with both men going toe-to-toe, and Condit quickly edged in front by knocking the champion down with a right hand.

The second round saw Lawler come roaring back with a brutal knockdown of his own. From there, the action simply didn’t slow down as the two welterweights exchanged punches, kicks, knees and elbows with neither man backing down an inch.

When the fifth round came to a conclusion with both men swinging wild haymakers at one another with no semblance of defense, it was difficult to pick a winner. The fans only knew that they’d witnessed a genuine classic.

In the end, Lawler was handed a razor-close decision win, but in reality, this was a rare example of a fight where neither man looked like a loser. Six years later, this one remains the gold standard for the first UFC title bout of a calendar year.