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#4 UFC 132
When the WEC’s roster was folded into the UFC at the start of 2011, the MMA world was buzzing about the possibility of the lighter weight classes – at the time, Featherweight (145lbs) and Bantamweight (135lbs) – being able to show their talents off in the world’s biggest MMA promotion, and that’s what happened in the main event of UFC 132.
Dominick Cruz defended his Bantamweight title against bitter rival Urijah Faber, and the two put on an instant classic over five rounds, a back-and-forth fight that ended with Cruz retaining by unanimous decision.
The whole card was ridiculously action-packed, too; Carlos Condit opened the show with an incredibly flying knee knockout of Dong Hyun Kim to state his claim for a Welterweight title shot, and that wasn’t the only highlight reel worthy finish we were treated to.
In the first of two semi-main events, legendary former Light-Heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz rescued his UFC career from the brink by knocking down and submitting future Bellator champion Ryan Bader, and in the second, Chris Leben and Wanderlei Silva fought in a wild brawl for less than a minute before Leben knocked out the Brazilian veteran with a series of uppercuts.
Essentially, when a fight as good as Cruz vs. Faber is basically the icing on the cake, you’ve got a genuinely tremendous show – and one worthy of being considered one of the best of the decade.
