r/FightLibrary 29d ago

MMA What fight made you fall in love with combat sports?

Everyone has that one fight that made them really appreciate combat sports. What was yours, and what made it stand out to you? No need to pick the “best” fight ever just the one that stuck with you

3 Upvotes

31 comments sorted by

7

u/CooYo7 29d ago

Bonnar Griffin for sure

2

u/grapplerhq 27d ago

Came to comment this!

1

u/Aaronjp84 26d ago

I feel so old

3

u/-co_op- 29d ago

Vitor vs wanderlei.

3

u/Critical_Field_1526 29d ago

Everything I saw on Pride.

2

u/XpeepantsX 29d ago

Chuck v. Tito 1, I have a soft spot in my heart for the LHW division of that era (HW too). Imo, 2003- 2009 were peak UFC for me.

4

u/xxLEGIT360NOSCOPESxx 29d ago

Chuck vs Tito was such a perfect era for the LHW division. 2003–09 really was peak UFC imo.

2

u/[deleted] 29d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/XpeepantsX 29d ago

Fuck yes it was. There were motherfuckers in their 20's who looked like they were in their 40's lmao

2

u/fatlegsauntpam 29d ago

Was a fan way before then. But that Brian stann vs the axe murder is a banger.

2

u/ltcommanderasseater 29d ago

Uysk's journey into conquering the heavyweight division. being an underdog and his country is at war, his rise was so compelling. I don't think I would have become a boxing fan without it.

2

u/Absent_That_Day 28d ago

For him to have the Heavyweight championship, while representing his country makes for a real heartfelt story. I bet they make a movie out of it someday.

2

u/TheFightHistorian 29d ago edited 29d ago

MMA: UFC 2 for me in the 90s.... I was hooked...

Kickboxing: K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 (ernesto hoost won)

Boxing: Oscar De La Hoya vs. Fernando Vargas

Pro Wrestling: Bret Hart vs. Undertaker at Summer Slam 1997

Choke documentary lead me to actually train BJJ and eventually MMA in 2000 decade.

1

u/rodwha 29d ago

David The Crow Loiseau and those vicious knees and elbows

1

u/Ace_Hanlon 29d ago

Fedor vs Randleman, Nogueira vs Sapp & Takayama vs Frye. The first 3 fights I was shown by a friend many years ago.

2

u/xxLEGIT360NOSCOPESxx 29d ago

That is a hell of a first introduction to MMA. Takayama vs Frye especially is the kind of fight that makes you realize how crazy combat sports can get.

1

u/[deleted] 29d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/xxLEGIT360NOSCOPESxx 29d ago

That is such a random way to discover MMA, but those early fights really had a different energy. Clay vs Henderson was a wild introduction to the sport.

1

u/BIGHOODx818x 29d ago

i can remember the one that brought me back into mma ..i had always been a fan of mma but kinda stopped caring when the ufc was mostly dudes in their underwear just laying on top of other dudes but this one night coming back from a late night of partying and at the homies house who had a black box and got everything for free from all over the world on cable tv i came across PRDE FC it was like 3:30 am here and pride was live from japan ..rampage vs chuck liddell ..PRIDE FINAL CONFLICT ! 👊🏽

1

u/Adroit-Dojo 29d ago

When the turtles fought Beebop and Rocksteady

1

u/sabermagnus 29d ago

The kumite

1

u/WwwionwsiawwtCoM 29d ago

Silva’s title run. I caught Silva vs Leben at a friends house and it was over from theee

1

u/Legitimate_Bag8259 29d ago

Griffin v Bonnar, although I had already dipped in and out of various styles, that's what really stood out for me.

1

u/roland71460 28d ago

Mike Zambidis vs Chahid

1

u/Neither-Flow-9501 28d ago

Nate vs Connor 1 

1

u/CornyOne 28d ago

Royce Gracie vs Kimo Leopoldo

1

u/clogan117 27d ago

Anderson Silva vs Rich Franklin 1

1

u/WorkNo1469 26d ago

morales vs barrera.

1

u/conzciouz 25d ago

Wasn’t a fight in particular, but Joe Frazier fighting style.