Silva vs. Sonnen II and the 5 Greatest Title Rematches in UFC History

The rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen was no doubt the biggest event of the year and will likely hold onto that title throughout the year. It was one of the most hyped rematches in UFC history, and although it was brief, lived up to hype surrounding it.

Hype is something all these fights have in common. Although footnotes in history by now, they were some of the biggest battles in the UFC's history. They've impacted world titles and have become some of the greatest rivalries that have unfolded before us.

Other than the hype, the bouts on this list were also entertaining and exciting. Providing back-and-forth action, the fights kept us on the edge of our seats from the opening bell until the climactic finish came. In some cases, the finish came out of nowhere, while in others it was only a matter of time before victory was achieved.

Fans became deeply divided on these contests, but all can agree these are the best title rematches in UFC history.

Georges St-Pierre vs. Matt Hughes II

The rematch between Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes wasn't exactly an exciting back-and-forth, action-filled bout.

The fight saw St-Pierre control much of the action en route to a second-round TKO of the UFC Hall of Famer.

This doesn't make the list for a gross amount of hype behind it or for being an absolute war.

No, the fight makes this list for how it impacted the MMA world. St-Pierre was widely considered to be the future of the division but still needed to overcome the welterweight kingpin in Hughes.

GSP's victory signaled a changing of the guard not only in the welterweight division but also the entire landscape of MMA.

Hughes represented the one-dimensional fighter that had ruled the UFC's ranks since its inception—a fighter so dominant in one area that they seemed unbeatable.

St-Pierre changed all that.

By combining his karate background with some of the best wrestling in all of MMA, GSP proved that a fighter needed to be proficient in many areas to succeed in the new world of MMA.

The rematch didn't break PPV records or become an instant classic, but it should be considered a great rematch in UFC history for its significance to the promotion.

Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio Rua II

The first meeting between Lyoto Machida and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua was one of the most hotly contested decisions in UFC history.

Both sides of the coin could've made arguments for either fighter, but it would ultimately be Machida who walked away from the fight with his title still in hand.

Rua was granted an immediate rematch, and fans began to predict how their fighter would be able to capitalize on the other's openings.

Fans were expecting as strategic a battle as the first encounter was.

Oh, how wrong we were.

The rematch saw Machida gain the initial advantage with a takedown, but it would be "Shogun" who ended "The Machida Era."

An overhand right dropped Machida, and Rua followed that up with a series of punches to capture the UFC light heavyweight title.

The rematch was brief but exciting nonetheless. It may also be the peak in one of the greatest careers in MMA history for "Shogun" Rua.

Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture II

Building off the success of the first The Ultimate Fighter reality show, Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell became the company's two biggest stars.

The two men coached opposing teams on the reality show and were set to square off following the conclusion of the season.

Couture had previously defeated Liddell in the first meeting in a contest that shocked many MMA fans.

Liddell had been notoriously difficult to take down, yet Couture was able to do just that, along with win the striking exchanges as well.

Liddell was able to use a move that would become one of his trademarks by landing a punch as he was moving backwards.

After a few more punches, Liddell would effectively become the poster boy of the UFC by defeating his rival and securing the UFC light heavyweight title.

The event broke PPV records for the company and would lead to an eventual rubber match between the two foes.

Although there was no bad blood between the two men, it would become one of the greatest rivalries not only in the light heavyweight division but also the history of the UFC.

Gray Maynard vs. Frankie Edgar II

When Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard met each other for a second time at UFC 125, many MMA fans were likely choosing to go to bed early to recover from a long New Year's Eve party the night before.

For those who chose to stay up and watch the event, fans were treated to one of the greatest rematches in UFC history.

Maynard began the contest by dropping Edgar with a thunderous punch. The remainder of the first round saw Edgar drop to the canvas numerous times only to survive a few more moments.

The first round of this contest was about as close to anyone can get to a 10-7 round in MMA.

As impressive as Maynard's showing in the first stanza was, it was Edgar who would go on to steal the show by mounting an incredible comeback through the other four rounds. Edgar was able to get into his groove and use his footwork to escape the power punches of Maynard.

The bout didn't have the hype surrounding it as some of the other rematches on this list, but with the contest ending in a draw, there was definitely a storm of arguments created that wouldn't be settled until UFC 136.

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II

In terms of rematches, it'd be hard for fans to argue any had the hype and anticipation surrounding a fight quite like the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen.

The challenger Sonnen spent months upon months calling out the champion Silva.

Sonnen made personal attacks on Silva, his family, his coaches and his countrymen en route to their UFC 148 meeting.

The hype reached an all-time high when on the UFC 148 press conference, Silva finally ended his silence by stating his plans for what he was going to do to Sonnen.

The first round of their fight started off in much the same way as their first encounter, with Sonnen using his wrestling to stay on top of Silva. Sonnen was able to secure the full mount position toward the end of the round, and it could've easily been scored as a 10-8 round for the challenger.

As good as the first round was for Sonnen, his entire game plan unraveled in the second round.

A failed takedown attempt, combined with a spinning back fist, caused the challenger to end up on the ground. Silva followed up with a knee to the body and a series of punches that caused the referee stoppage.

The fight may have been fast and furious, but it was no doubt one of, if not the greatest rematch in UFC history.