Top 10 MMA Events in 2014
There was no shortage of MMA cards to watch in 2014.
UFC officials expanded the promotion's schedule to 46 events. While that inevitably led to cards carrying fewer big names, it certainly kept MMA fans busy, and the world's top MMA organization was still able to put together some memorable events as well.
With no Strikeforce and Bellator MMA still finding its way as the second-biggest promotion around, UFC shows were constantly under the spotlight. For not having any competition, the UFC still set the bar pretty high and continued to entertain.
Here are the 10 best MMA events that occurred in 2014.
10. UFC Fight Night 55
1 of 10
Main Event: Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping
Fight of the Night: Robert Whittaker vs. Clint Hester
Performances of the Night: Luke Rockhold and Louis Smolka
With seven knockouts and four submissions, UFC Fight Night 55 was great for fans who love finishes, which pretty much covers all MMA fans. Not a single bout on the UFC Fight Night 55 card went to a decision.
For that reason, a strong argument could be made that UFC Fight Night 55 was the best event in 2014. However, finishes can also be a result of mismatches, and it would have been nice to see a couple more competitive matchups on the November 7 card.
Most notably, Luke Rockhold made it look surprisingly easy against Michael Bisping in a second-round submission win. While it was an exciting finish, the result felt somewhat anticlimactic following all the trash talk between the middleweight headliners.
9. UFC 178
2 of 10
Main Event: Demetrious Johnson vs. Chris Cariaso
Fight of the Night: Yoel Romero vs. Tim Kennedy
Performances of the Night: Dominick Cruz and Conor McGregor
Headlined by Demetrious Johnson and Chris Cariaso, UFC 178 on September 27 lacked a competitive main event that would have put it much higher on this list. However, Johnson entertained with a submission, and the rest of the card was stellar.
Donald Cerrone welcomed former Bellator MMA champion Eddie Alvarez to the Octagon in an entertaining contest. Conor McGregor silenced doubters with a quick knockout win over Dustin Poirier. Cat Zingano returned from a lengthy hiatus to earn a title shot by stopping Amanda Nunes.
It was Yoel Romero and Tim Kennedy who stole the show, though. Although Yoel Romero's win was controversial due to an extended break between the second and third rounds, the bout kept fans on their seats from start to end.
8. UFC on Fox 13
3 of 10
Main Event: Junior Dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic
Fight of the Night: Junior Dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic
Performances of the Night: Matt Mitrione and Ian Entwistle
Capped with a classic heavyweight brawl between Junior Dos Santos and Stipe Miocic, UFC on Fox 13 had a little something for everybody.
The December 13 event saw Alistair Overeem pick up a big knockout win over Stefan Struve, Matt Mitrione stopping Gabriel Gonzaga in exciting fashion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk likely earning a title shot with a close decision win over Claudia Gadelha, Jamie Varner announcing his retirement and Olympian Henry Cejudo making his UFC debut.
It was the headliner between Dos Santos and Miocic that really took this event to another level, though. Rarely do heavyweights go five full, competitive rounds, but Dos Santos and Miocic put their conditioning on display in one of the best heavyweight matchups in recent memory.
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7. UFC on Fox 12
4 of 10
Main Event: Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Brown
Fight of the Night: Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Brown
Performances of the Night: Anthony Johnson and Dennis Bermudez
With two of the most entertaining welterweights in the world headlining the card, UFC on Fox 12 had big expectations to live up to, and it did.
The bout between Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown may not have won fight of the year honors, but it was an excellent contest. The undercard also delivered several bout that were very fun to watch.
Anthony Johnson picked up a big knockout win over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira on the July 26 card. Dennis Bermudez recorded a submission win over Clay Guida. Also, Bobby Green and Josh Thomson battled to a controversial decision.
6. UFC Fight Night 38
5 of 10
Main Event: Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua
Fight of the Night: Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua
Performances of the Night: Dan Henderson and Godofredo Pepey
Comprised mostly of local Brazilians, UFC Fight Night 38 on March 23 was a bit top-heavy, but it still delivered despite having less big names than other events on this list.
The card kicked off with a bang when Godofredo Pepey landed a flying knee against Noad Lahat. The prelims continued to surprise, as only one bout ended up going to the scorecards, which kept fans interested as the headliner drew closer.
A C.B. Dollaway knockout win over Cezar Ferreiera was a pleasant surprise, but it was the rematch between Dan Henderson and Mauricio Rua that made this one of the best events during 2014.
Shogun appeared to have Henderson beaten with multiple knockdowns over the first two rounds. Having one of the better chins in MMA history, though, Henderson survived and scored an amazing comeback win with a knockout in the third stanza.
5. UFC Fight Night 40
6 of 10
Main Event: Matt Brown vs. Erick Silva
Fight of the Night: Matt Brown vs. Erick Silva
Performances of the Night: Matt Brown and Johnny Eduardo
On May 10, Brown and Erick Silva clashed at the top of UFC Fight Night 40, which turned out to be the most entertaining UFC Fight Night card in 2014.
The preliminary card wasn't filled with big names, but it produced some memorable moments, including Johnny Eduardo's upset win over Eddie Wineland. The main card also delivered some knockouts, with Costas Philippou, Daron Cruickshank and Soa Palelei all scoring noteworthy victories.
Every great event needs a great main event, though, and UFC Fight Night 40 had that. Never ones to disappoint, Brown and Silva got at it early, and both men stayed on the gas pedal until The Immortal finished things with a knockout in the third round.
4. UFC 179
7 of 10
Main Event: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes
Fight of the Night: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes
Performances of the Night: Fabio Maldonado and Gilbert Burns
Following Chad Mendes' knockout loss to Jose Aldo in their first meeting, many believed the Team Alpha Male product would look to turn the UFC 179 main event into a wrestling match.
However, Mendes only ended up recording one takedown in a bout that went all five rounds. Not many gave him a chance in another stand-up bout with Aldo, but Mendes more than held his own, hurting the Brazilian more than once en route to a decision loss.
The October 25 card was more than the main event, though.
It included a solid co-headliner between Phil Davis and Glover Teixeira. Fabio Maldonado was his usual entertaining self in a knockout win over Hans Stringer. Even the undercard delivered, with all but one bout being finished early.
3. UFC 171
8 of 10
Main Event: Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler
Fight of the Night: Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler
Performances of the Night: Ovince Saint Preux and Dennis Bermudez
Until summer came around, UFC 171 on March 15 appeared to be the clear pick as 2014 event of the year.
Aside from an injury leading to a disappointing end to the co-main event between Tyron Woodley and Carlos Condit, UFC 171 had very few low points. Ovince Saint Preux recorded a memorable submission win, while Myles Jury and Hector Lombard entertained in dominant wins over Diego Sanchez and Jake Shields.
The headliner was the best bout on the card, though. Hendricks and Lawler brawled for five rounds in a matchup that was a leading candidate for 2014 fight of the year.
2. UFC 175
9 of 10
Main Event: Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida
Fight of the Night: Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida
Performances of the Night: Ronda Rousey and Rob Font
There weren't many UFC cards with multiple title fights in 2014, so UFC 175 had an edge before it even got started.
It wasn't only the featured bouts that impressed at UFC 175 on Fourth of July weekend, though. Urijah Faber and Rob Font both scored highlight-reel wins on the preliminary card.
That said, it was the champions who made UFC 175 one of the most memorable cards in 2014.
Ronda Rousey set the table with a brutal knockout win over Alexis Davis. In the main event, Chris Weidman passed a tough test opposite Lyoto Machida, who gave the middleweight champion everything he could handle in another contender for fight of the year.
1. UFC 181
10 of 10
Main Event: Robbie Lawler vs. Johny Hendricks
Fight of the Night: Sergio Pettis vs. Matt Hobar
Performances of the Night: Anthony Pettis and Josh Samman
Also with two title fights but a stronger undercard, UFC 181 edged out UFC 175 on December 6 to become the best event in 2014.
When Urijah Faber is scoring submission wins on the prelims, it's a pretty good bet that the card is stacked. The UFC 181 prelims also featured Josh Samman knocking out Eddie Gordon with a head kick that could go down as knockout of the year.
Samman's knockout started a run of six straight bouts that ended in stoppages leading into the main event. That streak also included a Tony Ferguson submission, a Todd Duffee knockout in his return to the Octagon, a Travis Browne knockout and Anthony Pettis submitting Gilbert Melendez to remain lightweight champion.
For the second time in 2014, it was Lawler and Hendricks who took a show to the next level, though. While their UFC 181 meeting might not have been as eventful as their UFC 171 clash, it still another great contest and has set up a very intriguing trilogy.
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