Ranking the Most Hyped Fights in UFC History
The UFC has had many big fights and events, but just having a big fight does not necessarily generate hype.
Hype is more than just a press conference with two fighters hurling insults at one another. It's more than a tweet or a YouTube clip. To generate true hype takes skill and the right set of circumstances. The UFC's marketing muscle has been flexed for well over a decade and aided by some of its biggest stars.
As the UFC builds toward one of its biggest shows ever on Saturday, UFC 229, we take a look back at some of these top-tier events.
Which fights and events hit a higher level? Which got the blood pumping through the veins of even the most casual of fight fans?
These are the 10 most hyped fights in UFC history.
10. UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz (March 5, 2016)
1 of 10
UFC 196 may be the most impressive entry on the list, and it checks in at No. 10.
The reason this event is so impressive is that the hype was generated in such a short amount of time.
Lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos had to pull out of the main event slot opposite Conor McGregor due to injury. The UFC tapped Nate Diaz for the late-notice replacement and scheduled a press conference.
The press conference back-and-forth got fans riled up and ready for the event. The co-main event also featured Holly Holm coming off her knockout of Ronda Rousey, but it was purely an afterthought thanks to the trash talk between Diaz and McGregor.
UFC 196 is a good example that hype can be built quickly if executed properly with the right pieces.
If only these two had more time to promote the fight it would have been higher on the list. Oh, wait...they were able to do just that for their rematch.
9. UFC 200: Tate vs. Nunes (July 9, 2016)
2 of 10
UFC 200 is a great example of how the end product doesn't necessarily meet the hype.
It was going to be massive. The lead-up began with UFC 200 being the potential landing spot for the highly anticipated rematch between Diaz and McGregor, per MMAFighting.com. Just the rumor of that fight being eyed for the card amped it up. But, of course, it did not happen.
Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier II was announced. It was a small drop off, but the rivalry was able to continue the push for UFC 200 alongside the other events of International Fight Week. Everything was looking up with a massive card headlined by one of the sport's best rivalries.
Then, disaster. Jones tested positive for a banned substance, per ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto. Amanda Nunes vs. Miesha Tate was promoted to the main event with the light heavyweight title fight taken away.
UFC 200 still finds itself on the list because of how close the happenings were to the event and that it still pulled in over a million PPV buys.
The controversy around UFC 200 kept interest up, but even before all of that happened, the event was something the company heavily invested in and relished in the hype of.
8. UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar (November 15, 2008)
3 of 10
In today's landscape of interim titles and fighters getting title shots seemingly at random, we often forget about Brock Lesnar competing for the UFC heavyweight title after a 1-1 start to his UFC career. But that is exactly what happened at UFC 91.
It's a testament to what true star power allows fighters to accomplish. Jumping the line is just one of the perks.
Lesnar was a star who appealed to fight fans, wrestling fans and sports fans in general. And the impressive athlete's bid at the UFC heavyweight title made it a fight card that could not be missed.
Added to the hype of the event was that his opponent was a true MMA legend. Randy Couture came out of retirement to claim the heavyweight belt once more, and then he found himself up against a beast.
Heavyweight title tilts come at a premium, and this was one of the first big heavyweight events for the UFC in the modern era.
It captured the attention of fans beyond just the MMA bubble. Lesnar had hype entering the UFC, but putting him in a title fight against a respected legend set the stage to capitalize off of his polarizing aura.
7. UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields (April 30, 2011)
4 of 10
UFC 129 in Toronto was a spectacle.
Led by Georges St-Pierre, one of the company's biggest stars, the UFC made a play for a stadium show. Knowing it would take a remarkable card to achieve those dreams, the bill was filled out with notable names.
The featured prelim at UFC 129 was between Diaz and Rory MacDonald, who was then a rising talent.
Joining GSP and Jake Shields on the main card was Couture vs. Lyoto Machida and Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick for the featherweight title.
The UFC wanted to treat its Canadian audience. When the Rogers Centre was packed, it had the feel of something special. With over 55,000 fans in attendance, it became the largest live crowd for a UFC event.
Although GSP was the top-billed fighter, UFC 129's hype was thanks to its size.
6. UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor (December 12, 2015)
5 of 10
The fight that was supposed to happen at UFC 189 finally took place in December of 2015, with Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor finally meeting inside the cage.
It lasted 13 seconds.
Thanks to the buildup earlier in the year, every fight fan was anticipating this bout. McGregor was in Aldo's head, but Aldo was the greatest featherweight of all-time. It was going to be a classic. Except it turned out to be a classic moment instead of a classic fight.
Las Vegas turned into Dublin as Irish fans flooded the city.
How crazy was fight week? Irish fans got into a fight on a plane headed to Vegas and forced it back to JFK in New York, per Deadspin's Patrick Redford.
Meanwhile, in Vegas, Irish fans were celebrating everyone throughout fight week. Holly Holm, fresh off her knockout win over Ronda Rousey, was serenaded at a Q&A with Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You."
Fight week itself had three events in three days ending with UFC 194. Everything was building toward Aldo-McGregor like a steady ascent to the peak of a great mountain. And when we all reached the summit, McGregor was standing atop the apex to welcome everyone to his era.
5. UFC 205: McGregor vs. Alvarez (November 12, 2016)
6 of 10
Less than a year after toppling Aldo, McGregor set his sights on becoming the first-ever double champion in UFC history. That goal was sure to generate interest in itself, but circumstances made it even bigger.
What were those circumstances?
After years of fighting in the political and legal arena, MMA was finally legal in the state of New York. Naturally, that meant the UFC was going to run a big card at Madison Square Garden—"the world's most famous arena."
And the UFC went all out to make the show special.
Not only was McGregor going for history, but the welterweight and strawweight titles were up for grabs in a spectacular three-belt main card extravaganza. The undercard was stacked as well. The UFC was taking its first steps in MSG and made sure to make it special.
UFC 205 was the kind of fight card the company built its brand on. The promotion could have just had McGregor, but it made sure to go over-the-top for the fans. UFC stacked the event, and fans responded in kind with their love.
NYC, and MMA fans in general, were hyped for the first card in one of the world's most storied venues.
4. UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor (July 11, 2015)
7 of 10
Much like UFC 200, UFC 189 checks in on this list for the build-up to a fight that never happened.
UFC 189 ended up with McGregor taking out a late-replacement Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight title. But what fans were originally supposed to get was McGregor vs. Aldo. Aldo had to back out, but the fervor leading into UFC 189 still makes it one of the most hyped events in company history.
It started with the UFC scheduling a "World Championship Tour" that spanned Rio, Vegas, New York, Dublin and more. Most of the press events were open to the public, and the fans poured into the venues just to get a glimpse of the hatred between the two stars.
UFC 189 was shaping up to be one of the biggest events ever until Aldo had to withdraw.
Furthering the hype was a special trailer made by the UFC. The promotion was intent on making the show bigger and better than previous events.
On fight night, this was still evident without Aldo.
McGregor was sung to the cage, live, by Sinead O'Connor belting out "The Foggy Dew." And prior to that special moment, Mendes had Aaron Lewis sing him to the cage.
The UFC had never done something like that before. The elevated production was something special, it just wasn't for the fight originally planned.
So, while fans would have to wait for McGregor vs. Aldo to actually fight, the buildup to UFC 189 certainly generated the hype.
3. UFC 202: McGregor vs. Diaz II (August 20, 2016)
8 of 10
The first fight between McGregor and Diaz has already made the list, so it should not be any shock to see the rematch make its play toward the top.
Their UFC 196 meeting was hyped in a short time span, but their rematch had all the time to let fans build up their anticipation.
What would happen this time? Diaz had a full camp. McGregor could adapt to lightweight and Diaz's style. Who would be able to adjust best?
There were so many questions.
And while the undercard was solid in its own right, UFC 202 was built solely for this fight. This was all about Diaz and McGregor. This was a one-fight event.
And it paid off.
In the new T-Mobile Arena in Vegas, fans helped to set the UFC's fifth-highest gate total of just under $7.7 million, per MMAJunkie.com. The PPV buys were over 1.6 million, according to MMA Payout.
Any fight with McGregor would be heavily hyped, but after his defeat to Diaz months earlier, the lead-up to UFC 202 soared.
Mainstream outlets like ESPN were buying into the fight. Everyone wanted to see the two stand toe-to-toe once more. And that's exactly what happened for five full rounds.
UFC 202 showed how two warriors can generate so much excitement and suspense for a return bout.
2. UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm (November 14, 2015)
9 of 10
UFC 193 was another stadium event, this time in Melbourne, Australia, at the Etihad Stadium. But this wasn't like UFC 129. No, UFC 193's hype was solely because of Ronda Rousey.
By this time, Rousey was a crossover star. She was the definition of mainstream. While the UFC put forth a solid undercard featuring the strawweight title, it didn't market this event like UFC 129. Rousey was the signature feature.
How mainstream was Rousey?
When the UFC set to market this event, it produced a rare trailer. It remains its best to date. But when the promotion released it, it wasn't just thrown up on YouTube or tweeted out. Ellen Degeneres was allowed to debut it on her show. That was major.
Rousey transcended to a higher plane. The largest of media wanted her time and presence. UFC 193 was not an event that was marketed through its traditional means. Rousey's appeal across the board opened up new avenues for the UFC to appeal to for the show.
And while Rousey did not win that night, her first loss was such an unexpected knockout that it resonated for months. It stunned the world watching, and they were watching because of the hype generated by the sport's biggest mainstream star.
1. UFC 100 (July 11, 2009)
10 of 10
It will come as no surprise to fans that UFC 100 tops the list.
The UFC poured everything into the event. 2009 was the first year for International Fight Week, and the company created it specifically to make this feel like a big deal—and the card reflected that as well.
UFC 100 was led by Lesnar vs. Frank Mir. The promotion's biggest star at the time against the man who beat him in his debut. It didn't hurt that they were bickering rivals.
In the co-main event slot was the UFC's second biggest draw, GSP. The main card also began with Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping, which produced one of the sport's biggest KOs ever.
The show delivered.
Former UFC head Lorenzo Fertitta told Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "I remember that was the first time I heard general sports media and all the talk shows discussing our event on a Monday."
UFC 100 just seemed like a landmark event the company had to make special. And it succeeded.
The fight card was a big draw, but the UFC's marketing of it helped cultivate the anticipation. The addition of International Fight Week and the UFC Expo turned it into a week-long affair.
UFC 100 became a destination and not simply an event. UFC made fans want to come to Vegas for the atmosphere of the fight even if they couldn't get a ticket. The event is the shining example of how the promotion can generate hype surrounding an event using all of its tools.
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