While 2020 was a tough year for the sports world, the UFC was able to rise to the event and put on a year full of exciting fight cards. With just a few days left before the year ends, it’s time to take a look back at the top 5 UFC events for the year 2020.
Gaining power through a global pandemic that led to locksmiths and travel restrictions around the world, the UFC continued to thrive in their mixed martial arts and hosted 41 events. introduction through 12 months, including 11 pay-per-view across ten centers. in four different countries.
5 of the best UFC events of the year 2020
From Las Vegas to Auckland, Brazil to Fight Island, and then back to Las Vegas, let’s take a look at the top 5 UFC events for the year 2020:
UFC 256: Figueiredo vs Moreno (December 12, 2020)
The last pay-per-view event of 2020 provided many memorable moments, at the head of a global fly-weight competition fight for centuries.
The main event of UFC 256 saw Deiveson Figueiredo, UFC flyweight champion, and Brandon Moreno, number one competitor, go to war for five rounds in a bout that ended in a majority draw. Expect the pair to run it back in a 2021 replacement.
In the main event, Charles Oliveira cemented his status as a top contender in the exciting 155-pound division with a unanimous leading decision over former interim champion Tony Ferguson.
The UFC 256 also marked Kevin Holland’s fifth win in 2020 with KO in the first round against Jacare Souza.
UFC: 246: McGregor vs Cowboy (18 January 2020)
The UFC began in 2020 with the return of Irish MMA superstar Conor McGregor, while facing veteran Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in the UFC 246 main event.
The returning McGregor needed just 40 seconds to finish Cerrone with a TKO and announce his return to the Octagon.
In the main event, former UFC women’s weightlifting winner Holly Holm defeated Raquel Pennington with a unanimous decision.
UFC 249: Ferguson vs Gaethje (May 9, 2020)
UFC 249 marked the return of the Octagon after a two-month hiatus due to the lockouts and travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. So the UFC collected the card with a pair of world title fights.
In the main event, two of the UFC ‘s top 155 – pounds went head to head, while Justin Gaethje and Tony Ferguson battled it out for the UFC’ s interim lightweight title. Gaethje outscored Ferguson and won with TKO in the fifth round to get a lightweight title look against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
In the main event, former champion Dominick Cruz defeated Henry Cejudo in the second round to successfully defend the UFC bantamweight title. After the fight, Cejudo announced his retirement from MMA.
The event also saw Francis Ngannou reaffirm his status as the top contender in the overweight division with Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s 20-second KO.
UFC 250: Nunes vs Spencer (June 6, 2020)
The UFC 250 saw the strongest female fighter at MMA today, as Amanda Nunes, the UFC two-division champion, defended the UFC women’s featherweight competition against main rival Felicia Spencer.
Spencer fought bravely but in the end, it was still an unbeaten run for Nunes, who traveled to a unanimous decision after five rounds of action.
In the main event, Cody Garbrandt made one of the best hits of 2020 when he stopped Raphael Assuncao at the end of the second round. In addition, Aljamain Sterling earned his position as the biggest bantamweight competitor in the UFC with the performance of Candidate of the Year against Cody Sandhagen.
UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal (July 12, 2020)
The UFC’s debut on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi was also the UFC’s biggest and toughest card in 2020, with three world title fights.
In the main event, Kamaru Usman defended his UFC welterweight champion against main rival Jorge Masvidal with a unanimous decision after five rounds.
The replay of the UFC meatweight tournament served as the main event, with Alexander Volkanovski winning a split decision against long-time champion Max Holloway to retain the UFC 145-pound title.
The new UFC bantamweight champion was also crowned, as Petr Yan stopped former featherweight king Jose Aldo with TKO in the fifth round.
Published December 27, 2020, 20:03 IST