With 2019 coming to a close, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is looking back at some of the best moments and highlights for the promotion over the last 10 years with its “Decade in Review” series.
See the best moments of 2010 right here.
In the latest installment, the series highlights some of the most electrifying moments that took inside the Octagon back in 2011. And there were plenty to choose from.
At UFC 126, former UFC Middleweight champion, Anderson Silva, delivered the knockout heard around the world, flattening Vitor Belfort with an up-kick to the face that came out of nowhere. The following month, Jon Jones made history by becoming the youngest UFC champion ever, defeating Mauricio Rua at UFC 128 which marked the beginning of one of the most dominate title runs ever.
Also, Tony Ferguson made his official UFC debut that year, while Georges St-Pierre dominated Jake Shields at UFC 129 in front of 55,000 fans in what was one of the biggest UFC events ever at that time.
Plus, Alistair Overeem made his long-awaited UFC debut by knocking out Brock Lesnar at UFC 141. And of course, perhaps the greatest moment of 2011 was the Light Heavyweight bout between former champion, Mauricio Rua, and ex-PRIDE champ, Dan Henderson at UFC 139.
The two men put on a battle for the ages, going back-and-forth for a long and brutal 25 minutes, with both men landing one heavy shot after another. At the end of the bloodbath, “Hendo” came out victorious via decision, though both men left their mark in the history books in what was perhaps the greatest fight of all time. In fact, their classic battle was inducted into UFC’s Hall of Fame.
Can you think of any moments in 2011 that should’ve made the cut?