Mixed martial arts (MMA) has been around since long before most of us were born, but it still surprises us with its novelty and action. It’s also one of the most exciting and unpredictable sports out there; the contradictory position of MMA odds and eventual results speak for itself. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen in a fight, something else happens that knocks your socks off!
That’s why we’ve put together this list: to highlight some of the best MMA fights that happened in 2022.
Jiří Procházka vs. Glover Teixeira, UFC 275
It was a middleweight bout between Jiří Procházka and Glover Teixeira that took place during the UFC 275 pay-per-view card on November 6, 2022.
Procházka won by unanimous decision to advance his record to 15–1. The win also moved his position to number 4 in the UFC rankings for middleweights, while Teixeira fell to #5 after suffering his first loss since 2016.
Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland, UFC on ESPN 42
Thompson vs. Holland at UFC on ESPN 42 was the fight of the year. The two welterweights went back and forth for five rounds, with neither man able to knock the other out despite landing some serious shots. In the end, Thompson won by unanimous decision (49-47 x3) after taking a lot of damage in rounds 2 and 3. His counterpunching was on point throughout this fight, leading him to get back into it after a close first round where he was hit repeatedly by Holland’s punches in exchanges.
Thompson earned his second consecutive victory since losing his title shot against Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 last March, showing that he’s still one of MMA’s elite fighters despite not having held UFC gold since 2016.
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns, UFC 273
In a welterweight bout at UFC 273, Gilbert Burns faced off against Khamzat Chimaev.
Burns was the favorite to win in this match, but that didn’t mean much when he came out and got knocked out by Chimaev. ‘Borz’ fought the expert in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at UFC 273. It was his first encounter with a top-third opponent. It served as the undefeated Chechen’s first significant test of his career. The two engaged in a brutal and exciting battle inside the octagon that exposed Chimaev’s ceiling.
During the fight, Chimaev suffered severe rocking, and Burns was dropped. After his opponent attempted to put him in an armbar, he quickly gave up the fight. After that, the altercation turned into a chaotic battle in which both men pushed one another to the extreme edge. ‘Borz’ ultimately prevailed in a close battle when he displayed a lot of courage.
Sean O’Malley vs. Petr Yan, UFC 280
The UFC flyweight title was on the line in this main event fight, and both fighters were looking to take their first step toward claiming it. The two men traded punches at a furious pace for three rounds, with neither fighter being able to gain an edge over the other. In the end, Sean O’Malley was declared victorious by unanimous decision.
The fight took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 15th, 2022. It marked the first time that MMA had been legalized in New York since 2028 after a lengthy battle between pro-MMA and anti-MMA advocates over whether or not mixed martial arts were too violent for society at large.
Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa, UFC Fight Night 209
The fight took place at UFC Fight Night 209. The match was in the heavyweight division. In heavyweight matches, one of two things typically happens. They either result in an early knockout or are slog matches with both men getting exhausted. However, the fight of speed and power between these fighters in the octagon was chaotic.
Gane was knocked out by Tuivasa in the second round; however, both competitors ended up rocking each other repeatedly. Before winning via TKO in an exciting and brutal three-round battle, the Frenchman frequently found success with body blows.
Conclusion
These were some of the best MMA battles we saw in 2022. The future of this sport is bright, and there are many fights to look forward to. We’ve seen some great ones already last year, but there’s a lot more on the horizon!
