# What was the best UFC fight of the 2000s?

> Title upsets, grudge matches and the cable-TV brawl that saved the company, all from the decade the Octagon went mainstream.

*By YPB Team · Published October 30, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-was-the-best-ufc-fight-of-the-2000s*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Griffin vs. Bonnar** — score 1000/1000
   The 2005 Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale slugfest between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar that put the UFC on cable TV for good.
2. **Jackson vs. Henderson** — score 682/1000
   Quinton Jackson outpointed Dan Henderson at UFC 75 in 2007 to unify the UFC and Pride titles.
3. **Sanchez vs. Guida** — score 622/1000
   Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida's frantic 2009 lightweight brawl at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale.
4. **Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva** — score 622/1000
   Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva's long-awaited three-round striking battle at UFC 79 in 2007.
5. **Mir vs. Sylvia** — score 551/1000
   Frank Mir snapped Tim Sylvia's forearm with an armbar to win the heavyweight title at UFC 48.
6. **Silva vs. Griffin** — score 551/1000
   Anderson Silva's untouchable first-round knockout of Forrest Griffin at UFC 101 in 2009.
7. **Penn vs. Hughes** — score 466/1000
   BJ Penn moved up to choke out dominant welterweight champion Matt Hughes at UFC 46 in 2004.
8. **St-Pierre vs. Hughes II** — score 466/1000
   Georges St-Pierre's head-kick stoppage of Matt Hughes to win the welterweight title at UFC 65.
9. **Couture vs. Sylvia** — score 466/1000
   A 43-year-old Randy Couture came out of retirement to dominate Tim Sylvia for the heavyweight title at UFC 68.
10. **Silva vs. Franklin** — score 363/1000
   Anderson Silva's clinch-knee destruction of Rich Franklin at UFC 64 that began his historic middleweight reign.
11. **Ortiz vs. Shamrock** — score 363/1000
   Tito Ortiz's UFC 40 title defence against Ken Shamrock in 2002, the bout that revived the company's fortunes.
12. **Couture vs. Liddell** — score 362/1000
   Randy Couture upset Chuck Liddell at UFC 43 in 2003 to win the interim light heavyweight title.
13. **Silva vs. Henderson** — score 0/1000
   Anderson Silva survived a tough first round before submitting Dan Henderson to unify titles at UFC 82.
14. **Lesnar vs. Mir II** — score 0/1000
   Brock Lesnar avenged his loss to Frank Mir with a brutal TKO in the UFC 100 main event.
15. **St-Pierre vs. Penn II** — score 0/1000
   Georges St-Pierre's one-sided UFC 94 beating of BJ Penn, stopped in the corner after four rounds.
16. **Liddell vs. Ortiz** — score 0/1000
   Chuck Liddell knocked out bitter rival Tito Ortiz at UFC 47 in 2004, settling a years-long feud.
17. **Serra vs. St-Pierre** — score 0/1000
   Matt Serra's 2007 knockout of Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69, one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
18. **Machida vs. Evans** — score 0/1000
   Lyoto Machida's knockout of unbeaten Rashad Evans for the light heavyweight title at UFC 98.
19. **Couture vs. Gonzaga** — score 0/1000
   Randy Couture outlasted Gabriel Gonzaga in a gritty heavyweight title defence at UFC 74.

Tags: 2000s, sports, ufc, mma, fights