.jpg?q=50&fit=contain&w=750&h=375&dpr=1.5)
In the sport of boxing, the heavyweight division has always been seen as the legacy weight class. For whatever reason, the masses have always been captivated by massive human beings trying to take each other's heads off. That interest in heavyweights in boxing has absolutely carried over to MMA as well.
Some of the biggest stars in MMA's history have come in the heaviest weight class. For example, Brock Lesnar, and his subsequent fight against Shane Carwin at UFC 116 was one of the biggest fights ever. That being said, that heavyweight collision was far from the only big bout in the UFC's heaviest weight class.
10 Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture
Going in, this fight wasn't exactly a big one on the surface. It was actually seen as just another step in Tim Sylvia's evolution as a heavyweight great. Coming in with a record of 23-2, he was looking to make his third title defense. Randy Couture meanwhile, was coming in as an aged veteran who had been KO'd by Chuck Liddell in his last bout.
This fight has its place in history thanks to Couture making history at 43 years old. 'The Natural' knocked down the giant just seconds into the bout, in one of the loudest crowd reactions ever. He then sprung one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history by winning via unanimous decision.
9 Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar
Randy Couture's matchup with Brock Lesnar at UFC 91 was a turning point fight. The champion was in the midst of his Cinderella run with the title and was up against a 2-1 Brock Lesnar. The former WWE star was still a bit of an unknown as an MMA fighter at this point.
This one was a slugfest. While Couture held his own, he wound up getting knocked out in the second round. With the victory, Lesnar began one of the wildest rides in heavyweight history.
8 Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2
Stipe Miocic's second bout with Francis Ngannou was a meeting between two red-hot fighters. Happening three years after their first bout, both men had visibly improved. In the meantime, Miocic had also cemented his place as the UFC's greatest heavyweight of all time.
Sadly for Miocic, it wouldn't be his night. Ngannou dominated en route to a second-round knockout, thus beginning the era of 'The Predator'.
7 Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane
The story with this bout is still currently unfolding. However, the backdrop of UFC 270 was Francis Ngannou had the ability to potentially pull a real-life version of CM Punk leaving with the WWE Championship in 2011. 'The Predator' was on the last fight of his UFC deal, and the only thing standing in his way of leaving with the heavyweight title was his former friend Ciryl Gane.
The early rounds of the contest were all Gane, as he easily maneuvered Ngannou's heavy strikes. However, 'The Predator' gutted out a bad knee injury and won with wrestling to retain his title via unanimous decision. As of now, it remains to be seen if Ngannou will fight in the UFC again.
6 Andrei Arlovski vs. Tim Sylvia 3
The UFC's first big trilogy between heavyweights occurred at UFC 61. Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia hated each other, and their two previous fights had been first-round finishes. At the time, the winner would likely be considered the UFC's heavyweight goat, and arguably the best on the planet.
Sadly for fans, this one didn't live up to the hype. Despite the big fight feel, these two put on a lackluster five-round point fighting bout. Sylvia ended up winning via unanimous decision.
5 Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier 1
© Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Dubbed, 'The Superfight' going in, this fight had all the makings of a classic. Daniel Cormier was the best light-heavyweight on the planet, while Stipe Miocic was looking to make his fourth straight title defense. Add in the fact that 'DC' was fighting at heavyweight for the first time since 2013, this fight had the public's attention going in.
The beginning of a series of fights ended with a brutal first-round knockout. Cormier caught Miocic with a hard hook while coming out of the clinch, putting the champion out cold. With the victory, 'DC' cemented his place in history as one of the greatest fighters ever.
4 Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir 2
The main event of UFC 100 was Brock Lesnar's first title defense, as he took on his rival Frank Mir. The two men had real heat going into this one, mainly thanks to the controversy of their first encounter at UFC 81, which Mir won via submission.
This title unification bout was one-way traffic. Lesnar dominated Mir on the mat and righted the wrong of their first bout. UFC 100 then went off the air after the heavyweight champion delivered an all-time promo.
3 Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos 1
© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The UFC's first show on FOX was a celebration of sorts. It was essentially the promotion celebrating after such a long time of working to gain acceptance in the public, they finally had it. With that in mind, they decided to give Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos the opportunity to headline the first event.
The promotion even decided to air only the main event, putting it on FOX as a one-hour special. This one took all of a minute to end, as dos Santos won the UFC's Heavyweight Championship via vicious knockout. While the two follow-up installments were hard to watch, this fight was huge at the time.
2 Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier 3
The biggest trilogy in UFC heavyweight history came to a close at UFC 252. While this was sadly in front of an empty UFC Apex, the story was simple. The winner of this bout would be considered the greatest heavyweight in the promotion's history, and would also close the book on the rivalry between these all-time greats.
While the first two fights were decisive finishes, this one was fittingly a five-round slugfest. Both men had pockets of success, but Miocic did enough to retain his title at the end of the night.
1 Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin
Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin at UFC 116 was one of the biggest style clashes imaginable. Lesnar was going on his second defense of UFC gold, while Carwin was undefeated and had captured the interim strap earlier in the year.
In arguably the best fight of both men's careers, Carwin opened up the fight by battering Lesnar. It looked like the heavy hitter was going to score yet another knockout, but the champion refused to go away. Somehow surviving into the second round, Lesnar scored a takedown and quickly scored a submission to retain his gold. The bout is regarded as one of the greatest comebacks in MMA history.
