3. UFC 100: Lesnar vs Mir
An eternal entrant on this list, the event against which all mega cards are measured is UFC 100 in 2009. While the UFC had put cards on Fourth of July weekend prior to this, few cards have ever had the organic hype that this landmark card did. The seminal 100th event (excluding the smaller non-numbered Fight Nights) had been generating more intrigue as the event slowly grew closer and fans were interested to see what the UFC would deliver for such a night.
The promotion responded with two things: a stacked card and a fan convention unlike any seen before. The “UFC Fan Expo” gathered seemingly every UFC fighter not competing at the event and then some. Featuring athletes from the UFC, WEC, and the stars of yesteryear, the two-day event was the precursor to the larger (and now televised) festivities that make International Fight Week, the undisputed Super Bowl of the MMA world today.
All of it culminated in an event that delivered. In the main event, WWE superstar turned undisputed UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar exacted revenge on rival Frank Mir with a second round destruction that left the long-time veteran a bloody mess on the canvas. Aside from the beating, the night played host to Lesnar’s now infamous post-fight interview that managed to be both crass and disrespect the official UFC sponsor Bud Lite.
In the co-main event, MMA legend Georges St-Pierre took on arguably his toughest challenge in Brazilian knockout artist Thiago Alves, who had carved a path of destruction leading up to his title shot. In typical GSP fashion, the reigning champion succeeded in neutralizing Alves on the mat in what remains one of the best victories from his now Hall of Fame career.
Earlier in the night, one of the most iconic knockouts in MMA history took place as Dan Henderson stopped Michael Bisping with an explosive right hand and follow-up that remains a staple of highlight reels to this day. On the prelims, future superstar Jon Jones in only his second UFC fight faced Ultimate Fighter legend Stephan Bonnar. While he would later go on to have arguably the greatest title run of all-time, Jones showed flashes of brilliance that night in dominating the more experienced Bonnar for the full fifteen minutes.
