100+ UFC Moments You Might Have Forgotten From 2021

By
Alex Behunin
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Calvin Kattar and Max Holloway, UFC Fight Island 7
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 17: (R-L) Max Holloway kicks Calvin Kattar in a featherweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 17, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

With 43 UFC events throughout 2021, on top of all of the other events such as Bellator, PFL, ONE, etc., you probably forgot about many of the moments that happened throughout the year. Well, we’ve got you covered. So sit back as we go through every single UFC event of the year and list the things you might have forgotten.

UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar

Vanessa Melo and Sarah Moras had a very lackluster fight to the year, and were both subsequently released.

Matt Brown vs. Carlos Condit finally went down. They were originally matched up in 2013.

This was the first UFC event on ABC, and the first on network television since the end of the FOX era.

UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny

Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev were initially expected to headline this event. We still hadn’t had this fight.

This card was the 20th UFC event on ESPN proper.

UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2

Ottman Azaitar was cut (and then later resigned) because he broke COVID protocols ON THE DAY OF WEIGH-INS!

Dana White spoke about it with Farah Hannoun.

“He and his team cut their wristbands off and got them to people on the outside, one guy, This guy got inside the bubble, went in through a room, shimmied down four balconies, went in through (Azaitar’s) balcony, and dropped off a bag of we don’t know what. Then he changed his clothes and went back outside of the bubble. We got everything on camera, we saw the whole thing, and how it all went down, pulled his fight and cut him.”

This event marked Antônio Carlos Júnior’s last fight in the UFC. He later signed with the PFL, and won the 2021 season at light heavyweight, picking up a million bucks in the process.

UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov

A main event loss to Alexander Volkov was Alistair Overeem’s last UFC fight.

The Cory Sandhagen sad meme was born thanks to this card.

UFC 258

Kelvin Gastelum snapped his three-fight losing streak.

Jon Anik randomly brought up Chris Gutiérrez and Andre Ewell’s custody battles on the broadcast.

Julian Marquez calls out Miley Cirus to be his valentine. She accepts but asks Marquez to shave her name into his chest hair. Marquez then goes on to fumble the situation.

UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis

Moments before Chas Skelly vs. Jamall Emmers were supposed to fight, Emmers suffered back spasms. The fight was cancelled as a result with Skelly already in the octagon.

For his UFC debut, Jared Vanderaa called out Sergey Spivak and was utterly dominated.

Ketlen Vieira, Jared Gordon, Drako Rodriguez, and Rafael Alves all missed weight. Alves missed weight by eleven and a half pounds. Which means he technically came in heavy the next weight class up.

UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane

Putting it in a single word, it was boring main event, and Dana White let everyone know.

Thiago Moises defeated Alexander Hernandez decisively, but Hernandez went on Instagram to say he won.

UFC 259

Tim Elliott called out Jordan Espinosa mid-fight for being a ‘woman beater.’

This card marked Joseph Benavidez’s last UFC fight. The “Joe Jitsu” fought for gold four times inside the octagon.

Kennedy Nzechukwu’s memorable comeback against Carlos Ulberg took place at this event.

UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad

Edwards vs. Chimaev was canceled for the third and final time. We can’t have nice things apparently.

Charles Jourdain vs. Marcelo Rojo was robbed of Fight of the Night.

Dan Ige starched Gavin Tucker in 22 seconds.

UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland

Then-husband and wife Cheyanne Buys and JP Buy fought on and lost on the same card.

Cheyanne lost a unanimous decision and, after the fight, told opponent Monsterrat Ruiz, “I’ll follow you home b*tch.” Spit-gate was started as well, as Buys accused Ruiz of spitting at her.

Max Griffin knocked out Song Kenan (underrated KO).

Julija Stoliarenko fainted on the scale twice during weigh-ins.

UFC 260

Final event with Reebok as the official UFC outfitter.

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega was supposed to be the co-main event but was canceled.

Tyron Woodley’s last UFC fight took place on this card.

UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland

Kevin Holland’s second main event in three weeks.

Ignacio Bahamondes vs. John Makdessi was robbed of Fight of the Night.

Jarjis Danho returned from a five-year layoff and knocked Yorgan De Castro out cold.

This was the second UFC event to air on ABC. The promotion has yet to return to the network.

UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum

Jeremy Stephens shoved Drakkar Klose at weigh-ins, causing an injury, and forcing Klose to withdraw.

Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa was the original main event.

Alexander Romanov vs. Juan Espino ended after an accidental groin strike. Romanov was awarded the technical split decision.

Loopy Godinez powerbombed Jessica Penne.

UFC 261

The first fight card with a full house of fans in over a year.

Chris Weidman breaks his leg kicking Uriah Hall, in a scene eerily reminiscent of Anderson Silva breaking his own leg against Weidman.

Randy Brown defeats Alex Oliveira via a one-arm rear-nake choke.

UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka

Luana Pinheiro wins via a (questionable) illegal upkick.

UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson

What was up with the Jun Yong Park vs. Tafon Nchukwi scorecards??? (30–25, 29–26, 28–28).

Marina Rodriguez and Michelle Waterson step in on very short notice for the main event, up a weight class.

Donald Cerrone’s only fight of 2021, which saw him finished by Alex Morono. The loss left him on a five-fight skid.

Gregor Gillespie’s return fight, and it was a great one. He finished Carlos Diego Ferreira.

UFC 262

Andre Muniz breaks Jacare Souza’s arm. The promotion does not re-sign Jacare, and he retires a few months later.

Lando Vannata’s featherweight debut.

Shane Burgos’ scary delayed knockout.

UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt

Paul Felder announces his retirement.

Ben Rothwell wins via a ten finger go-go choke.

Bruno Silva holds a sign reading “75k Dana” after he knocked out Victor Rodriguez

Rafael Alves does this:

UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai

Roman Dolidze vs. Laureano Staropoli is the worst UFC fight of the year.

UFC 263

The photo gets taken (sorry cheap plug)

Paul Craig dislocates Jamahal Hill’s elbow.

Brad Riddell vs. Drew Dober happened and it was awesome.

UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige

Virna Jandiroba breaks Kanako Murata’s arm

Matt Brown viciously knocks out Dhiego Lima

Middleweight Bruno Silva’s long-awaited UFC debut.

UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov

Justin Jaynes beats his entire purse on himself and then loses.

Jeremiah Wells knocks out Warlley Alves and then screams in the camera.

Another Kennedy Nzechukwu comeback finishes Danilo Marques.

Yancy Medeiros’ last UFC fight.

Andre Fili puts on one of the best performances of his career but the fight ends in an eye poke.

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