UFC Fights That Changed Everything

Over the last 30+ years, the UFC has gone from bare-bones brawls to billion-dollar spectacle. This video walks through the fights that didn’t just define careers — they reshaped the sport itself.

We kick off with Jon Jones vs Gustafsson 1 — five rounds of pure chaos that showed even the most dominant champ could bleed. Then there's the wildfire that was Khabib vs Conor McGregor: personal, global, and impossible to ignore. It ended with a brawl, a leap into the crowd, and the UFC's biggest mainstream spotlight yet.

In the women’s division, Ronda Rousey vs Liz Carmouche wasn’t just history — it was a risk. The UFC had never booked a women’s fight before. That night proved they should’ve done it sooner. And of course, Conor’s 13-second demolition of Jose Aldo still plays on loop in UFC highlight reels — one punch that changed everything.

To get to the roots, you’ve got to rewind. Shamrock vs Gracie 1 was raw, awkward, and brilliant — two styles clashing before MMA even had a name. Then came Couture vs Liddell, a rivalry that carried the UFC through its early boom years and onto cable TV screens across the world.

And yeah, we remember Lesnar vs Mir 2 — part rematch, part circus, all violence. It wasn’t technical, but it pulled in millions and proved that crossover stars could punch their way into MMA history.

These fights weren’t just big nights. They were pivots — moments when the sport turned, leveled up, or exploded into something new. Every matchup here left a mark. Some carved the path. Others blew it wide open.