The 15 most entertaining UFC fights of 2022

Dustin Poirier defeated Michael Chandler at UFC 281. Photo via UFC (Twitter)

Check out Frontkick’s top 15 UFC fights of 2022!

15. Damir Ismagulov vs. Guram Kutateladze

Swedish-Georgian lightweight Guram Kutateladze. Photo via Instagram (@guram_dze)

Swedish-Georgian lightweight Guram Kutateladze clashed with Damir Ismagulov in June in a highly competitive bout that left the fans wanting more.

14. Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards 2

Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards. Photo: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC via USA TODAY Sports and Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports

Welterweights Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards clashed for a second time in August. Usman was winning the bout until ”Rocky” unleashed a head kick from hell that put a stop to the fight and Usman’s impressive winning streak.

13. Matt Brown vs. Bryan Barberena

Veteran Bryan Barberena. Photo via Instagram (@bryan_barberena)

Veterans Bryan Barberena and Matt Brown gave it all as they clashed in a brutal three-round battle in March.

12. Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold

Paulo Costa defeated Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. Photo: Viaplay

Former champion Luke Rockhold went out with a bang in the last UFC fight of his career.

11. Rob Font vs. Marlon Vera

Rob Font. Photo: Jerry Lai – USA TODAY Sports

The fight between Rob Font and Marlon Vera was a history of violence that ”Chito” eventually won via unanimous decision.

10. Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mateusz Gamrot

Arman Tsarukyan. Photo via Instagram (@arm_011)

The top grapplers Mateusz Gamrot and Arman Tsarukyan combined for 29 takedown attempts over 25 minutes in a fight that was as technical as entertaining.

9. Sean O’ Malley vs. Petr Yan

Sean O’Malley and Petr Yan clashed at UFC 280 Photo via Twitter (UFC)

Top bantamweights Petr Yan and Sean O’Malley clashed in a massive bout at UFC 280 in October.

By the end of the fight, sizable underdog O’Malley had outlanded Yan with 84-58 in significant strikes, and won his toughest test to date via unanimous decision.

8. Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler

Dustin Poirier defeated Michael Chandler Photo via UFC (Twitter)

Lightweight fan favorite Dustin Poirier clashed with rival Michael Chandler at Madison Square Garden in November.

Former Bellator champion Chandler gave it all, but it was Poirier who eventually won the instant classic via a third-round submission.

7. Matt Schnell vs. Sumudaerji

Flyweight fighter Matt Schnell. Photo: Paul Miller – USA TODAY Sports

At UFC Long Island in June, top flyweights Matt Schnell and Su Mudaerji went to war in one of the craziest fights of the year.

The incredibly tough Schnell was in serious trouble during the second round, but dug deeper than ever and was able to turn the fight around with a late submission.

6. Nate Landwehr vs. David Onama

Nate Landwehr (right). Photo: Jasen Vinlove – USA TODAY Sports

Featherweights Nate Landwehr and David Onama showed fantastic heart as they beat the living hell out of each other in a three round fight in August.

Onama had a strong start but Landwehr fought his way back in violent fashion to eventually win the fight on points.

5. Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 3

Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo will clash again in January 2023. Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports

Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno went the distance in their third fight, delivering five epic rounds of action.

After the final bell, Figueiredo stood as the winner via unanimous decision with 48-47 on the scorecards and regained the flyweight strap.

However, many believed that Moreno did enough to win the fight, and the two rivals will soon clash for a fourth time at UFC 283 in Brazil.

4. Cyril Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa

Heavyweight Ciryl Gane headlined the first-ever UFC event in France . Photo: Paul Miller – USA TODAY Sports

The heavyweight clash between the technical master Cyril Gane and the brutal brawler Tai Tuivasa was the perfect headliner to the first-ever France event in September.

3. Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland

Stephen ”Wonderboy” Thompson defeated Kevin ”Trailblazer” Holland on December 3. Photo via Instagram (@ufc)

Welterweight strikers Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland combined for nearly 500 strike attempts over four amazing rounds that left the crowd gasping for breath.

2. Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns

Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns at UFC 273.

Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns left everything in the Octagon when they clashed in a three round bout in April.

The fight came down to determination, heart and heavy punches, as the wrestler and the grappler traded significant strikes on the feet.

The dangerous Brazilian was for sure the toughest fight ever for Chimaev, who eventually ended up winning the fight via unanimous decision with 29-28 on all three scorecards.

1. Glover Teixeira vs. Jiri Prochazka

Top dogs Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira. Photo via Instagram: (@jirkaprochazka) and (@gloverteixeira)

At UFC 275 in Singapore, Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira fought the best light heavyweight title bout since Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson clashed in 2013.

During close to 25 minutes of action, the two combatants, who turned out to be evenly matched in both striking and grappling, combined all-out violence with beautiful technique.

In the dramatic last seconds of the fifth round, the Czech phenom Prochazka was finally able to submit veteran Teixeira to win the 205 strap.

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