Can't argue too much with these ratings. It's hard to really differentiate between the best fight and the second-best fight but they all belong up there in the discussion so I don't find any issue with the ratings as they are...

3 syllables...2 words...

kimbo slice!!!!!!!

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family
2x Ultimate Challenge Champion

I'm curious in people's opinion, what are the qualities and criteria that make for a great fight?
- Does it have to be relevant to MMA?
- Does it require pre-fight hype?
- Does it have to be back and forth?
- Does it have to have a decisive ending?
- Is there a minimum of time that it must last?

---------------
Rate fights at MMA Ratings (www.mmaratings.net)

I'll start the discussion off by saying it's very difficult to quantify the criteria that make a great fight. For me the absolute best fight would include the following criteria:

1) Title implications between two fighters acknowledged as best in their class
2) Tremendous hype before the fight
3) The fight lives up to the hype by being a back and forth affair that showcases the best the two fighters have to offer
4) Ends decisively by stoppage in later rounds

- Does it have to be relevant to MMA? err yea
- Does it require pre-fight hype?no
- Does it have to be back and forth?yes
- Does it have to have a decisive ending?yes
- Is there a minimum of time that it must last?no

1) Title implications between two fighters acknowledged as best in their class: Absolutely
2) Tremendous hype before the fight: I disagree... has no impact on the fight or the quality of the fight.
3) The fight lives up to the hype by being a back and forth affair that showcases the best the two fighters have to offer: yes but the hype shouldn't be manufactured. Two great fighters coming together should be enough imo.
4) Ends decisively by stoppage in later rounds: Absolutely!!

I respect that. I come from the school of thought that believes combat sports are part sport and part entertainment with hype a part of the entertainment. But, I certainly understand the pure sport angle as well.

I don't care about anything other than a great fight in itself. Who cares about the pre-fight hype. There can be after fight hype, which is better. Nothing like pre-hype and a giant let down. After-hype is better, imo.

To have a great fight requires both fighters giving everything they have, no dominance by one fighter but a great amount of back and forth action. Action, action, action. Lots of submission attempts and lots of exciting escapes. Lots of reversals. And then, suddenly in the third round, a shocking, sudden, and exciting finish. The barbaric side of me would like to see blood too. LOL! The more the better! As long as it doesn't end the fight by doctor stoppage, and both fighters totally ignore it other than to wipe their hands on their shorts every once in a while.

To clarify, when I say hype, I mean natural animosity or a storyline leading into the fight. No doubt that hype followed by a bad fight is a major letdown but if I could manufacture my absolute most favorite fight ever it would have the above criteria I mentioned.

Here's a question to consider -- which fight has come closest to being your most favorite fight...ever? and why?

when chuck knocked out tito...i liked wathing pre anderson silva rich frankin. i still do but his knockout of nate quarry was one of the first fights i saw of rich franklin. that and him knocking out ken shamrock...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family
2x Ultimate Challenge Champion

gsp hughes 2....couture sylvia. I got pretty emotionally invested in both those fights. Trying to think of more fights I was shouting and swearing at?/

My favorite fight was GSP/Koscheck because I really like GSP and I hate Koscheck. When GSP dumped Kos on his ass I remember jumping up and down screaming.

I also remember getting real excited when I could see that Mir was going to submitt Lesnar.

However, I would not consider either of those great fights. Mir/Lesnar was too short for one. GSP/Koscheck was a one sided affair.

With the amount of quality fights available, the competition figfht fight of the year candidates is very high.

---------------
Rate fights at MMA Ratings (www.mmaratings.net)

Here's one: Liddell-Silva

That had pre-fight hype, back-and-forth action, went a long time...only criteria it didn't meet for me was a decisive end...

Kamander and I are going to get along nicely. GSP is my favourite fighter and I also hate Kos (who doesnt) and I was fist pumping everytime he slammed him also. I also like Mir alot too.

Favourite fights though are GSP/Hughes II when GSP ko'd him to win the belt and their 3rd fight when GSP made Hughes VERBALLY tap out....classic!

Hyped fight and quality of fight would be Liddell/Silva. My altime favourite fights though are Griffin/Bonnar and Sanchez/Karo. I hate Sanchez but that was one hell of a fight.

Head of the MMAfia's Canadian Family - Canada Eh!

You just beat me to it Ticker...damn you.

Head of the MMAfia's Canadian Family - Canada Eh!

To be clear, when I say relevant, I mean does it have to have implications to the future of MMA. Two fighters can skillfully go at it back and forth for 14 minutes and the fight can end with a come from behind knockout or submission, and if no one knows who they are, can it possibly be a fight of the year candidate (and maybe I should clarify that this is what I'm looking for when I say "great fight")?

On the other hand, if that same fight is two champions from rival promotions coming together (in a moment of WAMMA ecstacy) to unite the titles, then it makes a big differences IMO.

As far as hype goes, I personally have no appetite for manufactured hype. On the other hand, I thnk it's hard for a very relavant fight to not have some amount of hype around. Silva/Hendersion was a good example.

I do see a conflict with Dan's evaluation of back and forth and time requirements. If there is no time requirement, how back and forth can it be?

Chuck/Rampage 2 was an interesting example of a ver relevant fight that simply ended too quickly to be a great fight.
---------------
Rate fights at MMA Ratings (www.mmaratings.net)

Randy's comeback against Silva was something that I not only had great anticipation for but it was a fight that still holds a special spot. I used to watch that fight like once a week when I had my cablevision DVR, but now I have verizon and lost it. A fight needs to have some implications whether its for a title or for getting in position for a title, it needs to be competitive, there is nothing worse than getting up for a fight and watching it end in like 30 seconds ala the old Mike Tyson fights.

Godfather and all-around Mafia Aficionado

Co-Founder of The MMAFIA

Live Blogger for Fightticker.Com

I Finally Reached 1000 Posts

How about this:

---------------
Rate fights at MMA Ratings (www.mmaratings.net)

I'm fine with 2nd round stoppages.... first round stoppages just kill me. neither fighter really has time to acclimate.