The notion of making dream MMA matchups come to fruition has long mesmerized fans, and unlike the current direction of boxing, MMA enthusiasts can expect superfights to materialize more regularly in the coming years.
The definition may vary, but the allure of the superfight has always remained the same: It answers a long-debated question by pitting two elite fighters in close weight proximity on a grand stage.
This summer, the UFC wasted little time making its follow-up superfight to Frankie Edgar vs. B.J. Penn III, announcing on July 29 that Nick Diaz will lock horns with Anderson Silva at UFC 183 in January.
Despite the facts that Silva broke his left tibia and fibula in his second straight loss in December, and Diaz hasn’t won a fight since besting Penn in 2011, both men have stacked resumes and tremendous fan followings. More importantly, at one point in time, Silva vs. Diaz looked like a fight that could never transpire.
But although by most standards they fit the criteria needed for a superfight, will Silva vs. Diaz produce a scrap that’s worthy of comparing to the unforgettable clashes on this countdown?
Here are the best superfights in MMA history.
All stats gathered via Fightmetric.com.