Everyone has seen the UFC classics, especially fights from the Zuffa era. We’ve marveled at the other worldly exploits of the great Anderson Silva, watched with slack jaws as Matt Hughes came from the brink of defeat to wallop Frank Trigg and witnessed Dan Henderson and Mauricio Rua redefine courage.
But there is a whole new world of fights waiting for you to come and find them. Before the UFC took control of the industry, the fight game was spread all over the globe. Some of the best fighters on the planet were competing in Japan, Russia and even on Indian reservations around the United States.
These are the hidden gems that only the most hardcore of fans knew about—until now. Fasten your seat belt and strap in for a wild ride. These are fights that you have to watch to consider yourself a hardcore fan.