Top 5 Best Rounds in the UFC in 2022

As the year draws to a close, the MMA world can look back on a year full of fights that kept the audience on their toes throughout the 15 or 25 or the even shorter duration for which the said bout would have lasted.

That being said, there are always certain rounds in certain fights that tend to steal the fans’ breaths away and to put it quite frankly, never give it back. Such is also the case with the compiled list of the top five rounds of 2022, inside the UFC octagon.

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5. Terrance McKinney vs Drew Dober, Round 1

Drew Dober had already fought the likes of Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush, before stepping into the octagon with Terrance “T-Wrecks” McKinney. Additionally, Dober had never been knocked down before. Starting the fight in a fever pitch, McKinney unloaded a succession of lightning strikes, sending his opponent hurtling to the canvas.

However, a comeback was on the cards as Dober, despite falling onto the canvas twice at the behest of vicious knees, came back to strike McKinney viciously and end the fight on the deck, using ground and pound.

4. Matt Schnell vs Su Mudaerji, Round 2

At the July 16^th Fight Night, held in Elmont, New York, Matt Schnell and Su Muderji put up a fight that will be remembered for ages. In the second round, the Korean pressed forward with immense pressure and landed a right that seemed to have rocked the American, before the latter rallied back and answered with his own jab.

Despite having almost been knocked by Mudaerji’s vicious elbow on at least three occasions, the battle-hardened Schnell retaliated with what was left in his tank, shooting for a takedown, damaging the Korean with ground and pound, and finally, he finished him with a choke.

3. Petr Yan vs Sean O’Malley – Round 3, UFC 280

At number five comes the very rememberable fight between Russian Petr Yan and the American Sean O’Malley in an almighty gladiatorial contest in the bantamweight division. With many people expecting the Russian to sway the fight in his favour, either via finish or the scorecard, the quite opposite happen.

Going into the third round, with quite possibly the two fighters sharing one round each, Sean O’Malley unloaded a barrage of shots that had Petr Yan clutching for balance, only to come back with a nasty kick to the head to stun his opponent. In the end, however, the bout was scored in “Sugar’s” favour.

2. Michael Chandler vs Dustin Poirier, Round 1, UFC 281

UFC 281 was iconic for a few reasons – firstly, Israel Adesanya, the long-serving middleweight champion was dethroned by perennial foe Alex Pereira. Secondly, the people’s main event, shared by Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier, like always, delivered.

The first round, which is highlighted here, was a barnstormer if the UFC has ever seen a barnstormer. Far the superior pugilist, Dustin Poirier looked to be in serious danger on multiple occasions, facing pressure from the juggernaut that is Michael Chandler. However, the Louisianan’s experienced showed as he came from behind to almost finish the round, only to be interrupted by the buzzer. The impact of this match was also seen on betting platforms, and crypto casino such as Joe Fortune.

1. Justin Gaethje vs Charles Oliveira, Round 1, UFC 274

Coming to the round most people already know of, let us take a quick look at UFC 274’s main event, between Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. On his lightweight title run, Oliveira looked almost invincible, and that showed against Gaethje. Immediately rushing in and hurting Gaethje with a right uppercut, it didn’t take long for the Brazilian to land on the deck himself with a crisp left from “The Highlight”.

Unwilling to engage on the ground, Gaethje got up to rally back, only to be sent crashing to the canvas with one of the best-timed jabs in recent history, by “Do Bronx”. Once he had taken Gaethje’s back, it was Oliveira’s night, finishing the fight in quick succession with a signature rear naked choke.

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As is the case each time around, at the end of the year, UFC fans look back at the events held from January to December to remember fondly their favourite fights and the objectively best rounds. This list provided above is non-exhaustive, yet it serves as the best entree into the world of mixed martial arts possible.

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