7. UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg
This event, headlined by Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight title against Steve Erceg, delivered solid fights but lacked the star power and dramatic finishes of other cards. Notable performances included Anthony Smith’s quick submission victory over Vitor Petrino, and Michel Pereira’s lightning-fast guillotine choke win against Ihor Potieria. However, the main event and the overall card did not generate the same buzz as other PPVs this year.
6. UFC 297: Strickland vs. du Plessis
Dricus du Plessis dethroning Sean Strickland in a closely contested split decision for the middleweight title was a significant highlight. Raquel Pennington claimed the vacant women’s bantamweight title with a dominant performance against Mayra Bueno Silva. Despite these notable fights, the card’s depth and the number of memorable moments were fewer compared to the higher-ranked events. The Fight of the Night between du Plessis and Strickland added some excitement, but the event fell short of top-tier status.
5. UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier
Islam Makhachev’s defense of his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier was a masterclass in grappling, ending with a brabo choke in the fifth round. The card also featured standout performances from Sean Strickland, who edged out Paulo Costa in a split decision, and Kevin Holland, who secured a first-round armbar submission. While the main event was thrilling, some of the undercard fights did not deliver the same level of excitement, placing this event in the middle of the pack.
4. UFC 303: Pereira vs. Procházka 2
Alex Pereira’s swift and decisive TKO victory over Jiří Procházka in their light heavyweight rematch was a highlight reel moment. Diego Lopes’ decision win over Dan Ige and Ian Machado Garry’s unanimous decision over Michael Page added depth to the card. Notable finishes by Joe Pyfer and Payton Talbott provided additional excitement. This event stood out for its high-level matchups and memorable finishes, securing its place as one of the better PPVs of the year.
3. UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria
Ilia Topuria’s shocking knockout of Alexander Volkanovski to claim the featherweight title headlined an event filled with significant moments. Robert Whittaker’s unanimous decision victory over Paulo Costa and Ian Machado Garry’s split decision win over Geoff Neal were key highlights. The Fight of the Night between Amanda Lemos and Mackenzie Dern was thrilling. This card combined high stakes and dramatic finishes, making it one of the year’s standout events.
2. UFC 299: O’Malley vs. Vera 2
Sean O’Malley’s dominant unanimous decision victory over Marlon Vera in their highly anticipated rematch was the centerpiece of a stacked card. Dustin Poirier’s knockout of Benoît Saint-Denis and Michael Page’s decision win over Kevin Holland were other notable fights. Jack Della Maddalena’s KO of Gilbert Burns added to the event’s allure. With multiple high-profile matchups and memorable finishes, this PPV was a fan favorite and a highlight of the year.
1. UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill
The milestone event of UFC 300 did not disappoint. Alex Pereira’s knockout of Jamahal Hill to retain the light heavyweight title was a spectacular finish. Max Holloway’s last-second KO of Justin Gaethje for the symbolic «BMF» title was tied for the latest finish in UFC history. Other highlights included Zhang Weili’s dominant decision win over Yan Xiaonan and Arman Tsarukyan’s split decision victory over Charles Oliveira. This event was filled with high-stakes matchups and historic moments, making it the top PPV of the year so far.
