5 Best UFC Fights Of 2016

Recency bias comes into play in lists like this and that's the main reason why many members of the media and the fanbase don't have this welterweight war at the absolute top where it belongs. UFC 195 kicked off the year on January 2nd with a card main evented by the reigning 170 lb champion Robbie Lawler defending his title against Carlos Condit.

"The Natural Born Killer" was making his second attempt at the welterweight belt - his first being against Georges St. Pierre - and is highly regarded as one of the most exciting combatants in the UFC. His foe was in the midst of an amazing career resurgence, reborn as an elite competitor after years in the sport, written off by many prior to his return to the UFC in 2013. Both men are high level strikers with granite chins and more weapons than a Navy SEAL team and there was no way this was going to be a snoozer.

The two warriors maintained an aggressive style and high pace for the entire 25 minutes, and when they left the stool for the beginning of the 5th round that kicked off 300 seconds of violence that will go down as the greatest single round in UFC history. I'm convinced of my assertion that it's the best round we've ever seen and confident that we'll never see another surpass it.

Neither man coasted or played it safe in hopes of sliding into a decision win; they each swung, kicked, elbowed and bled in a desperate attempt to walk away with that coveted championship. In the end Lawler had his hand raised, capping off what is arguably the most exciting trio of title matches in UFC history, while Carlos, dejected at dropping several close wars, contemplated retirement. Both men suffered quick losses in their follow-up bouts, and I have no doubt a lot of the reason behind those defeats is how much this fight took out of them.

Not only was this the top fight of 2016; in my opinion it's the greatest of all-time and we owe them a debt of gratitude for putting on such a legendary display.