50 MMA Fights You Must Watch Before You Die

13. Jorge Santiago Vs. Kazuo Misaki 2 - Sengoku Raiden Championships 14

This is one of the more obscure fights on this list, as it comes from a much smaller promotion than the UFC, Pride FC or even Strikeforce. The demise of Pride left a significant hole in the Japanese MMA landscape, with a number of promotions popping up to take its place.

World Victory Road was one of the more successful attempts and they put on an incredible title rematch between middleweight champion, Jorge Santiago, and former Pride Grand Prix winner, Kazuo Misaki.

The two had already had one stellar scrap a year prior, but another bout was booked due to how incredible their first match went. While rematches can often times be disappointing, this was the exact opposite as both fighters traded near fight finishing moments throughout the dramatic five round title fight.

Some of the best highlights of the fight include a ridiculously tight guillotine choke from Misaki that would've submitted most men, an insane third round which saw both fighters dropped due to strikes and an incredible finish that has to be seen to believed. This is easily one of the finest battles to take place outside of the US post-Pride to date.

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Contributor

Co-host of The Ill-Informed Podcast, jiu-jitsu fiend, MMA lover, movie fan, anime nerd, music snob.