50 MMA Fights You Must Watch Before You Die
46. Forrest Griffin Vs. Stephan Bonnar - The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale
For many MMA fans, this fight is the one that really put the UFC on their radar. The UFC had already created a moderate amount of hype and gained some success, but they weren't getting the audiences that the sport needed to survive and thrive.
After getting to the finals of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar duked it out for a contract with the promotion. While neither fighter was the most technical, they made up for what they lacked with sheer heart and desire. For three rounds, both men winged punches at each other, pouncing on every mistake either of them made.
Griffin may have walked away with the contract on the night, but it was hard fought victory as Bonnar also gave everything he had. Impressed by both men's performances, UFC President Dana White also granted Bonnar a contract and the two became legends of the sport.