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Five of the best: Heavyweight classics

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In light of this weekend's heavyweight title clash between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin, it seems relevant to look back at some of the other key heavyweight fights that have happened in UFC history.

Instantly bouts such as Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Mirko Crop Cop and Mark Coleman vs. Pete Williams come to mind, but after watching both of those fights again they might sit better at the top of a heavyweight knockouts or even a heavyweight upsets list. This Saturday we may see one of the greatest fights ever, only time will tell, but as things stand here are five of the very best heavyweight clashes seen inside the Octagon.

5. Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture, UFC 68 (2007)
This fight came at a time where the heavyweight division was in desperate need of some new life. Tim Sylvia had reclaimed the title by defeating Andre Arlovski. After an instant rematch with the Belarusian, Sylvia then won a lacklustre decision against Jeff Monson.

It was clear that the heavyweight division was a long way off the pace with champions such as Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre and Chuck Liddell running high in their respective divisions. Who could challenge Sylvia and emerge as the modern day star as the UFC moved further into the mainstream? Cue former heavyweight and light-heavyweight champion Randy "the Natural" Couture, who at the ripe old age of 43 came out of retirement to take up that challenge.

After only eight seconds Couture gave the heavyweight division more excitement than it had seen in years as he dropped the 6' 8" champion with the first punch of the fight. It set the tone and Couture used every tool in his skill set to overwhelm and dominate Tim Sylvia for the full five rounds.

The win saw Couture crowned the first ever three-time UFC heavyweight champion as the three judges scored all five rounds in favour of "the Natural."

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4. Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir II, UFC 100 (2009)
UFC 100 was the most anticipated event in the organisation's history, and the main event more than lived up to its billing with PPV figures of over 1.5 million, making it the most watched event in UFC history.

After losing his UFC debut in 90 seconds to Frank Mir, Brock Lesnar bounced back by taking out veteran Heath Herring and then going on to stop the returning Randy Couture to be crowned the heavyweight champion. In Couture's previous absence from the UFC (for legal reasons), Frank Mir and Minotauro Nogueira had agreed to coach on The Ultimate Fighter and then go on to fight one another for the interim heavyweight championship. After Mir stopped Nogueira, Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir II, to crown the undisputed king of the division, was inevitable.

In July 2009 the two squared off, and a more methodical Lesnar paced his way through round one. A lot was said by Mir in the build up to this one and Lesnar took his frustrations out on Mir, stopping him mid-way through the second round and leaving him a bleeding mess, signalling the beginning of a new era of heavyweight fighters.

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3. Pedro Rizzo vs. Josh Barnett, UFC 30 (2001)
In a period where MMA was really beginning to evolve, the undefeated Josh Barnett went head to head with fan favourite Pedro Rizzo. Both fighters stood and delivered as they went at it toe-to-toe for the entire first round, taking everything the other man could throw.

Both men hit the ground running for the second round, but it was Rizzo who landed the killer blow. A right hand to the temple saw Barnett out on his feet, a further right to the jaw finished things off as Barnett hit the canvas out cold.

Not only was this one of the best fights ever seen, it was also one of the most clinical knockouts as Barnett lost his undefeated record. Both fighters are still fighting today and, with 30 fights on his record, this fight remains the only knockout loss of Barnett's career.

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2. Minotauro Nogueira vs. Randy Couture, UFC 102 (2009)
Both Randy Couture and Minotauro Nogueira came into this fight off the back of stoppage losses to Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir respectively.

Many referred to this as a pointless fight between two veterans of the division whose best days were behind them. Another way of seeing this was the coming together of two legends, in a bout that was five years in the making, with the winner right back into the title mix.

The result was an instant classic as both Couture and Nogueira left it all in the cage as they fought tooth and nail for the full three rounds. Nogueira took the unanimous decision in a bout that left one thought in everyone's mind: Imagine if this had taken place five years earlier? Perhaps it may have gone one step further and ended up top of the list?

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1. Randy Couture vs. Pedro Rizzo, UFC 31 (2001)
An absolute classic encounter, which saw Randy Couture and Pedro Rizzo battle it out for five full rounds for the heavyweight title.

Couture dominated Rizzo throughout the first, and the fight looked very close to its finish on a number of occasions. Rizzo then came back to dominate the second, hurting Couture with his leg, body and head-kick combinations.

Unbelievably the fight went the distance, and after a further three rounds of back and forth action Couture won a unanimous decision in one of the most action-packed wars ever seen. A close decision, that would mean a rematch in the future, saw Couture retain his title in one of the greatest fights in MMA history.

Chris Park is mmatorch.com's UK specialist. Click here to read original article.

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