Freaks. Everyone is captivated by them.
Although MMA has strived over the last two decades to distance itself from its early carnival-like origins, the sport`s history is deeply rooted in spectacle. At heart, all promoters are modern-day P.T. Barnums, and nothing ignites the imagination quite like witnessing something extraordinary and absurd — particularly when it involves a fight.
Just recently, MMA added another memorable `freakshow` bout to its record books when former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall quickly defeated fellow strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski in only 30 seconds at KSW 105. This was the latest in a series of unusual matchups, prompting us to consider: What truly stand out as the greatest freakshow fights in MMA history?
Similar to Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart`s famous “I know it when I see it” approach to defining obscenity, `freakshow` fights aren`t strictly categorized but are more of a feeling or a `vibe.` Given this, there are numerous potential contenders for the greatest such fights, so we established a few criteria.
Promotions known primarily for extreme spectacle, like Fight Circus and Dogfight Wild, were excluded, as were (most) very small promoters whose bouts felt more exploitative than truly spectacular. And since this is about MMA, celebrity or influencer boxing matches weren`t considered. Only legitimate MMA fights featuring one or more highly unusual participants.
Following extensive discussion and debate, we narrowed the list down to 10. Here they are (along with a couple of honorable mentions).
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Zuluzinho
One of the great aspects of Pride FC was that it wasn`t always about the absolute best fighting each other. Sometimes, it was enjoyable for fighters to stay busy with entertaining mismatch bouts (PFL, take note). Fedor Emelianenko had a few such fights in Pride, but this one holds a special place in my memory because, back in the day, this was the fight I often showed people to demonstrate why MMA was exciting.
“Look, that smaller, somewhat pudgy guy is about to fight that incredibly large human. Watch what happens!!!” I guarantee this fight did more to build Fedor`s legendary status than another standard victory over someone like Heath Herring ever could have.
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Dos Caras Jr.
It`s hard not to feel a bit sympathetic towards Dos Caras Jr. (better known as the future Alberto Del Rio in WWE) in this situation. A skilled amateur wrestler and a pro wrestling star, he had built a decent side career for a while with a few MMA wins. His notoriety led to him being matched against the highly legitimate fighter and kickboxer Mirko Cro Cop, an opportunity for which he was completely unprepared.
Due to Mexican wrestling tradition, Del Rio was forbidden from being seen publicly without his mask, and the luchador gear likely didn`t help him spot those incoming Cro Cop head kicks. Seeing him slumped over in the corner after being connected with one of Mirko`s legs is truly a sad sight.
Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki
Lee: This bout perfectly fits the “freakshow” category because, historically, it`s crucial not just to the history of spectacle fights but to the very foundation of MMA itself. Aesthetically speaking… not so much.
The year was 1976. Ali was nearing the end of his championship reign, and Inoki was still building the foundation of New Japan Pro Wrestling with his strong style. Both men were national icons, and it`s no exaggeration to say this exhibition match between them was a global event.
Unfortunately, the outcome was a terribly dull contest where Inoki spent fifteen rounds lying on his back, kicking at Ali’s legs, while Ali was either unwilling or unable (depending on the account) to engage Inoki on the ground. The heavily promoted fight was held under special rules that significantly restricted both legends, and both spoke negatively of the event afterward.
However, the fight`s impact is undeniable. It reportedly drew 54 million viewers in Japan, two million U.S. pay-per-view buys, $20 million from closed-circuit theater screenings in the U.S., and an astonishing 1.4 billion viewers worldwide.
Oh, and it might also have been the first major crossover mixing of martial arts, so you can realistically trace a line from this fight directly to the beginning of the UFC (and, oddly enough, to the number one fight on our list).
Tim Sylvia vs. Ray Mercer
Meshew: When this fight was booked in 2009, it was widely criticized as the wrong kind of `freakshow.` Tim Sylvia was a former UFC heavyweight champion, and despite being on a two-fight losing streak, those losses were against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fedor Emelianenko, two of the world`s elite. Mercer, on the other hand, was a former heavyweight boxing champion with no prior MMA experience and was 48 years old. On paper, this appeared to be transparent and distasteful fighter exploitation. And then they fought.
Sylvia entered the fight looking, to put it kindly, “heavier than usual,” and was promptly knocked down by the very first punch Mercer threw — a clean right hand that sent Sylvia crashing to the canvas. Suddenly, what was supposed to be a straightforward win turned into a low point in a former UFC champion`s career.
Gabi Garcia vs. Yumika Hotta
Lee: Despite her significant achievements in jiu-jitsu, Gabi Garcia seemed tailor-made for MMA. A massive figure listed at over 200 pounds, the real issue was that there was never a truly suitable opponent for her once she committed to mixed martial arts.
RIZIN matchmakers did their best, initially finding completely inexperienced fighters to face Garcia, eventually settling on joshi pro wrestling legend Yumika Hotta for her fourth fight. The 49-year-old Hotta (filling in for 52-year-old wrestling legend Shinobu Kandori!) didn`t last long, eventually being grounded and finished in a comical 49 seconds. Garcia did fight again, but this bout pretty much encapsulates the entire misguided experiment.
Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Bob Sapp
Meshew: A shoutout to Mariusz Pudzianowski, who, when he transitioned to MMA, could easily have become exclusively a freakshow fighter, and no one would have questioned it. But instead, the five-time World’s Strongest Man champion took MMA seriously and evolved into more than just a sideshow attraction. That said, “Pudz” remained one of the biggest spectacles competing in the sport for the last 15 years, fully embracing that role when he defeated Bob Sapp at KSW 19 in 2012.
While Sapp was a legitimate fighter at one point, by this time, he had fully committed to the freakshow persona and was on a six-fight losing streak (which eventually extended to 14). This fight unfolded exactly as expected, with Pudzianowski quickly overwhelming Sapp (in a manner eerily similar to how Eddie Hall later overwhelmed Pudzianowski) and officially passing the `Goliath` torch to the World`s Strongest Man icon.
Randy Couture vs. James Toney
Lee: Perhaps the most straightforward fight ever, Randy Couture made no secret of his plan against former boxing champion James Toney: he would shoot for a takedown, get him to the ground, and show him the major mistake Toney was making by trying to be a UFC fighter.
This was an amusing and largely harmless spectacle that co-headlined UFC 118 in 2010. It was so preposterous that Dana White put even less marketing effort into it than usual, openly stating that Couture would win. Still, the MMA vs. boxing angle sold itself, even though the result taught us absolutely nothing about which combat sport is superior.
Daiju Takase vs. Emmanuel Yarbrough
Meshew: Some things in life require little explanation, and this is one of them. Daiju Takase was a kickboxer making his MMA debut at Pride 3, where he was matched against former sumo wrestler Emmanuel Yarbrough. Takase weighed 169 pounds for the fight; Yarbrough weighed over 600 pounds. We can`t state it definitively, but this is likely the largest weight disparity in MMA history.
And the fight itself is just so silly. Takase, correctly recognizing that Yarbrough wasn`t quick enough to catch him, simply darted around the ring, leaping in to punch or kick before running away to evade the big man; perhaps the most literal `stick and move` strategy ever. Before long, Yarbrough was exhausted just from walking around, and it looked like this would be the most ridiculous fight imaginable.
Or perhaps he was playing possum! Takase saw Yarbrough tiring and became overly confident, shooting for a takedown. Yarbrough sprawled, and suddenly he was on top with his enormous weight advantage. Things looked dangerous, but Yarbrough was simply too spent, and Takase slithered out from underneath, then promptly finished Yarbrough, as much due to exhaustion as to the punches.
Minowaman (vs. Giants)
Lee: This list could honestly have been composed entirely of Minowaman fights, and nobody would have complained.
Ikuhisa Minowa was a sight to behold with his fit 5-foot-9 physique packed into red trunks, but the real spectacle began whenever he stepped into a ring against an opponent at least a foot taller or 300 pounds heavier (or both!). With pro wrestling flair, Minowaman typically took the fight to his colossal opponents, whether with a perfectly timed takedown or a completely over-the-top dropkick. Anything for the fans.
We`ve highlighted his fights against Giant Silva and Butterbean here, but this doesn`t even include his Super Hulk Grand Prix run in 2009 where he finished Bob Sapp, Hong Man Choi, and Sokoudjou. A true legend.
Genki Sudo vs. Butterbean
Meshew: Butterbean might be the “King of the Four Rounders,” but he also had a surprisingly substantial MMA career, which all started right here.
Unlike Minowaman, Genki Sudo didn`t engage in many `freakshow` fights, but he certainly made up for it in this one, running around the ring, potshotting and showboating against the powerful puncher. At one point, Sudo even ran off the ropes before launching a flying sidekick at Butterbean, who caught him and landed on top. This proved to be a bad decision, as Sudo immediately went for a heel hook and tapped Butterbean, demonstrating once again that David can indeed conquer Goliath.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Hong Man Choi
Lee: Arguably the greatest fighter of all time, Fedor Emelianenko, also blessed us with some of the finest `freak` fights ever witnessed. Stipe Miocic could never achieve this level.
As entertaining as his lightning-fast demolition of Zuluzinho was, it`s difficult to surpass the truly bizarre confrontation he had with the 7-foot-2 Choi. This was a strange chapter in “The Last Emperor” lore; he was past his legendary rivalries with Mirko Cro Cop and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and transitioning into his phase of defeating UFC champions. So, what else was there to do but slay some giants?
Emelianenko vs. Choi gave us one of the most enduring images in a career filled with memorable moments. Fedor, the best heavyweight on the planet at the time, looked like a child hanging off Choi’s arm at one point. It belongs in The Louvre.
Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000
Meshew: I`ve publicly stated that this is one of my top five favorite fights of all time, so it was an easy choice for the greatest `freakshow` bout ever. While Kimbo Slice was certainly a real mixed martial artist, Dada was nowhere near one, and that was essentially the point. These two self-proclaimed “street fighting legends” were showmen first and fighters second, and their infamous press conference remains one of the most absurd and incredible pieces of theater the sport has ever produced.
Then there`s the matter of Dada’s notorious media day workout, where Harris clearly appeared utterly unprepared for a sanctioned fight, but he dismissed it all as a brilliant strategic move to hide his actual skills.
Naturally, when the first round began, it became clear that Dada wasn`t faking; however, that hardly mattered as both men became exhausted almost immediately. What followed is perhaps the most ludicrous and enjoyable eleven minutes of fighting you will ever witness. To their credit, both men continued to fight with all the ability they had left, but that ability was practically nonexistent once their cardio failed. Ultimately, the fight concluded when Slice landed fifteen unanswered punches with the power of butterfly wings, and Dada simply stumbled away and collapsed from sheer exhaustion.
Later, we learned that Dada “died” during the fight, and we were all witnesses to what could have been one of the most grim and horrific scenes in MMA history. But `close` only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, and since that didn`t happen, we can look back fondly on the most outrageous spectacle MMA has ever delivered.
“YOU FOOL!” There could truly be no other choice for number one.
Lee: When I used to work at TheScore office in Toronto, we would occasionally put fights up on a large screen, and only two bouts ever caused everyone working to get out of their seats and gather around to watch: Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 1 and, yes, Kimbo vs. Dada.
The collective reaction was definitely more along the lines of “my god, what is happening, is this even legal?” rather than “wow, what a spectacular display of skill and athleticism I am witnessing,” but the effect was the same. Imaginations were captured. And every single person knew that after witnessing this clash of titans, they would be forever changed.
When I think of words like “fun,” “silly,” “absurd,” “magical,” “uncomfortable,” all the things that MMA is supposed to embody, this is and will always be the first fight that comes to mind.
