5 Defining Moments: The UFC in 2022

Yet another banner business year has come and gone for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which promoted 42 events across five countries in 2022. The breakneck schedule resulted in 511 fights, 19 of them with titles on the line, and saw 72 mixed martial artists make their respective Octagon debuts between Jan. 15 and Dec. 17. There seems to be no limit to what the Las-Vegas based company can cram into 52 weeks of hand-to-hand combat.

As the UFC preps plans and lays the groundwork for future endeavors, a look at five of the many moments that came to define the organization over the past 12 months:

1. A Sexcentenary in the Octagon

The Ultimate Fighting Championship staged its 600th event with UFC 273 on April 9 at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. The landmark show featured two title bouts on the marquee, as Alexander Volkanovski retained the undisputed featherweight championship with a fourth-round technical knockout of Chan Sung Jung in the headliner and Aljamain Sterling unified the bantamweight crown with a split decision over Petr Yan in the five-round co-headliner. Among the other highlights: the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev passed his sternest test to date by earning a unanimous decision over Gilbert Burns in their three-round welterweight showcase, and Alexey Oleynik put away Jared Vanderaa in spectacular fashion by executing the seventh scarf hold submission in the UFC history on the undercard. Expect the UFC to turn 700 sometime in 2024.

2. It Ain’t Over ’Till It’s Over

It was one of those unforgettable Shots Heard ’Round the World. Leon Edwards stunned the mixed martial arts universe and dethroned a pound-for-pound ace when he cut down Kamaru Usman with a head kick to capture the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight crown in the fifth round of their UFC 278 main event on Aug. 20 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. Usman melted 4:04 into Round 5, his reign atop the 170-pound division having concluded after 1,267 days. No one saw it coming. Usman completed takedowns and outstruck his challenger by significant margins in each of the first four rounds, building what appeared to be an insurmountable lead on the scorecards. Edwards entered the fifth round knowing he needed a finish. With less than a minute remaining in the match, he faked a jab and fired a beautiful rear-leg head kick that slipped past Usman’s defenses and caught him flush. “The Nigerian Nightmare” collapsed where he stood, the unwitting victim in one of the greatest walk-off knockouts of all-time.

3. Viva la France

Ciryl Gane strengthened his position as the top contender in the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight division, as he took out Tai Tuivasa with punches in the third round of their UFC Fight Night 209 headliner on Sept. 3 at Accor Arena in Paris. Tuivasa succumbed to blows 4:23 into Round 3. Gane, however, did not escape unscathed. Tuivasa floored him with a clubbing right hand to touch off a remarkable sequence in the second round that saw both men badly hurt on multiple occasions. Gane worked over the Aussie’s midsection and forced him to double over more than once with savage kicks, knees and hooks to the cut. From there, the Frenchman found another gear in what turned into a potentially star-making performance. He once again zeroed in on the body with a series of front kicks, slipped a counterpunch and connected with a crushing right hand that had Tuivasa out on his feet. A searing combination followed, as Gane drove his counterpart to the canvas and finished the job with unanswered punches. His performance providing a rousing conclusion to the UFC’s long-awaited debut in France. Four other Frenchmen—Nassourdine Imavov, William Gomis, Fares Ziam and Benoit St. Denis—joined Gane in the winner’s circle.

4. An Alleged Scandal Brews

China Top Team standout Nuerdanbieke Shayilan disposed of Darrick Minner with punches and elbows in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 214 featherweight showcase on Nov. 5 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Shayilan finished it 67 seconds into Round 1. The 32-year-old Minner appeared to suffer a knee injury while throwing a body kick, retreated to the fence in visible distress and absorbed a knee to the head. He withdrew to the canvas but found no refuge there, as Shayilan moved into top position and prompted the stoppage with extended volley of punches and elbows. It was an innocent-enough conclusion to a rather pedestrian main card pairing at a rather pedestrian event. However, the fallout revealed that something potentially nefarious was in play and prompted an investigation into possible betting irregularities involving the fight. Soon, an alleged scandal was brewing with Glory MMA frontman James Krause at the center of the whirlwind, and the Sherdog’s 2022 “Story of the Year” lifted off.

5. Seismic Shift

Islam Makhachev completed his years-long climb to the top of the mountain, as he seized the vacant Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title by submitting Charles Oliveira with an arm-triangle choke in the second round of their UFC 280 headliner on Oct. 22 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Oliveira bowed out 3:16 into Round 2, suffering his first defeat in nearly five years. Makhachev was utterly brilliant. He assumed top position in the first round and successfully navigated the treacherous Oliveira guard, setting the stage for what was to come. Makhachev decked the Brazilian with a right hook in the second round, pursued him to the canvas and locked in the arm-triangle. He then cleared Oliveira’s legs, tightened his crushing squeeze and drew out the tap.