Favorite Year...

[ATroms]

I know i have the tendency to focus on the past a little too much in this sport... But i figured what the hey. Id say by now, we have a solid decade, maybe more, of legit MMA to look back on. And im curious to know what everyone's favorite year in the sport has been. I like reminiscing about the old times, just cant help it. So have at it, if youd be so kind. Name your favorite year and examples as to why...

[Tallica1981]

Honeslty, recent years have been pretty amazing strictly for fights. 2010 and 2011 had some of my all time favorite fights.

For me, 2004 was probably my favorite year to look back on. 2003-2005 would be my best years, but 2004 was pretty great imo:

HW GP
Fedor/Nog II, III
Chuck/Tito
Wand/Rampage II
Wand/Minowa
Wand/Kondo
Wand/Hunt
Nog/Herring II
Rampage/Arona
Chuck/Tiger White
Fedor/Coleman I
Fedor/Randleman
Randy/Vitor I, II
BJ/Hughes I
Hughes/GSP I
Nog/Sergei
Sergei/Schilt
Mirko/A. Emelianenko
GSP/Karo
GSP/Hieron
Diaz/Lawlor
Diaz/Karo
Gomi enters Pride and wins 5 times in 2004

That's just with a quick look back, but there are plenty

[DriveBy73]

For me personally it would be around 2005, there some great PrideFC events, probably Bushidos best year in its short run, UFC had some good fights from what I remember (although I wasn't ever really into the UFC until there was no other choice) and K1 was still doing their thing.

For MMA I guess some would say whenever TUF caught on because of all the fights that came with it's popularity.

Events that ruled 2005 are:

Bushido 9

Middleweight GP

Bushido 8

and Shockwave 2005

Then I am sure the UFC had an event or two thrown in there some time =]

[Scarborough]

2005 was the best year of MMA, but not the best year of UFC.

[flarg]

My favorite year in MMA is always the next one...

[Tallica1981]

my favorite year in mma is always the next one...

boooooo!

[Pirate Eater]

2007 - Diaz beats Gomi and daughter is conceived in the same night.

[flarg]

boooooo!

Everything about MMA is better in 2012 as opposed to 2003-05.

A lot of it is free. It is accessible. There are more divisions worth watching, there is more talent, and there are more people out there to share it with.




Pride was a blast. Fedor is one of my favorite fighters ever, and I had butterflies in my stomach for days in anticipation of Fedor/CC.

However, there is just so much more to love these days, and I love it more and more. As excited as I was for Fedor/CC, I'm sure I'll be 10X that excited for Silva/Sonnen 2 and I'm sure most of you will too.

[Duncan]

That's great that you guys are looking forward to things that have yet to come, but this thread is about things that have happened.

I haven't been an MMA fan for very long, so I'd have to go with 2011 for the following reasons:
Jones destroys shogun to capture the light heavyweight title, and defends it.
Silva knocks out Belfort with the front kick.
Machida retires Couture.
Ortiz returned and defeats Bader.
UFC 132 was really good.
UFC 129 was insane.

[Tallica1981]

That's great that you guys are looking forward to things that have yet to come, but this thread is about things that have happened.

I haven't been an MMA fan for very long, so I'd have to go with 2011 for the following reasons:
Jones destroys shogun to capture the light heavyweight title, and defends it.
Silva knocks out Belfort with the front kick.
Machida retires Couture.
Ortiz returned and defeats Bader.
UFC 132 was really good.
UFC 129 was insane.

2011 was really good. Last 2 Edgar/Maynard fights were epic.