The Greatest Freakshow Fights in MMA History

Let`s talk about “freaks” in MMA. Everyone seems to enjoy them on some level. While mixed martial arts has aimed for mainstream legitimacy over the last two decades, shedding its early `carnival` image, the sport`s roots are undeniably in spectacle. Promoters, at heart, often channel their inner P.T. Barnum, understanding the appeal of the wonderfully bizarre – particularly when it involves a fight.

A recent, notable addition to this lineage was the quick knockout victory by former World`s Strongest Man Eddie Hall over five-time winner Mariusz Pudzianowski in just 30 seconds at KSW 105. This latest cartoonish pairing prompted us to look back: What are the greatest `freakshow` fights in the history of MMA?

Defining a `freakshow` fight isn`t strictly clinical; it`s more of an intuitive feeling, akin to Justice Potter Stewart`s famous remark on obscenity. Given this broad definition, countless matchups could qualify. To narrow it down, we established some criteria. We excluded promotions like Fight Circus or Dogfight Wild, along with most very small shows that seemed more exploitative than genuinely spectacular. Crucially, we focused *only* on MMA, ruling out celebrity or influencer boxing. The goal was real MMA bouts featuring at least one truly unconventional participant.

Following considerable discussion, we`ve compiled a list of 10, plus a few honorable mentions.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Zuluzinho

Pride FC was known for mixing competitive bouts with entertaining spectacles. Sometimes, allowing top fighters like Fedor Emelianenko to participate in `squash matches` against uniquely matched opponents was part of the fun. This particular fight is often highlighted as a prime example to introduce newcomers to the sport`s excitement: pitting the dominant Fedor against the colossal Zuluzinho. The dramatic visual of the relatively smaller, stockier Fedor facing the giant opponent, and the subsequent outcome, arguably did more to enhance Fedor`s legendary aura than a standard victory over a conventional opponent.

Mirko Cro Cop vs. Dos Caras Jr.

One can`t help but feel a bit of sympathy for Dos Caras Jr., who later became known as Alberto Del Rio in WWE. A legitimate amateur wrestler and a pro wrestling star, he had found some success in MMA with a few wins. His growing fame led to a matchup against the formidable Mirko Cro Cop, an opportunity he was clearly unprepared for. Bound by Mexican wrestling tradition, Del Rio was forbidden from appearing unmasked in public, and the luchador gear surely didn`t help him avoid Cro Cop`s infamous head kicks. The sight of him slumped in the corner after being knocked out by one of Mirko`s legs remains a somewhat sad visual.

Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki

This fight holds a unique place not just in the history of combat sports spectacles but arguably in the very fabric of mixed martial arts itself. Taking place in 1976, it pitted boxing icon Muhammad Ali, nearing the end of his championship run, against wrestling legend Antonio Inoki, who was building the foundation of New Japan Pro Wrestling with his strong style. Both were national icons, making this exhibition bout a truly global event.

Unfortunately, the actual contest was dreadfully dull. Inoki spent fifteen rounds primarily on his back, kicking at Ali`s legs, while Ali was hesitant or unable to engage on the ground. Special, restrictive rules essentially shackled both legends, and neither spoke highly of the event afterward. Despite the poor execution, its impact is undeniable. It reportedly drew massive viewership worldwide and represents one of the earliest mainstream instances of martial arts styles clashing, potentially drawing a line to the UFC`s origins and even, oddly, the top fight on this list.

Tim Sylvia vs. Ray Mercer

When this fight was announced in 2009, it was widely criticized as the wrong kind of `freakshow` – perceived as potentially exploitative. Tim Sylvia was a former UFC heavyweight champion, despite being on a two-fight losing streak against elite opponents Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fedor Emelianenko. Ray Mercer, conversely, was a former heavyweight boxing champion who was 48 years old and had no prior MMA experience. On paper, this looked like a cynical mismatch. Then, the fight actually happened.

Sylvia came into the bout looking significantly out of shape. Almost immediately, he was floored by the very first punch Mercer threw – a clean right hand that sent the former champ crashing down. What was anticipated as a simple squash match instantly became a shocking, low point in a UFC champion`s career.

Gabi Garcia (vs. Yumika Hotta, etc.)

Given her impressive accomplishments in jiu-jitsu, Gabi Garcia seemed physically built for MMA. Standing large and billed well over 200 pounds, the real challenge was finding credible opponents her size once she committed to mixed martial arts. RIZIN matchmakers attempted their best, initially pitting her against fighters with little to no experience. A notable example was her fourth fight against 49-year-old joshi pro wrestling legend Yumika Hotta (who replaced an even older wrestling icon). The bout was brief and farcical, with Garcia securing a ground-and-pound victory in just 49 seconds. While Garcia did fight again, this particular contest epitomized the difficulty and awkwardness of matching her in the sport.

Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Bob Sapp

Credit is due to Mariusz Pudzianowski. When the five-time World`s Strongest Man transitioned to MMA, he could have easily remained solely a `freakshow` fighter, and no one would have blinked. Instead, `Pudz` took the sport seriously and evolved beyond a mere sideshow attraction. However, he undeniably remained one of the sport`s biggest spectacles for over a decade, and he fully embraced that role when he defeated Bob Sapp at KSW 19 in 2012.

While Sapp had periods of being a legitimate threat, by this time, he had fully leaned into the `freakshow` gimmick and was deep into a lengthy losing streak. This fight unfolded exactly as expected, with Pudzianowski overwhelming Sapp (in a manner eerily similar to how Eddie Hall recently defeated Pudzianowski himself), effectively passing the torch of the `Goliath` figure to the Strongman legend.

Randy Couture vs. James Toney

This was perhaps one of the most transparent fights ever booked. Randy Couture made absolutely no secret of his plan for former boxing champion James Toney: he would shoot for a takedown, get him to the ground, and demonstrate why Toney`s venture into the UFC was a mistake. This matchup at UFC 118 in 2010 was an amusing and largely harmless spectacle. It was so predictable that Dana White put minimal effort into marketing it, openly stating Couture would win. Nevertheless, the classic MMA vs. boxing angle sold itself, even though the utterly lopsided result taught us nothing meaningful about the superiority of either combat sport.

Daiju Takase vs. Emmanuel Yarbrough

Some moments in life defy easy explanation, and this fight at Pride 3 is one of them. Daiju Takase, a kickboxer making his MMA debut, faced former sumo wrestler Emmanuel Yarbrough. Takase weighed 169 pounds; Yarbrough weighed over 600 pounds. It`s highly likely this represents the largest weight disparity in MMA history. And the fight itself? Pure silliness.

Takase, wisely recognizing Yarbrough`s lack of speed, simply circled the ring, darting in to land a quick punch or kick before retreating to avoid the massive man – the most literal interpretation of “stick and move” ever seen. Predictably, Yarbrough quickly gassed out from merely trying to walk around the ring, making the fight seem destined to be historically dumb. But wait, perhaps Yarbrough was playing possum! Takase, seeing his opponent fading, grew too confident and shot for a takedown. Yarbrough sprawled, landing on top with his overwhelming weight advantage. Things looked dangerous, but Yarbrough was simply too exhausted. Takase managed to slither out from underneath and promptly finished Yarbrough, who was likely defeated as much by his own fatigue as by Takase`s final strikes.

Ikuhisa Minowa (vs. Giant Silva, Butterbean, etc.)

This entire list could honestly be filled just with fights involving Minowaman, and few would complain. Ikuhisa Minowa himself was a sight – a fit 5-foot-9 frame stuffed into bright red trunks – but the real spectacle began whenever he stepped into the ring with an opponent often a foot taller or 300 pounds heavier (or both!). With clear pro wrestling flair, Minowaman consistently attacked his giant opponents, whether with a perfectly timed takedown or a gloriously unnecessary dropkick. Anything for the crowd!

While his bouts against Giant Silva and Butterbean are notable examples, this doesn`t even cover his legendary run in the 2009 Super Hulk Grand Prix tournament, where he defeated Bob Sapp, Hong Man Choi, and Sokoudjou. A true legend of the bizarre.

Genki Sudo vs. Butterbean

Butterbean might be the “King of the Four Rounders” in boxing, but he also carved out a surprisingly active MMA career, which essentially began here. Unlike Minowaman, Genki Sudo didn`t take on many `freakshow` fights, but this one more than qualified. Sudo engaged in a performance piece, running around the ring, landing potshots, and showboating against the powerful puncher. At one memorable point, Sudo even ran the ropes before launching a flying sidekick at Butterbean. Butterbean caught him and landed on top, which turned out to be a bad idea. Sudo immediately transitioned to a heel hook submission, tapping Butterbean and providing another memorable example of David conquering Goliath.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Hong Man Choi

Arguably the greatest fighter of all time, Fedor Emelianenko, also happens to be responsible for some of the best `freak` fights ever staged. (Take notes, Stipe Miocic!) As enjoyable as his incredibly fast destruction of Zuluzinho was, it`s hard to top the truly bizarre encounter he had with the towering 7-foot-2 Hong Man Choi. This fight represents a peculiar chapter in `The Last Emperor`s` career, coming after his legendary rivalries but before his phase of defeating former UFC champions. What else was there to do but slay another giant?

Emelianenko vs. Choi produced one of the most iconic and enduring images of Fedor`s storied career: the best heavyweight on the planet looking like a small child clinging to Choi`s arm at one point. That image belongs in The Louvre.

Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000

In my opinion, this stands as one of the five greatest fights of all time, making it an effortless choice for the ultimate `freakshow` bout. Kimbo Slice was a legitimate, if limited, mixed martial artist. Dada 5000 was decidedly not, and that was precisely the point. These two figures, famous for street fighting backgrounds, were performers first and foremost, and their pre-fight press conference remains one of the most utterly absurd and captivating pieces of theater the sport has ever witnessed.

Then there was Dada`s infamous media day workout, where it was hilariously clear he was completely unprepared for a sanctioned fight, yet he dismissed it as a tactical “3D chess” move to conceal his skills. Naturally, when the opening bell rang, it was revealed Dada wasn`t faking at all. Both men gassed out almost immediately. What followed is perhaps the most ludicrously entertaining 11 minutes of fighting you will ever watch. To their credit, both continued to try their best, but their physical capacity was virtually nonexistent once their cardio failed. The fight ultimately ended when Slice landed about 15 unanswered punches with the power of a fluttering butterfly, and Dada simply stumbled away before collapsing from exhaustion.

Later, the shocking news emerged that Dada had actually “died” briefly during the fight, meaning we had all witnessed something that could have been horrifyingly tragic. But because it didn`t end in tragedy, we can look back fondly on this unparalleled spectacle. “YOU FOOL!” There could truly be no other choice for the number one spot.

Looking back, fights like Kimbo vs. Dada 5000 stand out. They weren`t showcases of technical brilliance, but rather bizarre, captivating events that drew in viewers, eliciting reactions ranging from disbelief to sheer amusement. These weren`t appreciated for athletic prowess, but for their sheer, unforgettable absurdity. They perfectly embody the chaotic, sometimes uncomfortable, often magical, and undeniably entertaining spirit that `freakshow` fights brought to MMA. For many, such encounters are the epitome of the sport`s unique, wild side.