Triple Take: Which UFC pay-per-view main event has been best of 2021?

The UFC has been on fire on pay-per-view in 2021. This past Saturday’s UFC 262 event was the latest in a strong stretch of numbered events that saw the headliner deliver the goods.

Five of six main events this year have ended in a stoppage, including two title defenses and another pair of results that saw new champions crowned. Charles Oliveira, of course, was among the latter, as he became new lightweight title with a second-round TKO of Michael Chandler on Houston in a memorable battle.

Oliveira’s performance continued the trend of big wins in pay-per-view, but which has been best? MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Farah Hannoun and Nolan King discuss in the latest edition of “Triple Take.”

Mike Bohn: Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor at UFC 257

Recency bias often skews our vision in the fight game, but even months later the visual of [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] knocking out [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] in January's UFC 257 main event remains strong in mind. Poirier opened the UFC's 2021 pay-per-view calendar with a highly anticipated rematch against the biggest star in the sport. After McGregor won the first fight in September 2014 with a quick knockout, many believed he was going to repeat in his return from a 12-month layoff and insert himself back in the lightweight title picture. "The Diamond" had other plans in that big moment, though, and in a tense battle delivered huge by becoming the first to stop McGregor with strikes after a heavy dosage of leg kicks did damage to set up the TKO. Poirier vs. McGregor has been the only non-title pay-per-view main event this year, so the stakes may not have been quite has high as some other significant fights on the calendar where belts were on the line. When McGregor competes it transcends the sport, though, and there were more eyeballs on this fight than any other in 2021, and by a good margin. Poirier came through in that spot and beat McGregor in a fashion unlike any man before him. That's something that will be forever remembered in the sport, and the meaning of that moment is only heightened by the fact the pair are scheduled for a trilogy bout at UFC 264 on July 10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMBDWCwD6Qg

Farah Hannoun: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler at UFC 262

Yes, the fight just happened, but [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] delivered one of the greatest rounds we've seen in recent memory at UFC 262. In what was projected to be a clash of styles with Chandler's explosive power and Oliveira's slick jiu-jitsu, their championship main event gave us a bit of everything. Round 1 saw Chandler battle some early adversity when the UFC's leader in submission wins took his back, but he was able to explode out of it. Not too long after, he dropped Oliveira and had him badly hurt, but Oliveira managed to survive the round. Just seconds into Round 2, Oliveira completely turned the tide by landing a counter left hook which dropped Chandler and he swarmed him to get the finish. A remarkable comeback by Oliveira who proved all doubters wrong on his alleged tendency to wilt under pressure. A giddy Oliveira galloped all around the octagon and finally realized his dream after over a decade with the UFC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eS3cOyC5Dc

Nolan King: Francis Ngannou vs. Stipe Miocic 2 at UFC 259

OK, maybe [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] 2 wasn't the fire-fight that Oliveira vs. Chandler was. Maybe, it wasn't as high-profile as Poirier vs. McGregor 2. However, the rematch between the two best heavyweights on planet earth delivered something only the heavyweight division – and specifically, Ngannou – could've. Ngannou knockouts hit different, quite literally. The way he folded Miocic with a violent left hook in the opening minute of the second round was something I don't think any other fighter could pull off in the fashion he did. The fact that it was Miocic on the other side of the Cameroon fist bomb made the finish even more legitimate. This isn't some regional title fight where one guy is 3-0 and the other is 0-3. Ngannou did what he did to the consensus greatest heavyweight fighter in the history of MMA. What a feat. The redemption storyline was complete when Ngannou avenged his 2018 loss to Miocic, but it also set the table for a potential trilogy fight some time down the line. If or when these two square off again, you know I'll be watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3229ZhNJNWk

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