Every year, the UFC has a handful of events that take place in specific months that have become “circle them on your calendar” dates throughout the year, like a loaded event on the first Saturday of July in Las Vegas, the annual November trip to Madison Square Garden in New York, or a star-studded pay-per-view to close out the year in December.
September has never really had that signature date or location, but that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been a number of memorable moments that transpired inside the Octagon in the first month of fall over the years.
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As we gear up for International Fight Week and one of the strongest fight cards of the year later this month at UFC 266, I combed through the record books and video tape catalogues to put together a collection of my favorite fights and performances from previous September pay-per-view events.
Here they are in the latest edition of The 10.
Ricco Rodriguez vs. Randy Couture (UFC 39)
This was one of those fights that felt huge in the moment, as Rodriguez and Couture squared off for the vacant UFC heavyweight title.
Rodriguez was 13-1 and riding a 10-fight winning streak, having earned stoppage victories in each of his first four UFC appearances, while Couture was a two-time champion, entering off his loss to Josh Barnett six months earlier at UFC 36. It was the young, emerging talent against the seasoned, battle-tested former titleholder, and definitely carried “changing of the guard” vibes.
Couture controlled things through the first half of the fight, showing improved boxing and using his wrestling to grind on Rodriguez for the opening two-and-a-half rounds. But the tides began to turn in the second half of the middle frame, and it was all Rodriguez from then on, with the New Jersey native of Puerto Rican descent battering “The Natural” from top position for the majority of the fourth before quickly putting Couture on the deck early in the fifth.
After initially struggling to get off serious offense from top position, Rodriguez postured up and connected with a heavy elbow that broke Couture’s orbital bone, prompting him to verbally submit, making Rodriguez the eighth heavyweight champion in UFC history.
While it didn’t become a landmark moment in the trajectory of the division — Rodriguez lost the belt to Tim Sylvia in his next appearance to Tim Sylvia and it changed hands three more times over the next three years — it did prove to be the catalyst for Couture’s move down to light heavyweight and the next stage of his Hall of Fame career.
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Randy Couture vs. Tito Ortiz (UFC 44)
When Couture returned to action following his fight against Rodriguez, he did so at light heavyweight, winning the interim light heavyweight title with a third-round stoppage win over Chuck Liddell, setting up a title unification bout with Ortiz, who entered on a six-fight winning streak, having successfully defended his title five times.
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The opening four minutes or so were close, with both men looking to impose their will and control things with their wrestling, but from the time Couture executed a beautiful trip takedown late in the first, it became a one-sided affair. For the next four rounds, “The Natural” beat Ortiz at his own game — outwrestling him at every turn, climbing into mount and punishing him from top position.
When Ortiz reached for a last-ditch leg lock attempt late in the fight, Couture playfully patted him on the backside, much to the delight of the crowd. Couture won the fight by unanimous decision, unifying the light heavyweight titles and becoming the first person to win UFC gold in two different weight classes in the process, adding to his legend.
Watch Ortiz Vs Couture On UFC Fight Pass
Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (UFC 76)
This is one of those fights where you have to appreciate who each man was in the moment and try not to think of them based on how things played out for each following this fight and during the latter stages of their careers.
Griffin was six fights into his UFC career following his breakthrough clash with Stephan Bonnar on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, but had gone 2-2 over his last four fights, dropping a split decision to Ortiz and getting stopped in the first round by Keith Jardine. He’d rebounded with a dominant effort against Hector Ramirez but hadn’t yet established himself as a real championship contender.
Rua, meanwhile, was regarded by many as the top light heavyweight in the world, landing in the UFC following an iconic PRIDE run that saw him win the 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix and post a 12-1 record overall in Japan. He was 25 years old and 16-2 overall, with wins over Akihiro Gono, Quinton Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Ricardo Arona, Kevin Randleman, and Alistair Overeem, twice.
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The first round was ultra-competitive, filled with attack-and-counter exchanges on the feet and on the ground, with Griffin showcasing improved all-around skills to go along with the grit and toughness that had quickly made him a fan favorite. Rua busted up Griffin early in the second, splitting his forehead with a sharp elbow, only to have Griffin go on the offensive once they returned to their feet.
Midway through the frame, Rua looked exhausted, and while Griffin’s pace slowed, he controlled the action heading into the third, only to spend the first two minutes of the round on his back, with Rua throwing tepid strikes and burning precious time off the clock. Griffin used an omoplata to get off the canvas and begin attacking and landed in top position when Rua tried to take him down just before the halfway point of the round.
Griffin continued touching up Rua with short strikes, prompting the Brazilian to turtle before getting flattened out on his back. With Griffin climbing into three-quarter mount and raining down blows, Rua gave up his back, and Griffin stretched him out, sinking in a rear-naked choke and drawing out the tap with 14 seconds remaining in the fight.
This was a breakthrough performance for Griffin, who earned a championship opportunity with the victory and won the light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision win over Jackson in his very next fight.
Watch Griffin vs Shogun On UFC Fight Pass
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