Sherdog’s Top 10: UFC Lightweight Title Fights

---

5. Rafael dos Anjos vs. Eddie Alvarez
UFC Fight Night 90
July 7, 2016 | Las Vegas
Alvarez believed, even if few others did. The Philadelphia native became the eighth lightweight titleholder in Ultimate Fighting Championship history, as he took out dos Anjos with first-round punches in the UFC Fight Night “Dos Anjos vs. Alvarez” main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Dos Anjos absorbed a hellacious beating, until referee Herb Dean had seen enough and called for the stoppage 3:49 into Round 1. Alvarez picked his spot and did not miss. The former Bellator MMA champion whipped a wide right hook around dos Anjos’ defenses and set him on rubbery legs. The Brazilian never recovered. Alvarez swarmed with an incredible burst of power punches, briefly wound up on his back after a wild attempt at a flying knee and closed out the Kings MMA rep with a final volley of violent hooks and right uppercuts along the fence. The loss snapped dos Anjos’ five-fight winning streak and made Alvarez the first fighter in history to capture both Bellator and UFC gold.

Continue Reading » Number 4