I love me some ‘freakshow’ fights, and you should as well. Why? Well, besides the sheer entertainment factor they showcase what martial arts are really about: technique over size. It might seem like a no-brainer but that simple but crucial fact is often overlooked.
How awesome is it seeing an unsuspecting but skilled fighter defeating a much, much larger opponent? That’s why I love this type of fights! Fortunately, the sport of MMA has entertained us with plenty of ‘freakshow’ type of fights over the years.
Watch the 3 sweetest instances of tiny fighters beating giants.
3) Genki Sudo vs. Butterbean in MMA
The first entry of our list features a fight that took place in… wait for it… Japan (where else?!). Japanese mixed martial artist/king of walkouts/star singer (yep, for real) Genki Sudo was set to go against viral sensation Eric ‘Butterbean’ Esch. Now, Butterbean was a TV and YouTube star but also had very legitimate skills as well. Watch as Genki Sudo dances/fights his way into a great submission victory.
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2) Royce Gracie vs. Akebono
If you’ve been into MMA for more than 12 minutes you might know about some guy called Royce Gracie. The BJJ legend put BJJ on the map in Northern America virtually single-handedly as he won the first UFC tournament 23 years ago, submitting his foes left and right. Royce Gracie fought Akebono, a star sumo wrestler, and well, Akebono’s size couldn’t overcome Gracie’s amazing grappling skills. A true demonstration of the beauty of BJJ.
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1) Zhou Zhi Peng vs. Choi Hong-man (150 lb difference)
Hey, remember that time Conor McGregor moved up in weight in order to fight Nate Diaz? Both the Irishman and his fans kept raving about how amazing of a feat that was. Well then, let me introduce you to Zhou Zhi Peng. The Chinese fighter had to overcome a 150-pound weight disadvantage when he fought kickboxer and mixed martial artist Choi Hong-man. The Korean veteran also stands at a whopping 7 feet and 2 inches (218cm). The most amazing part about that fight? Zhou Zhi Peng actually won!
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