Love them or hate them, freakshow fights hold a unique place in combat sports.
While mixed martial arts has strived for legitimacy and mainstream acceptance over the past two decades, moving away from its early, chaotic `carnival sideshow` image, the essence of spectacle remains deeply embedded in its history. At heart, promoters often channel their inner P.T. Barnum, understanding that few things capture the public imagination quite like the wondrous and absurd – especially when packaged as a physical confrontation.
The realm of MMA added another memorable chapter to its collection of `freakshow` bouts recently, as former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall swiftly overcame fellow strongman competitor Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW 105. This quick, albeit bizarre, contest is just the latest in a long line of unconventional matchups, prompting us to look back and identify the greatest `freakshow` fights that have graced the sport`s history.
Defining a `freakshow fight` isn`t a precise science; much like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart`s description of obscenity, it`s often a case of `you know it when you see it.` Given the vast number of potential candidates throughout MMA history, establishing some criteria was necessary to curate a focused list.
We excluded promotions primarily built around extreme novelty, such as Fight Circus or Dogfight Wild, as well as most contests from smaller promoters that felt more exploitative than purely spectacular. Also excluded were celebrity or influencer boxing matches; our focus is strictly on official mixed martial arts bouts featuring at least one highly unusual or mismatched participant.
Following extensive discussion and debate, our compilation was narrowed down to the top 10. Here they are, alongside a couple of honorable mentions.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Zuluzinho
One of the charming aspects of the Pride Fighting Championships era was its willingness to occasionally stray from pitting only the absolute best against each other. Sometimes, pure entertainment and giving top fighters `stay-busy` showcase bouts was the goal. Fedor Emelianenko had a few such fights in Pride, but his encounter with Zuluzinho holds particular significance for many long-time fans. It was often the go-to example used to illustrate the unpredictable and exciting nature of MMA to newcomers back in the day.
“Look,” you`d say, “this relatively smaller, compact fighter is about to face that colossal human being. Just watch what unfolds!” There`s a strong argument to be made that this memorable visual did more to cement Fedor`s legendary status than another standard victory over a skilled, but less visually striking, opponent would have.
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Dos Caras Jr.
It`s difficult not to feel a degree of sympathy for Dos Caras Jr., who would later achieve fame as Alberto Del Rio in WWE. A genuinely accomplished amateur wrestler and a budding star in professional wrestling, he had built a decent side career in MMA with a few wins. His growing recognition led to a booking against the formidable Mirko Cro Cop, a world-class striker and fighter – an opportunity he was clearly unprepared for.
Bound by the traditions of Mexican lucha libre, Del Rio was required to compete in his mask, which certainly didn`t aid in spotting Cro Cop`s infamous head kicks. The image of him slumping unconscious in the corner after being caught by one of Mirko`s powerful legs remains a rather poignant visual from this mismatch.
Honorable Mention: Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki
Lee: Including Ali vs. Inoki here feels essential, not just within the context of combat sports spectacle, but for its foundational role in the very fabric of what would become mixed martial arts. Aesthetically, however? Not so much.
Taking place in 1976, this exhibition matched Ali, nearing the end of his legendary boxing career, against Inoki, the pioneering founder of New Japan Pro Wrestling and proponent of `strong style`. Both were national icons, and their contest was undeniably a global phenomenon.
The actual fight proved to be a tedious affair, largely featuring Inoki lying on his back and launching leg kicks for a full fifteen rounds, while Ali was unable or unwilling to engage on the ground. Restrictive special rules effectively neutralized the strengths of both legends, and neither spoke highly of the event afterward.
Despite the lack of in-ring action, the fight`s impact was immense. It reportedly garnered massive viewership numbers worldwide and is often cited as a crucial early instance of attempted cross-discipline martial arts contests, drawing a direct lineage to the birth of promotions like the UFC and, ironically, our No. 1 pick.
Tim Sylvia vs. Ray Mercer
Meshew: When this fight was first announced in 2009, it was widely criticized as the wrong kind of freakshow – a transparent mismatch designed purely for shock value. Tim Sylvia, a former UFC heavyweight champion, albeit on a two-fight skid against top opponents Nogueira and Fedor, was set to face Ray Mercer, a former heavyweight boxing champion who was 48 years old and had never competed in MMA. On paper, it smacked of exploitative fighter pairing. Then the fight happened.
Sylvia arrived notably heavier than his usual fighting weight. He was almost immediately dropped by the very first punch Mercer threw – a clean right hand that sent him crashing down. What was universally expected to be an easy win for the MMA fighter instantly became a low point in a former champion`s career, proving that in the world of freakshow fights, anything can happen.
Gabi Garcia vs. Yumika Hotta
Lee: Despite her significant achievements in the world of jiu-jitsu, Gabi Garcia seemed almost tailor-made for the spectacle of MMA due to her imposing physique, often billed over 200 pounds. The unfortunate reality was the scarcity of truly appropriate opponents once she committed to mixed martial arts.
RIZIN matchmakers made various attempts, often finding inexperienced fighters to challenge Garcia. This led to a bout against joshi pro wrestling veteran Yumika Hotta for Garcia`s fourth fight. The 49-year-old Hotta (stepping in for the 52-year-old wrestling legend Shinobu Kandori) offered little resistance, being quickly taken down and finished by ground-and-pound in a farcical 49 seconds. While Garcia had other fights, this particular contest largely encapsulated the awkwardness and absurdity of this specific experiment in matchmaking.
Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Bob Sapp
Meshew: A notable mention goes to Mariusz Pudzianowski himself. When the five-time World’s Strongest Man transitioned to MMA, he could easily have resigned himself to being exclusively a novelty act, and few would have questioned it. Instead, he dedicated himself to the sport and evolved beyond just a sideshow attraction. Nevertheless, `Pudz` remained one of the most prominent figures in the `freakshow` category for over a decade, fully embracing the moniker when he faced Bob Sapp at KSW 19 in 2012.
While Bob Sapp was a legitimate, albeit inconsistent, fighter at one point, by 2012 he had fully embraced the `freakshow` persona and was deep into a lengthy losing streak. This fight unfolded exactly as predicted, with Pudzianowski quickly overwhelming Sapp (in a manner eerily similar to how Eddie Hall recently defeated Pudzianowski), effectively passing the torch of the `Goliath` figure within the sport`s spectacle landscape.
Randy Couture vs. James Toney
Lee: Perhaps one of the most straightforward novelty bouts ever booked, Randy Couture made no secret of his strategy against former boxing champion James Toney: shoot for a takedown, get the fight to the ground, and demonstrate why Toney`s foray into the UFC was ill-advised.
This encounter at UFC 118 in 2010 was an amusing and largely benign spectacle that served as a co-main event. Its absurdity was such that even Dana White put minimal effort into promoting it, openly stating that Couture was expected to win. Despite the predictable outcome, the classic `MMA vs. Boxing` narrative was enough to sell the fight, even if the result itself provided no definitive answer regarding the superiority of one combat sport over the other.
Daiju Takase vs. Emmanuel Yarbrough
Meshew: Some moments in life are self-explanatory, and this fight is a prime example. At Pride 3, kickboxer Daiju Takase, making his MMA debut, was matched against former sumo wrestler Emmanuel Yarbrough. Takase weighed in at 169 pounds; Yarbrough tipped the scales at over 600 pounds. While it`s hard to state definitively, this is highly likely the most significant weight disparity in the history of sanctioned MMA competition.
The fight itself is utterly farcical. Takase, wisely recognizing Yarbrough`s lack of speed, spends much of the early moments circling the ring, darting in to land a quick punch or kick before retreating to safety. It`s arguably the most literal interpretation of the `stick and move` strategy ever seen. Predictably, Yarbrough quickly fatigues from simply moving around, leading many to believe this might be the most absurd fight ever conceived.
But wait, was he playing possum? Seeing Yarbrough fading, Takase grows overconfident and shoots for a takedown. Yarbrough manages to sprawl, landing on top and utilizing his immense weight advantage. For a tense moment, things look perilous for Takase. However, Yarbrough is simply too exhausted. Takase manages to slither out from under the massive weight and quickly finishes the fight, the victory stemming as much from Yarbrough`s complete exhaustion as from the actual strikes landed.
Ikuhisa Minowa
Lee: Honestly, this entire list could have been dedicated solely to Ikuhisa Minowa fights, and few serious MMA fans would have protested. `Minowaman` was a spectacle unto himself – a fit 5-foot-9 fighter notable for his distinctive red trunks – but the true show began when he was placed across the ring from an opponent often a foot taller or hundreds of pounds heavier (or both!).
Embracing a pro-wrestling-like flair, Minowaman routinely charged into battle against his gargantuan opponents, whether executing a perfectly timed takedown or landing a surprisingly gratuitous dropkick. Everything was done for the entertainment of the fans.
While we`ve highlighted his bouts against Giant Silva and Butterbean elsewhere, this entry acknowledges his broader legacy, including his memorable run through the 2009 Super Hulk Grand Prix, where he defeated giants like Bob Sapp, Hong Man Choi, and Sokoudjou. A true legend of the spectacle era.
Genki Sudo vs. Butterbean
Meshew: While Butterbean might be primarily known as the `King of the Four Rounders` in boxing, he also surprisingly carved out a significant, albeit wild, career in MMA, starting right here.
Unlike Minowaman, Genki Sudo didn`t make a career out of novelty fights, but this single bout provided enough bizarre spectacle for a lifetime. Sudo circled the ring, peppering Butterbean with strikes and showboating against the powerful puncher. At one point, Sudo even ran off the ropes before launching a flying sidekick. Butterbean caught him and landed on top – a seemingly advantageous position that proved disastrous. Sudo immediately rolled for a heel hook, tapping out the much larger man and delivering another classic `David conquers Goliath` moment.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Hong Man Choi
Lee: The man often considered the greatest fighter of all time, Fedor Emelianenko, also graciously provided us with some of the sport`s most memorable freak fights. (Sorry, Stipe Miocic, but you just don`t compare in this regard).
As entertaining as his rapid dismantling of Zuluzinho was, it`s hard to top the truly surreal spectacle of his duel with the 7-foot-2 Hong Man Choi. This fight represented a unique phase in `The Last Emperor`s` career, coming after his legendary rivalries and before his transition to facing UFC champions. What better way to fill the time than by slaying giants?
Emelianenko vs. Choi gave us one of the most enduring and iconic images from Fedor`s career: the moment the best heavyweight on the planet looked like a small child clinging to Choi`s colossal arm. A moment truly worthy of The Louvre.
The Greatest Freakshow Fight: Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000
Meshew: I`ve stated previously that this is one of my top five favorite fights of all time, making it an effortless choice for the greatest freakshow bout ever. While Kimbo Slice was indeed a legitimate mixed martial artist, Dada 5000 was demonstrably not – and that fundamental difference was the core appeal. Marketed as a clash of `street fighting legends,` both were showmen first and foremost. Their pre-fight press conference remains an incredibly absurd piece of sports theater.
Adding to the legend is Dada`s infamous media day workout, where he clearly appeared woefully unprepared for a sanctioned fight, only to dismiss it afterward as a strategic `3D chess` move to conceal his true skills.
Of course, once the first round actually began, it became evident that Dada wasn`t playing possum at all. Even more remarkably, both fighters appeared to gas out almost instantly. What followed was perhaps the most uniquely ludicrous and hilariously enjoyable 11 minutes of `fighting` anyone could witness. To their credit, both men continued to attempt to compete to the best of their rapidly diminishing abilities, which quickly approached zero as their cardio failed.
The bout finally concluded when Slice landed a flurry of roughly 15 punches, possessing roughly the power of a butterfly`s wing flaps, leading Dada to simply stumble away and collapse from sheer exhaustion.
It was later revealed that Dada 5000 suffered a near-fatal medical issue during the fight, making us all unwitting witnesses to what could have been a tragic and macabre scene in MMA history. However, since a fatality was narrowly avoided, we can now look back on this utterly outlandish spectacle with a degree of bewildered fondness.
“YOU FOOL!” As the commentary famously declared, there truly could be no other contender for the top spot.
Lee: Reflecting on my time working at theScore`s office in Toronto, I recall only two fights that consistently drew everyone away from their desks to gather around the big screen: Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz I, and, yes, Kimbo vs. Dada 5000.
The collective response from the room was less about marveling at a spectacular display of skill and athleticism, and more a bewildered chorus of `My god, what is happening? Is this even allowed?` But the effect was identical: imaginations were thoroughly captured. Every single person watching knew they were witnessing something truly unique and would forever carry the memory of this bizarre clash.
When I think about the words that define the unpredictable essence of MMA – `fun,` `silly,` `absurd,` `magical,` `uncomfortable` – this fight, Kimbo vs. Dada, is and always will be the absolute first one that comes to mind.
