A year short on classic MMA fights – so which was 2017's best?

Truth be told: 2017 will not be a year remembered for its overwhelming number of great fights. Sure, we saw a number of barn burners, but when it comes to all-time classics, the past 12 months have provided slim pickings.

With the year about to come to a close, though, the debate has started over which bout most deserves “Fight of the Year” honors. MMAjunkie has been tracking the best candidates through our monthly awards, and below are the winners voted on by our staff as well as readers.

(Of course, we know there still is time to add to this list with year-end events around the corner, including UFC 219 this week. But before that, vote in our poll at the bottom of the story for your favorite fight so far.)

* * * *

Augusto Mendes def. Frankie Saenz at UFC Fight Night 103 in January

Augusto Mendes proved why he’s one to watch in the UFC bantamweight division when the grappling ace delivered a well-rounded performance to beat Frankie Saenz by split decision.

Li Jingliang def. Bobby Nash at UFC on FOX 23 in January

Li Jingliang wasn’t entirely unsuccessful early on against Bobby Nash, but he certainly was letting his opponent have his moments before capitalizing on an opening for a TKO to win back-to-back fights for the first time in his UFC career.

Dustin Poirier def. Jim Miller at UFC 208 in February

Dustin Poirier may have won the battle against longtime UFC lightweight mainstay Jim Miller, but his right leg lost the war. “The Diamond” carried a significant limp after his majority-decision win in a thrilling bout.

???? #DustinPoirier ?? #JimMiller ???? @dustinpoirier @jimmiller_155 #ufc #ufc208 #combatsambo #wrestling #usa #mma #judo #karate #newyork #Poirier #Miller #war #fight

A post shared by ??????? ??? (@vestnikmma) on Feb 12, 2017 at 9:49pm PST

Darren Elkins def. Mirsad Bektic at UFC 209 in March

After being beaten to a bloody pulp by top featherweight prospect Mirsad Bektic, UFC veteran Darren Elkins staged one of the greatest comebacks in recent memory – and perhaps of all-time – when he somehow rallied to win by third-round TKO.

@darrenelkinsmma took some crazy shots and showed a lot heart to come back and get the win in this one #respect #darrenelkins #mma #ufc #ufcfightpass

A post shared by Fight Game Bible (@fightgame_bible) on Aug 21, 2017 at 1:47pm PDT

Shane Burgos def. Charles Rosa at UFC 210 in April

For two-and-a-half rounds, Shane Burgos endured Charles Rosa’s volume striking and tried to answer with sheer power in the featherweight bout. It paid off when he left with a third-round TKO win.

. ??? ???? Shane Burgos . . . . . . #ufc#ufciran#mma#grappling#bjj#jiujitsu#boxing#kickboxing#muaythai#karate#judo#wrestling#fight#fighter#danawhite#oss#instagood#ufcbuffalo#ufc210#danielcormier#dc#rumble#anthonyjohnson#chrisweidman#gegardmousasi#athlete#gregorgillespie#shaneburgos#tko

A post shared by UFC IRAN – WWW.IRANUFC.BIZ (@ufc.iran) on Apr 8, 2017 at 7:08pm PDT

Tim Elliott def. Louis Smolka at UFC on FOX 24 in April

Expectations for the matchup between Tim Elliott and Louis Smolka were that the fight would hit the mat at some point – and it would be interesting. That wasn’t what happened, though, and Elliott controlled the striking and wrestling for the unanimous-decision win.

Amazing masterclass of takedowns of #timelliott over #louissmolka that granted him an unanimous win. #ufc #mma #ufckansascity #ufcfightnight #flyweight

A post shared by Joaquín MA (@kimialicante) on Apr 15, 2017 at 3:28pm PDT

Jason Knight def. Chas Skelly at UFC 211 in May

Chas Skelly told Jason Knight prior to their featherweight encounter that “there’s only room for one redneck in this 145-pound UFC trailer park.” Knight wasn’t about to walk out, so he claimed his territory with a third-round TKO win.

. ????? ???? Great performance by @jtkthekid . . . . . . #karate#judo#wrestling#fight#fighter#danawhite#oss#instagood#athlete#stipemiocic#juniordossantos#cigano#ufcdallas#ufc211#jasonknight#chasskelly#tko

A post shared by UFC IRAN – WWW.IRANUFC.BIZ (@ufc.iran) on May 13, 2017 at 8:12pm PDT

Li Jingliang def. Frank Camacho at UFC Fight Night 111 in June

Jingliang’s leg-kick game was on point in his welterweight fight with UFC newcomer Frank Camacho, and in the end it helped reward him with a unanimous-decision victory.

Justin Gaethje def. Michael Johnson at TUF 25 Finale in July

Justin Gaethje promised a big splash in his UFC debut, and the former WSOF champ delivered when he defeated lightweight contender Michael Johnson by second-round TKO after a thrilling back-and-forth fight.

Alejandro Perez def. Andre Soukhamthath at UFC Fight Night 114 in August

Andre Soukhamthath put down Alejandro Perez three times with his left hand and somehow still came out the loser. A late rally by Perez was enough to overcome some solid early work by Soukhamthath and resulted in a split-decision win.

Sergio Pettis def. Brandon Moreno at UFC Fight Night 114 in August

A new contender in the UFC flyweight division emerged when Sergio Pettis defeated Brandon Moreno by unanimous decision in the organization’s first 125-pound headliner not to feature champion Demetrious Johnson.

Shared from @fightsmma #ufc #mma #fight #sports #ufn #mexico #fs1 #mexicocity #flyweight #sergiopettis #foxsports #brandonmoreno #decision #unanimous #ufcmexico

A post shared by MMA Fight Mag (@mma.fight.mag) on Sep 18, 2017 at 11:55am PDT

Jessica Andrade def. Claudia Gadelha at UFC Fight Night 117 in September

The crucial matchup of UFC women’s strawweight contenders could result in only one winner, and Jessica Andrade was able to get the lopsided unanimous-decision win against Claudia Gadelha in one of the most highly praised female bouts in company history.

A huge win in an upset for Jessica Andrade over Claudia Gadelha! #claudiagadelha. #ufcjapan #ufc #mma #mmanews #therookiescs #mixedmartialarts #fightnews #brawl #wmma #UFCBrasil #JessicaAndrade #ClaudiaGadelha #wmma #kickboxing #jiujitsu

A post shared by MMA, JIUJITSU, BOXING & MORE (@therookies.cs) on Sep 26, 2017 at 1:06pm PDT

Bobby Green vs. Lando Vannata at UFC 216 in October

Each time Lando Vannata has stepped in the octagon, he’s delivered a bonus-worthy performance. He did it again in his lightweight bout with Bobby Green, but it wasn’t enough to leave with a victory; the judges declared it a split draw.

?? #UFC216 ????? ???????? ??Lando Vannata??Bobby Green ????????????? ??? : ?????!

A post shared by ??| ?? ??????? MMA |?? (@ufc_mmanews) on Oct 9, 2017 at 12:26am PDT

Dustin Poirier def. Anthony Pettis at UFC Fight Night 120 in November

After faltering in his first UFC main event, Poirier thrived in his second when he defeated former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis with a third-round finish in a thrilling bout.

#Anthonypettis and #DustinPoirier going at it for a chance to go after #ConorMcgregors belt! Enjoy this blood bath of a fight – – #ufc #bellator #muaythai #kickboxing #wrestling #boxing #fight #finishhim #mortalkombat #BBB

A post shared by Sports (@theplayersguide) on Nov 25, 2017 at 8:32am PST

Ryan Janes def. Andrew Sanchez at TUF 26 Finale in December

Ryan Janes survived a vicious first-round assault from Andrew Sanchez only to battle back and score his own third-round TKO win in the middleweight clash.

Never give up! Ryan Janes vs Andrew Sanchez – all heart! ?? @fightcentral_mma #tuffinale #ryanjanes #comeback #nevergiveup #mma #boxing #wrestling #jiujitsu #bjj #muaythai #kickboxing #judo #sambo #capoeira #karatê

A post shared by Just A Brazilian Girl (@barbie_brazilian_mma) on Dec 1, 2017 at 7:43pm PST

Yancy Medeiros def. Alex Oliveira at UFC 218 in December

Yancy Medeiros broke something in Alex Oliveira, and not just his nose. After more than two rounds of raucous back-and-forth action in which both fighters were badly hurt, Oliveira winced and wilted, and Medeiros picked up the third-round TKO.

???????? ?? ?? ????????? ???? ???, ?? ???? ??????????????, ?????????? ??????? ????????? ? ?????????? ?? #UFC218 ????Yancy Medeiros??Alex Oliveira???? ?????????? ???? ????????? – ??? ? 3? ??????! @yancymedeiros @alexcowboyoficial #yancymedeiros #alexoliveira #ufcdetroit #ufc #mma #knockout #boxing #wrestling #dagestan #????? #????? #?????? #????????? #?????? #???????? #bjj #khabib

A post shared by UFC/MMA Mixed Martial Arts (@ufc_world_best) on Dec 3, 2017 at 8:07pm PST

Eddie Alvarez def. Justin Gaethje at UFC 218 in December

It was billed as a can’t-miss firefight to determine the most violent man in the sport. It delivered. Eddie Alvarez and Gaethje battered each other in a brutal striking battle that finally ended when the former UFC and Bellator champ laid out Gaethje with a third-round knee.

@ealvarezfight v @justin_gaethje ???? . . . . . . . . #ufc #mma #boxing #kickboxing #muaythai #fight #fighting #bjj #judo #wrestling #sport #karate #taekwondo #repost #knockout #motivation #champion #training #athlete #fit #gym #body #bodybuilding #fitness #wwe #justingaethje #eddiealvarez #conormcgregor #rondarousey

A post shared by UFC Türkiye / MMA / Boxing ???? (@ufcturkiye_) on Dec 17, 2017 at 12:36am PST