Ranking all 18 Florida UFC cards from worst to best

Find out where UFC 273 ranks all-time on the list of Florida cards.

The UFC’s 600th event of all time was showered around buzz and hype, as the promotion returned to Jacksonville, FL for another stacked pay-per-view card that was expected to deliver for the company.

We saw the emergence of a rising superstar in Khamzat Chimaev, who, at 4-0 in the promotion, is on a rise unlike anyone has ever seen. By upending the No. 2 ranked Gilbert Burns, Chimaev turned many heads and reassured the world that he is here for the long haul.

The co-main event saw Aljamain Sterling successfully defend his title in a close, yet controversial split decision victory against Petr Yan. Sterling did enough to secure the win on two judges’ scorecards, as they saw the fight 48-47 in favor of the Long Island, NY native.

And finally, in the featured attraction, Alexander Volkanovski outclassed Chan Sung Jung (aka The Korean Zombie) en route to a third successful title defense and solidifying himself as the best featherweight on the planet.

But where does this event rank amongst the best to have taken place in Florida? Long and short of it, it’s up there with a few notable shows that shouldn’t be forgotten in the discussion.

Ranking the all 18 Florida cards from worst to best

18. UFC 42: Sudden Impact

The emergence of Rich Franklin and the successful title defense of Matt Hughes topped the UFC’s first-ever stop in Florida in April 2003.

17. UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall 2

Plain and simple, Demetrious Johnson was that dude in 2012. Enough said.

16. UFC on FOX: Werdum vs. Browne

A future UFC heavyweight champion took on a budding prospect and won rather easily.

15. UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2

After defeating Donald Cerrone, no one knew how short the RDA era would last, but it didn’t last long.

 14. UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero 2

Seven years have passed since this fight happened and neither man competes in the UFC anymore.

13. UFC Fight Night: Lauzon vs. Stephens

Two bonus kings gave USF Sun Dome something to cheer about in 2009.

12. UFC Fight Night: Stout vs. Fisher

One of the best rivalries that no one remembers began in 2007.

11. UFC Fight Night: Evans vs. Salmon

Rashad Evans’ head kick of Sean Salmon had the arena in awe, as it is one of the best highlight-reels you will ever see.

10. UFC on FOX: Teixeira vs. Evans

Glover Teixeira’s long road back to the title included a first-round KO of Evans in the process.

9. UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens

Jeremy Stephens knocked out a future featherweight contender in the night’s headliner.

8. UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson

Jack Hermansson made a name for himself by beating one of the best jiu-jitsu practitioners of his generation.

7. UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson

The only bright spot on this card was Niko Price winning by upkick. However, it was so impressive that we had to rank it higher.

6. UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixera

Anthony Smith broke his tooth during this fight and fought till the very end….of round four before being finished in the fifth.

5. UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris

Alistair Overeem’s last legendary MMA performance saw him stop Walt Harris in front in Harris’ hometown.

4. UFC Fight Night: The Final Chapter Ortiz vs. Shamrock 3

Turn back the clock to 2006 for this one. The UFC was in the midst of the post-TUF boom era and needed a splash from its biggest stars. Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock were two of many, and they put on the third fight in Hollywood, FL, which Ortiz would win by KO/TKO to officially bookend the rivalry for good.

3. UFC 273: Volkanovski vs. The Korean Zombie

As mentioned previously, this event was one of the best that the State of Florida had the pleasure of seeing. Both champs retained their belts and a new star officially arrived. Not much more epic than that, right?

2. UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2

UFC 261 marked the first U.S. event to have fans return, and it didn’t disappoint. Fans got to catch a glimpse of how good Kamaru Usman really is, as he viciously knocked out Jorge Masvidal in their rematch to defend his welterweight title. In the co-main event, the strawweight title changed hands, as Rose Namajunas head-kicked then-champion Weili Zhang to recapture the once hers title. An all-around memorable night of fights turned in by stunning upsets and the establishment of greatness. Not to mention the sudden retirement of then double-champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Henry Cejudo.

1. UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje

A surprise to some, but maybe not to others. UFC 249 was in the midst of the biggest global crisis that the world had ever seen, and for some people, they needed a bit of normalcy while at home. The UFC was able to provide a distraction to fill the void, as Justin Gaethje, Henry Cejudo, Francis Ngannou, and Calvin Kattar were just a few of the many stand-out performances to have taken place that night in front of a fan-less arena.

That wraps up the history of the UFC in Florida, as the promotion will likely continue to make the Sunshine State a priority for years to come.

UFC 273: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Korean Zombie took place on Saturday, April 9, 2022, live from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL. Follow along with FanSided MMA for all your news and highlights.