UFC 252 will feature the final chapter in the trilogy between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier when the two face off for the heavyweight championship.
With a win - and a KO/TKO apiece - the meeting between the two at UFC 252 will finally determine who is the better fighter and who is the greatest heavyweight of all time. In honour of the highly anticipated trilogy fight coming our way, The MMA Mindset have decided to take a look at some of the best trilogies we've ever seen throughout the history of the UFC.
Here are our picks for the five best trilogies in UFC history.
5. Dominick Cruz vs Urijah Faber
In a trilogy that spanned almost a decade, the first meeting between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber actually took place outside the UFC, when Faber beat a young Cruz for the WEC featherweight title by first-round submission back in 2007.
The animosity between the two was always sky high and Cruz would get his revenge when he beat the California Kid by unanimous decision for the UFC bantamweight title four years later at UFC 132.
The score would eventually be settled when Cruz once again successfully defended the UFC bantamweight title against Faber, with yet another unanimous decision victory. What made this trilogy so special was the pure and obvious disdain the two fighters had for each other, something that would eventually evolve into Cruz's future fights with TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt.
Final Score: Dominick Cruz 2-1 Urijah Faber
4. Matt Hughes vs Georges St-Pierre
In what proved to be a passing of the torch, the trilogy between Matt Hughes and Georges St-Pierre showcased the two men's careers head in completely different directions as Hughes' illustrious UFC career began to wind down and Rush's climb to the top began to pick up steam.
The first fight between the two saw Hughes quickly beat a then-undefeated GSP for the vacant UFC welterweight title, securing an armbar submission with just one second left of the first round. Hughes was the star in his prime and GSP was the young prospect not quite ready for the big time.
Fast forward two years and St-Pierre was a different man heading into their rematch. The Canadian dominated Hughes from the outset and landed a second-round TKO to solidify his place at the top. The trilogy fight took place just over a year later and GSP was once again too much for Hughes, poetically securing his own armbar submission, with just six seconds left of the second round.
Final Score: Matt Hughes 1-2 Georges St-Pierre
3. Randy Couture vs Chuck Liddell
Coming off of two straight losses and making his light heavyweight debut, many expected Randy Couture's fight with Chuck Liddell to demonstrate the perfect opportunity for the Ice Man to propel himself to the top and secure his first UFC title. Couture had other ideas though, besting Liddell throughout before securing a TKO victory in the third round.
Liddell would bounce back two years later when he savagely knocked Couture out in just over two minutes to finally win the light heavyweight title in what was awarded the knockout of the year. The rubber match between the two took place just 10 months later when Liddell once again knocked Couture out cold, retaining his title and bringing an end to this legendary rivalry.
Final Score: Randy Couture 1-2 Chuck Liddell
2. Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard
The only entry on our list to not have a definitive winner, Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard gave us three incredibly close and entertaining contests. Heading into the first fight, both men were undefeated and it was Maynard who emerged victorious by decision.
Three years later the two rematched for Edgar's lightweight title and in a contest too close to call, the fight of the year winner ended in a draw. An immediate trilogy bout was scheduled, once again for Edgar's title. Despite Maynard dropping the Answer early, Edgar rallied late on and finished Maynard in the fourth round to bring this rivalry to an end.
Although neither man came out on top in the end, Edgar can take some comfort in the fact he beat Maynard when it counted most, for the belt.
Final Score: Frankie Edgar 1-1 Gray Maynard - 1 Draw
1. Cain Velasquez vs Junior Dos Santos
The greatest trilogy in UFC history is undeniably the one between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos. Velasquez had torn through anyone put before him on his way to winning the UFC's heavyweight title and looked unstoppable heading into his title defence against Dos Santos. The Brazilian had only lost once himself and made quick work of Velasquez, knocking him out in just over a minute, shocking the world.
A rematch took place just over a year later when Velasquez emerged victorious following a five-round war. They waited less than 12 months for the rubber match and Velasquez once again emerged victorious, this time TKO'ing Dos Santos in the final round to bring an end to what has held up as the greatest trilogy in the UFC's history.
The gruelling battles took a serious toll on the two and neither man has ever reached the heights they were at during their historic trilogy.
Final Score: Cain Velasquez 2-1 Junior Dos Santos
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