3. Tim Sylvia vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira UFC 81
At the time that UFC 81 took place, there was a consensus #1 heavyweight fighter in the world, but it was neither of these guys.
This fight was for the interim title as the champion at the time, Randy Couture, was trying to get out of his contract so that he could fight Fedor Emelianenko, the guy everyone agreed was the top heavyweight in the world. With Pride FC having gone under, Fedor was was promoter-less at the time, though the Affliction promotion would be formed soon.
Fedor had already defeated Nogueira, and would need just 36 seconds to defeat Sylvia later that year in Affliction.
This was only a title fight because the two top heavyweights in the world were trying to organize a bout outside the UFC against each other. Nogueira won, but would later drop the title to Frank Mir, who dropped it to the holder of the official title, Brock Lesnar at UFC 100.
