For a concept that isn't introduced until halfway into the series, the moment Dragon Ball Z introduced the concept of Saiyans, it felt like they were the only thing that mattered. Suddenly Goku wasn't just a genius anymore, he was an alien who was capable of such massive growth in power because he wasn't human.
But that doesn't mean Dragon Ball Z doesn't have plenty of great fights where the Saiyan race is nowhere to be found. Often off training, or fighting someone else, the rest of the Z Fighters usually find themselves without people with the ability to spontaneously turn their hair yellow to help them. When that happens, it can often be some of the fans' favorite fights, purely because it shows the willingness to give the side characters some shine.
10 Piccolo Took On Frieza After What He Did To The Namekians
“Yes! Yes! I feel good! I feel great! I Can DO This!” After having Frieza run over anyone that challenged him for the better part of this entire arc, Piccolo was the first time the character ever found himself outmatched. It worked perfectly as a re-introduction for Piccolo, who’d been gone since Saiyan Saga ended, and as revenge for everything Frieza had done to Piccolo’s people. It even worked as payback for Nail, who Frieza had easily defeated earlier when he tried to get the last Dragon Ball.
9 Tien Defeats Master Roshi In The 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament
During the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, Master Roshi entered as Jackie Chun once again. He intended to continue teaching his students a lesson, but Tien had something else in mind. Surprisingly, Master Roshi is actually able to dominate the early parts of the fight. But once Tien takes things seriously, the momentum of the fight shifts. Being a fight from the Dragon Ball era, it’s more martial arts than energy blasts, and in the end, Tien just narrowly pulls off a victory.
8 Krillin Outsmarts Chiaotzu In The 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament
In the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, Krillin goes up against Chiaotzu of the Crane School. Chiaotzu happens to fight rather well at the time, with a strange movement style that throws Krillin off at first combined with the ability to fly. Krillin proves to be faster and the better-trained fighter, but the array of techniques at Chiaotzu’s display makes the fight much closer than one might expect. Ultimately, Krillin outsmarts the younger fighter, using his Kamehameha wave while jumping in mid-air to get the win.
7 The Z Fighters & Ginyu Force Clash On King Kai's Planet
This is more about comedy than an actual match. But there’s one reason this fight is amazing: it shows the Z Fighters as having learned something from King Kai. Though it’s filler, it makes them actually useful.
The Ginyu Force arrives on King Kai’s planet and attempts to take it over, but Tien and the gang instead easily defeat them. Yamcha has apparently trained enough to defeat Recoome, while Tien’s grown powerful enough to beat both Burter and Jeice, something only Krillin and the others weren't even able to dream of.
6 Tien Kept Cell In Place With His Tri-Beam Attack
This isn't technically a fight, but it is one of the most important moments in the Cell Saga. With Cell having absorbed Android 17, he was the strongest person on Earth. No one was able to stop him from absorbing Android 18, which would have made Vegeta’s training entirely pointless. But Tien used his Tri-Beam attack to keep Cell in place long enough for Goku to appear, teasing Cell with the promise of a great fight once he finished training, while also rescuing Tien and Piccolo.
5 Piccolo Fused With Kami & Fought Android 17
The Androids defeated all of the Z Fighters, exactly as Trunks predicted they would. But in leaving them alive, Piccolo got a chance to do the only thing he thought he’d never have to do: fuse with Kami. Restoring his full power as a Namekian, Piccolo returned and gave viewers one of his best performances. Though the character wasn’t quite able to defeat Android 17, the appearance of his latest special move and watching them trade punches allowed Piccolo fans to get their moment in the sun for once.
4 Android 16 Fought Cell
This fight didn’t last nearly as long as it could have. Imperfect Cell preyed on a weakened Piccolo and Android 17, and in the end, he was about to absorb 17 and take his Semi-Perfect form. Android 16 turned out to be roughly as powerful as Cell was (and more powerful than Android 17 and 18), and did everything he could to defeat the bio-android. Android 16, being completely mechanical, aided him in this fight, as Cell was unable to absorb his energy, and instead, the battle was as straight-forward as possible, and one of the hardest-hitting in the series.
3 Tien Took On Mercenary Tao, The Man Who Trained Him
Tien didn’t get to do much in the 23rd tournament, but fans of the character did get to see him overcome the man who trained him. Mercenary Tao made a return as a cyborg, and more powerful than ever.
But aside from giving Tien the scar he’s known for in Dragon Ball Z, he wasn’t really able to touch Tien. Even with Master Shen trying to terrify Tien with telepathic memories of the past, Tien was both faster and stronger and put on one of the best matches of the tournament.
2 Master Roshi Knocks Krillin Out With A Chop To The Neck
The first World Martial Arts Tournament that Goku and Krillin compete in features the powerful Jackie Chun---Master Roshi in disguise. The thought process was that if the two of them dominated in the tournament, they would think they had nothing left to learn. And so Krillin goes up against Jackie Chun first...and takes some of the best attacks he has. This fight also has a bit of humor to it as well, with Krillin distracting Jackie Chun with his greatest weakness. In the end though, once Jackie Chun gets into it, he knocks Krillin out with a chop to the neck.
1 Piccolo Shows Off His Newly Obtained Entry On Imperfect Cell
Piccolo was the first person to run into Cell, and arguably he made several mistakes in fighting him. Rather than beating him outright, he tries to get information out of Cell. In the process, he gets drained of his energy, and Cell ultimately escapes using the Solar Flare. But for the fight itself, it’s actually quite good, with Piccolo showing off his newly attained energy from Kami to give Cell quite the challenge before he could attain his Perfect Form.