i t started with one guy who prefected his style over a life time against a bunch of euro's or americans that don't use the original practice of the arts they fight in. in that tournament they used it offensively when most of the style they studied in were primarily Defensive arts. there for they failed you hardley see a true master compete in those tournaments in the begining let alone now.
Machida is great. I love when he smells bloods, since his last two fight, he go crazy and go finish the guy like Fedor.
Lyoto is good, maybe even great. But does that speak to him or the maturity of MMA? MMA is in its infancy. Used to be Martial Arts was an amateur dead end or hobby. As the purses get bigger and the "career path" becomes clearer you will begin to see some real BEASTS emerge. Dudes who have been training since childhood. Right now, there are only a few guys that impress with their balance, timing, judging of distance, ring smarts, etc... and make you say "Wow!" There are a bunch of "tough guys" though, hahaha. Lyoto and Anderson Silva come to mind. (Vandlerlei my personal favorite! MMA's Mike Tyson!!!!!) In the end I think all roads lead to striking though. Just my take on it...
205 light heavyweight- has defeated fighters such as bj penn-rich franklin-tito ortiz-thiago silva and rashad evans.
Well rounded is a load of bull****. It simply doesnt work. In order to be succesful in MMA you need to know what your bread and butter is and EXCEL at that. What we have now is a bunch of guys average in everything and not great at one thing. In the days of old fighters would have one distinctive MA and compliment that with other aspects like sub defense,striking,grappling,submmisions etc but they never deviated from what they did best and dont need to. Thats what made Big Nog CC Fedor Barnett etc all time greats.