I am limited in my knowledge as it only goes up to September 2000. But for now I'm going with Sakuraba. Reason being he has victories over Belfort, Macias and arguably Mezger. He was beating Vovanchyn until fatigue kicked in. He won an epic 90 minute match against the previous goat. That's p4p accomplishments. In terms of WW supremacy, up to now he's beaten Royce Gracie, Carlos Newton and Renzo Gracie. Probably 3 of the top 5 WW ATG fighters at that time. Only other ATG he could realistically have fought is Miletich. To top it all off, the reversal he finished Renzo with is the best thing I've ever seen in my life. So yeah, my research has taken me to September 2000 and at this point i cant argue anyone else.
Sakuraba was phenomenal, I agree. I'd probably go with Fedor though. Not only was he an absolute machine at his best, but he often fought as the smaller man against some seriously big dudes. Other guys you could make a case for: A. Silva, GSP, J Jones. Henderson for sheer longevity, he's sort of the Holyfield of MMA.
I'd go with fedor too. Most complete heavy ive seen. Undersized now against better comp imo plus a good 6/7 yrs past best. Probably longer
It's all opinion, but I can't rate Anderson Silva as GOAT, because he ****ed his potential for greatness away by doing weird **** in the ring, like taunting, and goofing off, instead of fighting. Never disrespect the game, the opponent, and what you were blessed with. Imagine how he would be viewed if he went full tilt at every opponent, instead of doing that taunting, playing around crap. It finally bit him in the arse against Weidman, as Weidman caught up to him and KO'd his arse. I've also come to realize that there is higher level opposition at his weight class right now, than there was during his reign. If Silva had of never lost, and instead put Weidman, Rockhold, Romero, and Souza away, I would have him GOAT, no problem.
GSP arguably. Fedor had longetivity but didnt fight the caliber guys he fought and fought in somewhat questionable oppostition most of the time for me to consider him the GOAT. MMA is not boxing,there is a shorter span of when you are on top here............you have to KNOW the sport to understand this. Of course considering the GOAT is subjective,in this sport i look at both meaninful fights and strength of opposition more importantly than going undefeatted for as long as you can which TODAY is much harder to do. one also has to consider the MMA STANDARD which was actually the CAGE not ring bc it changes the sport dynamic of how one goes about fighting ,even by a little it matters. Theres not many to actually consider here based on everything. Fedor/GSP/ Silva/ Jon Jones are the ones who have some legit argument besides Cain if you are just considering overall feats of who he defeated..
Jon Jones does not even belong in this discussion. He always has a size advantage and he got caught cheating. Fedor did fight the caliber that GSP did. The HW division in pride was the best at the time. Big, CC, and Coleman were top heavyweights at the time. Anderson and GSP both had bad losses when in the primes of their careers so that's a big tarnishment there. I say 1.Fedor 2.GSP 3.Silva
Coleman lost in the UFC and was no longer a top guy there when he went to pride. There was very few ppl in pride not on peds as the organization supplied them or encouraged them.Fedors best win is Nog,who got blasted in UFC by Mir and Cain and lost a few big matches ,he beat Couture at a much later age. Fedors top wins are not that great,how he won them is. as i already stated Mir is a bigger stronger version of Nog,with less durability on the ground,,whos to say who was actually better than mir getting two wins on him? Nog isnt the type of guy to defeat Mir really or be favored against him.Jon Jones has the most impressive resume.
You are crazy if you think the old, shot versions of Nog and Crocop in the UFC are the same fighters that fought in Pride. They were both the top fighter that Fedor could fight at the time, both in the UFC and Pride. And he demolished them both. Big would have destroyed Mir I their primes. You use revisionist history. And as far as Jon Jones, he is a proven cheat, so he can't be considered. He used drugs to his advantage as well as the considerable physical advantage he had had over every one of his opponents. The one opponent who matched him in size, arguably beat him.
This post all the way ^ In fact iirc Nog had a staph infection before their first bout which is why he looked like somebody forgot to plug the battery in before sending him to fight.
Fedor. People who just started watched mma in the last few years just don't know how good this guy was at his best. Still the only mma fighter in history to beat 2 recipients of Wrestling Observer's Fighter of The Year award (which used to be the equivalent of P4P #1 before mma rankings). Jon Jones was the only one who could supplant him for 1st spot but with the inactivity it seems unlikely now.
