When we first got this forum we all did a top 10 of the greatest fighters in MMA history and that was nearly 2 years ago a lot and I mean alot has changed example Rich Franklin was in a couple top 10s and since then hes been nearly killed twice or 3 times if u count him going to sleep at the end of the 1st round in the rematch vs Silva I doubt hes in top 10s anymore. Anyway lets do it agian but men make sure u put serious and deep thought into this. In this ive decided to do things like mention these mens best wins,skills there known for and what I consider to be their greatest win. Sure we all known what they have done but im bored. 1. Fedor Emelienko - Unbeaten Pride FC Heavyweight Champion,defeated everyone hes every competed with,notable wins over Mirko Cro Cop,Minotaro Nogueria 2x,Mark Coleman 2x,Kevin Randleman,Matt Lindland,Mark Hunt,Heath Herring,Ricardo Arona,Fujita. Famous for his heavy hands,slick armbar,Russian Sambo,chin and recover ability and his relaxed mental state. Best win id say is Mirko Cro Cop. 2. Randy Couture - 5 time UFC Champ in 2 different weights(Heavy and Light Heavy)UFC Hall of Famer,notable wins over Gabriel Gonzaga,Tim Sylvia,Chuck Liddell,Tito Ortiz,Vitor Belfort 2x,Maurice Smith,Jeremey Horn,Kevin Randleman,Pedro Rizzo 2x. Known for his incredible Greco-Roman Wrestling takedowns,ground and pound and cage tactics,good fighting brain and agressive pace. Best win the 1st Chuck Liddell fight. 3. Dan Henderson - Won the Brazil Open,a UFC tourney,a Rings tourney and the Pride Welterweight Grand Prix,1st Pride fighter to win Championships in 2 weight classes and hold them at the same time(Welterweight and Middleweight)notable wins over Minotauro Nogeruia,Carlos Newton,Gilbert Yvel,Wanderlei Silva,Murilo Bustamante,Renzo Gracie,Babalu Sobral,Ninja Ruo,Nakumura. Known for brutal overhand right,Olympic Greco-Roman Wrestling skills,Amazing chin and the willingess to fight anyone and anywhere. Best win Wanderlei Silva. 4. Chuck Liddell - Former longtime UFC Light Heavyweight Champ beat Wanderlei Silva,Babalu 2x,Randy Couture 2x,Tito Ortiz 2x,Guy Mezger,Kevin Randleman,Murilo Bustamante,Jeff Monson,Vitor Belfort,Jermey Horn,Alistair Overeem. Owns a brutal straight right and overhand right punch,power in his feet,footwork,looping lefthook power,legendary takedown defense. 3rd Randy Couture fight best win. 5. Minotaro Nogueria - The only man to every hold a Championship in both Pride and the UFC that being the Heayvweight Championship. Defeated the likes of Tim Sylvia,Mirko Cro Cop,Jermey Horn,Heath Herring 3x,Gary Goodridge,Mark Coleman,Dan Henderson,Ricco Rodriguez,Fabrico Wedrum,Josh Barnett. Possibly the best submission skills in Heayvweight history,hard chin and the ability to take incredible amounts of punishment and still win,solid boxing skills. Best win id go with Mirko Cro Cop even though he got beatup alot that was Nogueria doing what he does best taking a beating but pulling it out anyway. 6. BJ Penn - Former UFC Welterweight Champ and current Lightweight Champ,1 of only 6 men in UFC/Pride history to win atleast 2 Championships. Defeated Matt Hughes,Takanori Gomi,Caol Uno,Din Thomas,Renzo Gracie,Jens Pulver,Joe Stevenson,Matt Serra,Duane Ludwig. Best known for the best guard and maybe overall BJJ in MMA,heavy hands and knees,good wrestling skills and seemingly iron jaw. Best win 1st Matt Hughes fight. 7. Matt Hughes - 2 time UFC Welterweight Champ widely considered the companys most dominant Champ ever. Wins over Frank Trigg 2x,Carlos Newton 2x,GSP,BJ Penn,Royce Gracie,Joe Riggs,Churato Verrismo,Sean Sherk,Hayato Sakurai,Dave Menne,Joe Doerkson. Incredible slams and ground and pound,Jiu-Jitsu that seemed to improved year after year. Best win 2nd Carlos Newton fight. 8. Georges St.Pierre - Former UFC Welterweight Champ at only 26 has a whos whos list of wins over BJ Penn,Sean Sherk,Mayhem Miller,Frank Trigg,Josh Koscheck,Matt Hughes 2x,Karo Parysian. Top notch MMA style Kick-Boxing skills,Amazing Wrestling skills especially his shoot and nearly impossible to takedown. Best win 3rd Matt Hughes bout. 9. Bas Rutten - King of Pancrase and former UFC Heavyweight Champ. Wins over Kevin Randleman,Tsuyoshi Kohsaka,Funaki,Frank Shamrock 2x,Guy Mezger,Maurice Smith 2x. Amazing overall standup. Best win TK fight. 10. Wanderlei Silva - Former Pride Middleweight Champ defeated Rampage Jackson 2x,Dan Henderson,Ricardo Arona,Fujita,Yoshida 2x,Nakumura,Sakuraba 3x,Mirko Cro Cop,Guy Mezger. Well known for ruthless Muay Thai clinch skills,agressive boxing,soccer kicks and stomps,hard to do much in his guard,undeniable heart. Best victory the 1st Rampage destruction.
No love for the classic MMA guys? Royce needs a shout out for his influence and accomplishments even if the skillset wasn't as high as it is now. And a top 10 list without Sakuraba and Fedor at 1? For shame.
Henderson or Couture it dont matter to me number 2 is very close to me. Kids top 20 but no way top 10 yet maybe if he fights and beats Uriah Faber-Jens Pulver winner. Im a Renzo fan but what makes him top 10 his career was basically just a decent one best known for nearly having his arm ripped of by Sakuraba until he got some wins in 2006-07 over Frank,Newton and Miltech thats good but top 10 **** no who does he replace ?
Honestly im not showing much love for them aside from Bas Rutten. Thread title says ATG Royce isnt one in my opinon as he would and already has been rapped vs more well rounded MMA fighters in Sakuraba and Hughes. Whats wrong with Fedor at 1 for now ? If he continues fighting Zulu,Middleweights,pointless rematches,jolly green giants,guys coming off bad losses then yeah ill have to drop him for refusing the tough fights but for now he stays hes the most consistent MMA Champ ever while everyone falls at one time or another look at my other guys in the top 10 BJ dropped 3 of 4 once,Randy was picked off the canvas twice vs Liddell,Wanderleis been KOed even worse 3 different times in 3 different ways,Bas Rutten was Ken Shamrocks *****,Henderson lost to a guy in Misaki he shouldnt lose to,Liddell is owned by Rampage and cant even beat Keith Jardine,Noguerias been the Arturo Gatti of MMA nearly been killed like 10 times just surving long enough for the other dude to gas and **** up,Hughes cant beat Dennis Hallman for whatever reason and GSP is still Matt Serras only claim to fame besides a boring TV show. Fedor has never slipped up hes been the best for a good 4-5 years now. Sakuraba could go in but who the **** do I force out ?
Classic.. what about Rei Zulu! His fable`ed to have had over 140 Vale Tudo fights undefeated. Plus he fought Rickson Gracie twice and was one of the TRUE founding fore fathers along with the Gracies in modern MMA.
I don't think that St. Pierre should be on that list yet. I am sure he will be when he retires, but not yet.
1. Bas Rutten 2. SAKURABA! 3. Frank Shamrock 4. Fedor 5. couture 6. Henderson 7. Royce gracie 8. Big Nog 9. chuck Liddell 10. Wandy/ Hughes who could be in my top 10 pretty soon: A. Silva, St. Pierre, BJ Penn, Kid Yamamoto
I think if Hughes is on there, St. Pierre should be. Look at the guys resume and he holds 2 out of 3 over Hughes. Hughes has the defenses and title reign, but against who? St. Pieerre has beaten just as good, if not better competition IMHO. I'm not too strong on this point yet, but it is definitely true given Rush avenges his loss next month.
