In the weeks following UFC 148, Anderson Silva has been hailed by many as the greatest MMA fighter in history. Detractors of Silva can no doubt name a few other worthy mixed martial artists that deserve the title as the greatest of all time. Selecting the best MMA fighters is a tough job. There are many to consider.
One could look back and bring up fighters such as Helio or Carlos Gracie, but comparing these to modern fighters can be tricky. Today's MMA fighters compete under a unified set of rules and under different conditions, so rather than consider both historic fighters and modern fighters, here is a selection of fighters who have been in the mix since 1993 and the first UFC.
On paper and in the opinions of millions of fans, Anderson Silva deserves the title of the best fighter in history. His record with 32 wins and only four lost bouts is highly impressive. He also holds several UFC records, including the most knockdowns and the longest winning streak of any UFC fighter. Silva's strength lies in his amazing versatility. While his strongest skill is probably Muay Thai, he is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a black belt in Judo. He also has a yellow rope in the Brazilian art of Capoeira.
In the baseball movie, "The Natural," Robert Redford's character wants to be known as "the best there ever was in this game." Randy Couture, who holds the nickname "The Natural," is also considered one of the best in his game. While Silva's record is more impressive, Couture boasts 19 wins over 30 bouts, including wins over some of the best opponents in MMA, including Chuck Liddell and Vitor Belfort. In addition, Couture has won titles in two separate weight classes and only one other fighter has managed that feat.
While UFC boasts an impressive array of fighters, one of the sports best comes out of RINGS, Pride and other organizations. Fedor Emelianenko has a record that includes 34 wins and 4 losses. In addition, he has won gold medals three times at the World Sambo Championship and seven gold medals in the Russian Sambo Championships. He also had a succession of 27 mixed martial arts wins that lasted from April, 2001, until June, 2010.
While these three are certainly strong contenders for the best MMA fighter of all time, there are many others who deserve consideration. Some fans would make a case for fighters such as Matt Hughes or perhaps Georges St. Pierre or even BJ Penn as the best in the arena. Whichever fighter you prefer, as the MMA evolves, there will be some new blood dominating the sport and vying for a shot on everyone's Top Ten lists.
One could look back and bring up fighters such as Helio or Carlos Gracie, but comparing these to modern fighters can be tricky. Today's MMA fighters compete under a unified set of rules and under different conditions, so rather than consider both historic fighters and modern fighters, here is a selection of fighters who have been in the mix since 1993 and the first UFC.
On paper and in the opinions of millions of fans, Anderson Silva deserves the title of the best fighter in history. His record with 32 wins and only four lost bouts is highly impressive. He also holds several UFC records, including the most knockdowns and the longest winning streak of any UFC fighter. Silva's strength lies in his amazing versatility. While his strongest skill is probably Muay Thai, he is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a black belt in Judo. He also has a yellow rope in the Brazilian art of Capoeira.
In the baseball movie, "The Natural," Robert Redford's character wants to be known as "the best there ever was in this game." Randy Couture, who holds the nickname "The Natural," is also considered one of the best in his game. While Silva's record is more impressive, Couture boasts 19 wins over 30 bouts, including wins over some of the best opponents in MMA, including Chuck Liddell and Vitor Belfort. In addition, Couture has won titles in two separate weight classes and only one other fighter has managed that feat.
While UFC boasts an impressive array of fighters, one of the sports best comes out of RINGS, Pride and other organizations. Fedor Emelianenko has a record that includes 34 wins and 4 losses. In addition, he has won gold medals three times at the World Sambo Championship and seven gold medals in the Russian Sambo Championships. He also had a succession of 27 mixed martial arts wins that lasted from April, 2001, until June, 2010.
While these three are certainly strong contenders for the best MMA fighter of all time, there are many others who deserve consideration. Some fans would make a case for fighters such as Matt Hughes or perhaps Georges St. Pierre or even BJ Penn as the best in the arena. Whichever fighter you prefer, as the MMA evolves, there will be some new blood dominating the sport and vying for a shot on everyone's Top Ten lists.
About the Author:
Nolan Barias likes writing about mixed martial arts benefits. For more info about jiu jitsu San Diego or to find mixed martial arts lessons in San Diego, visit The Arena MMA website today.
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