Now this isn't a ranking system to be debated about. These are my personal favorites, maybe not exactly the best fighters in the world but they have led themselves into my heart as unforgettable, in and outside of the ring/cage. And here we go, in no particular order...
Alistair "The Demolition Man" Overeem
The current Strikeforce heavyweight champ, The Reem is one funny guy outside the cage. I once saw a video of him making a toddler girl hold up a large pad, while he kicks it. Though he's a stand-up kind of guy, Overeem is as successful in his submission offense, having finished most of his opponents through this method.
Mirko Cro Cop
Were this post done 2 months ago, Cro Cop would've landed higher in the list. But because of his lackluster performance in his fight with Frank Mir in UFC 119...
Nevertheless, this is Mirko Cro Cop. A kickboxer and knockout artist with devastating head kicks. Who can't love him after hearing him say "Left leg: hospital. Right leg: cemetery," huh? Sad to say, I have to admit he's in the twilight of his career, and his dominance in Pride has been replaced by back-to-back defeats and lackluster wins in the UFC.
Forrest Griffin
When you watch the FoGriff's fight with Stephan Bonnar at the first The Ultimate Fighter Finale back in 2005, you'll immediately fall in love with this guy's mindset, no homo. He is a relentless, never-back-down ape of a man who always fights great fights. His dry humor and blunt attitude makes the books he has written such a treasure to read again and again. And so I quote from FG: "I'm just a dog, I fight."
"The Prodigy" BJ Penn
One of the two UFC fighters to have captured two title belts in as many weight divisions. BJ Penn is first and foremost a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu artist, but you may argue when seeing him in his stand-up. Legendary coach Freddie Roach once said that BJ has the best boxing in the UFC. In the cage, it's always all action, whether in the stand up or grapple game. His long and dominant title reign has been halted by Frankie Edgar, who beat him twice consecutively. However, to me he is still the greatest lightweight in mixed martial arts, and just needs to get his head in the game.
Anderson "The Spider" Silva
Anderson is dominant in every aspect of the fight game. He has dangerous Muay Thai, excellent takedown defense, and when that doesn't work, has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is just the most dominant middleweight fighter I have ever seen. Jesus, he even plays with his opponents with flashy, nonsense moves just to show how much he doesn't care about the unfortunate contenders. And damn he somehow makes these moves effective. Aside from being physically gifted, he also knows how to play with his opponent's minds. Because of this, he has utterly dominated almost everyone in his division, and even some in the upper weight classes.
Georges "Rush" St. Pierre
The man to beat in the welterweight division in the UFC. We all know about how this guy with zero wrestling credentials came to be a takedown artist. While most think this is a boring way to fight, "Rush" always looks for a finish, usually by submission. It's always a pleasure watching him dominate those with strong wrestling backgrounds in their strengths (Jon Fitch, Matt Hughes, Josh Koscheck). He's also a nice guy, and kind of reminds me of Manny Pacquiao, who's also dominant in a fight but shows good morals and mannerisms outside.
Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell
Although not the first poster boy and icon for the UFC, he certainly is the best and most popular. At his peak, he was knocking people out left and right, at once going on a seven-fight knockout/TKO win streak. When he moves on the offensive, he delivers. Even when he moves back he still manages to suddenly leave his opponent drooling on the ground. In his last UFC fight, he even "came out like Chuck Liddell always does," says Dana White, who believes The Iceman has lost his once-indomitable chin. Still, no one can forget the mohawk + trucker 'stached legend for who he really is.
Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko
Never look into the eyes of this being. You will cry, shiver, and crawl into a fetal position before you die a painful and excruciating death. Look inside him and you will see nothing. No emotion, no soul, just the fall of countless men who tried standing up against him. Seriously, though, this man has a pre-fight staredown that will mess your mind. And to top that, his Sambo background couple with his knockout power makes him a devastating all-around fighter, so don't screw yourself and pick a fight with this guy. He was the man to beat in Pride, even surpassing others such as Cro Cop or Wanderlei Silva. Plus, he has the coolest nickname in all of MMA.
Jose Aldo
Explosive, explosive, explosive. During his reign in the soon-to-be-defunct World Extreme Cagefighting, he has knocked out several challengers in the most brutal fashions, including a flying double knee strike to the head. When he doesn't knock people's brains to space, he shows his dominance in the Featherweight division by displaying all sorts of wickedness, such as in his five-round dominance of Urijah Faber, who couldn't do anything on the ground or standing up (well, he was barely standing thanks to Aldo's sick leg kicks). He is now officially the UFC Featherweight champion and will be fighting under that title soon.
Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva
The meanest face in MMA, the most dominant light heavyweight of Pride, the Muay Thai specialist with razor sharp knees, knockout power, and grade-A soccer kicks and stomps. He never was one to take a step back in a fight. Always forward, always pushing, never relenting until one of the two fighters succumb. Even when he loses, he loses with dignity and pride, because he knows he put on a great show for the fans and watchers. And that's his primary goal coming into fights: put on a great one. Fighters often come up with these post-fight sayings that they did their best for the fans and all, but don't really back it up as well as Wanderlei does. Consistently too. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan states that outside fighting, he has such a humble and kindhearted mindset. If ever I start drinking, it would always be with this guy. Everyone loves him, and I am no exception.
Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell
Although not the first poster boy and icon for the UFC, he certainly is the best and most popular. At his peak, he was knocking people out left and right, at once going on a seven-fight knockout/TKO win streak. When he moves on the offensive, he delivers. Even when he moves back he still manages to suddenly leave his opponent drooling on the ground. In his last UFC fight, he even "came out like Chuck Liddell always does," says Dana White, who believes The Iceman has lost his once-indomitable chin. Still, no one can forget the mohawk + trucker 'stached legend for who he really is.
Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko
Never look into the eyes of this being. You will cry, shiver, and crawl into a fetal position before you die a painful and excruciating death. Look inside him and you will see nothing. No emotion, no soul, just the fall of countless men who tried standing up against him. Seriously, though, this man has a pre-fight staredown that will mess your mind. And to top that, his Sambo background couple with his knockout power makes him a devastating all-around fighter, so don't screw yourself and pick a fight with this guy. He was the man to beat in Pride, even surpassing others such as Cro Cop or Wanderlei Silva. Plus, he has the coolest nickname in all of MMA.
Jose Aldo
Explosive, explosive, explosive. During his reign in the soon-to-be-defunct World Extreme Cagefighting, he has knocked out several challengers in the most brutal fashions, including a flying double knee strike to the head. When he doesn't knock people's brains to space, he shows his dominance in the Featherweight division by displaying all sorts of wickedness, such as in his five-round dominance of Urijah Faber, who couldn't do anything on the ground or standing up (well, he was barely standing thanks to Aldo's sick leg kicks). He is now officially the UFC Featherweight champion and will be fighting under that title soon.
Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva
The meanest face in MMA, the most dominant light heavyweight of Pride, the Muay Thai specialist with razor sharp knees, knockout power, and grade-A soccer kicks and stomps. He never was one to take a step back in a fight. Always forward, always pushing, never relenting until one of the two fighters succumb. Even when he loses, he loses with dignity and pride, because he knows he put on a great show for the fans and watchers. And that's his primary goal coming into fights: put on a great one. Fighters often come up with these post-fight sayings that they did their best for the fans and all, but don't really back it up as well as Wanderlei does. Consistently too. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan states that outside fighting, he has such a humble and kindhearted mindset. If ever I start drinking, it would always be with this guy. Everyone loves him, and I am no exception.
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