Sports MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), which is translated from English as “mixed martial arts”, appeared relatively recently. The article presents the best MMA fighters in history.
10. Randy Couture
Randy Couture - the best American fighter to become the five-time UFC champion. The athlete participated in 30 fights, of which he won in 19. The wrestler was the first to win the champion title immediately in the heavy and light heavyweight categories. Couture began to engage in professional boxing in the army. From that moment on, sport became his main hobby and pursuit. The last battle in which he won was in 2010. His opponent is James Toney, who was not going to lose to Captain America. The expectations of the ambitious James did not materialize, and he loses to Couture in the 1st round. Multiple victories of the athlete and the possession of the champion title in two solid weight categories include him in the ranks the best MMA fighters in history.
9. Chuck Lidell
Chuck Lidell nicknamed "Icy", is one of the most skilled fighters in the history of MMA. In the 90s. he gains fame and first victories in the light heavyweight categories. For 4 years (1999-2003), Chuck kept the bar of an invincible fighter. The fight with Randy Couture becomes a defeat for him. The next meeting of world champions took place in 2005. The fight for the UFC champion belt was victorious for Chuck. He becomes the four-time UFC champion. The athlete leaves MMA in 2010. To this day, Lidell is a knockout champion in the history of the sport.
8. Bass Rutten
Bass rutten remained in the history of MMA as an invincible and legendary fighter. He took part in 22 battles and left the sport without a single defeat. Former Dutch kickboxer becomes three-time mixed martial arts champion. To win the battle, the athlete was helped by his amazing determination, thirst for fame and his individual methods of liver attack. "Handsome" Rutten rightfully included in 10 top martial arts athletes in heavy weight.
7. Royce Gracie
Royce Gracie - one of best MMA pioneers ever this sport. The Brazilian fighter gained his popularity, thanks to numerous victories using the Jiu-Jitsu technique, which he learned from his father at an early age. Royce is one of the first UFC champions. In 2007, he leaves the sport due to the detection of excess steroids in the blood during a fight. Despite the fact that the incident put a black spot on the reputation of a fighter, he will still be remembered in history as a legendary person in the world of martial arts.
6. Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes He held the welterweight champion seven times in a row, which was a world record for this weight category. Two-time champion fought in 2005 with Royce Gracie and defeated the legendary fighter. Matt has long been considered one of the invincible MMA fighters. Therefore, the American is considered one among the best fighters in the history of mixed martial arts.
5. Igor Vovchanchin
Igor Vovchanchin one of the 10 most legendary martial arts athletes. Throughout his stay in MMA sports, he managed to win 76 out of 87 battles. The Ukrainian fighter, at the peak of his fame, won victory after victory, as a result of which he was the absolute winner of 37 battles in a row. Despite the growth - 174 cm - the champion became the most popular heavyweight fighter in MMA history. This is the strongest fighter ever martial arts.
4. George St. Pierre
George Saint Pierre was recognized as the best Canadian athlete in 2009. Throughout his career, the fighter won 24 of 26 fights. In 2007, he won the champion title after a battle with Matt Hughes. George defended his UFC title 11 times in a row, making him an unrivaled fighter in the history of MMA.
3. Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva nicknamed "Spider", for a long time was considered the most powerful fighter in all weight categories. He began his career in MMA in 2000. He defended the championship title 10 times in a row. The martial arts leader took part in 39 fights and 33 of them ended in victory for him. Among the defeated Silva, there is such a serious opponent as Fedor Emelyanov. Brazilian rightfully included in the top three the best MMA fighters in history.
2. Dan Henderson
Dan Henderson - absolute leader in titles in all weight categories. This is the first fighter in history to win the championship in two leading organizations in mixed martial arts - UFC and Pride. The most important victory in the history of a fighter’s battles is his duel with the undisputed champion in all weight categories Fedor Emelianenko, of whom he was a fan. The victory over the invincible Russian hero brought Henderson fame. A forty-five-year-old American to this day in the ranks of MMA fighters. The champion prefers himself to compete with younger fighters. The American athlete is one of the best mixed martial arts athletes.
1. Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Emelianenko - the brightest star in the 25-year existence of MMA. This is the most worthy and strong athlete in all weight categories. Russian "Terminator" remained invincible for 8 years. From 2001-2009 he fought in 27 battles with worthy opponents and came out the absolute winner. According to many experts, a four-time world champion is considered the best fighter in the history of MMA. Among the serious fighters he defeated are: Antoniu Rodrigo, Tim Sylvia, Renato Sobral, Andrei Orlovsky and others. The first controversial defeat occurred in 2000, when the undisputed champion is injured in the ring from Tsuyoshi Kosak with a forbidden trick. In 2002, the fighter won the title of champion of the Japanese organization MMA RINGS. In 2005, he again meets with the Japanese Kosaka and defeats him. One of the most important fights of all time in the career of the Russian champion is the battle with the invincible, at that time, Nogueira fighter for the Pride champion title. The Russian fighter emerges victorious from the battle and becomes the last Pride champion. After winning in 2012 over heavyweight Pedro Rizzo, Fedor decided to leave MMA. In July 2015, the athlete announced that he was returning to the ring. The next battle is to take place in Japan on December 31.
Fedor Yemyalenko will go down in the history of MMA as a legendary person.