Cammo Counts Down The Top 100 MMA Fighters of All Time

[REDDzone]

Those were on my mind plus Cain makes 7. A lot more than 5.

[UN-Owen]

Randleman has fought 8 of your top 20 fighters of all-time

And he would've been UFC HW champ too, if not for a controversial split decision loss to Rutten

Who has Sylvia beat that warrants his ranking at #40? Arlovski? Vera? Monson?


So maybe you can explain to me why "Sylvia wins out in every conceivable way you could compare them"

Yes, he fought 8 of the top 20, but he was 1-7 in those fights. You don't get a participation ribbon for trying.

Tim Sylvia is one of 5 fighters in UFC history to be a multiple time UFC champion. His career record is 31-8 (as apposed to Randleman's 17-16). Sylvia defended his title multiple times.

Kevin Randleman was a freak of nature who could easily have been top 25 on this list if he ever adapted. But, he didn't, so he isn't.

If Mark Coleman (16 - 10) can make it to #16 on the list, then there should be a place for Randleman somewhere in the top 100

[UN-Owen]

Randleman has fought 8 of your top 20 fighters of all-time

And he would've been UFC HW champ too, if not for a controversial split decision loss to Rutten

Who has Sylvia beat that warrants his ranking at #40? Arlovski? Vera? Monson?


So maybe you can explain to me why "Sylvia wins out in every conceivable way you could compare them"

Yes, he fought 8 of the top 20, but he was 1-7 in those fights. You don't get a participation ribbon for trying.

Tim Sylvia is one of 5 fighters in UFC history to be a multiple time UFC champion. His career record is 31-8 (as apposed to Randleman's 17-16). Sylvia defended his title multiple times.

Kevin Randleman was a freak of nature who could easily have been top 25 on this list if he ever adapted. But, he didn't, so he isn't.

And in fact, Randleman was a former UFC HW champion, with one successful defense

[Cammo101]

Can you name the 5 fighters to be multiple time UFC champions? Off the top of my head it seems like there are quite a few more than that.

I was not taking into account interim champions, but the list is...

Randy Couture
Tim Sylvia
Cain Velasquez
Matt Hughes
Georges St. Pierre

*It is actually 6 with BJ Penn, who I didn't count because he was on two different weight class lists. Mir was a champ and an interim champ.

[REDDzone]

I was not taking into account interim champions, but the list is...

Randy Couture
Tim Sylvia
Cain Velasquez
Matt Hughes
Georges St. Pierre

Really? After arguing vehemently that Condit is a former ufc champion you don't count interims as champions? Count them or don't when considering accolades imo. Shouldn't vary based on the argument.

[Cammo101]

And in fact, Randleman was a former UFC HW champion, with one successful defense

I know. He was not the only former UFC champion left off the list. Maurice Smith, Ricco Rodriguez, Shane Carwin, Matt Serra, Dave Menne, Maurilo Bustamante, and Carlos Newton were also UFC champs who did not make the cut.

And I would argue that Serra and Rodriguez have a better argument for inclusion than Randleman does.

[Cammo101]

I was not taking into account interim champions, but the list is...

Randy Couture
Tim Sylvia
Cain Velasquez
Matt Hughes
Georges St. Pierre

Really? After arguing vehemently that Condit is a former ufc champion you don't count interims as champions? Count them or don't when considering accolades imo. Shouldn't vary based on the argument.

I meant I wasn't counting them when I came up with the number 5. They were counted toward this list. It only adds one fighter to the list I believe.

Be it 5 or 7, the point is there are very few two time UFC champions.

[UN-Owen]

And in fact, Randleman was a former UFC HW champion, with one successful defense

I know. He was not the only former UFC champion left off the list. Maurice Smith, Ricco Rodriguez, Shane Carwin, Matt Serra, Dave Menne, Maurilo Bustamante, and Carlos Newton were also UFC champs who did not make the cut.

And I would argue that Serra and Rodriguez have a better argument for inclusion than Randleman does.

I just think there's too much discrepancy between Coleman and Randleman

Their respective careers are not very different

[Cammo101]

And in fact, Randleman was a former UFC HW champion, with one successful defense

I know. He was not the only former UFC champion left off the list. Maurice Smith, Ricco Rodriguez, Shane Carwin, Matt Serra, Dave Menne, Maurilo Bustamante, and Carlos Newton were also UFC champs who did not make the cut.

And I would argue that Serra and Rodriguez have a better argument for inclusion than Randleman does.

I just think there's too much discrepancy between Coleman and Randleman

Their respective careers are not very different

Coleman won 2 UFC tournaments and the Pride 2000 Open Weight Grand Prix. Coleman was the absolute best fighter in the world for a while. I see your point, but unfortunately for Randleman, he doesn't have Coleman's accomplishments.

[UN-Owen]

Coleman won 2 UFC tournaments and then proceeded to lose 3 straight fights in the UFC (M. Smith, P. Williams, Rizzo)

And Coleman got to the Pride Grand Prix Finals by beating Masaaki Satake, Akira Shoji and Kazuyuki Fujita - their combined MMA record being 30 - 34


At no point was Coleman the best fighter in the world. He did well as a juiced up wrestler in an era without weight classes

Much like Randleman

[Cammo101]

Coleman won 2 UFC tournaments and then proceeded to lose 3 straight fights in the UFC (M. Smith, P. Williams, Rizzo)

And Coleman got to the Pride Grand Prix Finals by beating Masaaki Satake, Akira Shoji and Kazuyuki Fujita - their combined MMA record being 30 - 34


At no point was Coleman the best fighter in the world. He did well as a juiced up wrestler in an era without weight classes

Much like Randleman

And then he beat Igor Vovchanchyn in the finals. Coleman was definitely the best fighter in the world in 96 and 97.

He is a similar fighter to Randleman, but he peaked way higher.

[UN-Owen]

Coleman won 2 UFC tournaments and then proceeded to lose 3 straight fights in the UFC (M. Smith, P. Williams, Rizzo)

And Coleman got to the Pride Grand Prix Finals by beating Masaaki Satake, Akira Shoji and Kazuyuki Fujita - their combined MMA record being 30 - 34


At no point was Coleman the best fighter in the world. He did well as a juiced up wrestler in an era without weight classes

Much like Randleman

And then he beat Igor Vovchanchyn in the finals. Coleman was definitely the best fighter in the world in 96 and 97.

He is a similar fighter to Randleman, but he peaked way higher.

"Definitely the best fighter in the world"

Of any weight class?

I wouldn't have thought Coleman was a better fighter than someone like Rutten or Frank Shamrock

[Cammo101]

#7 - Jon "Bones" Jones



http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jon-Jones-27944

Jon Jones has risen up this list like a phoenix, and 2 years from now he may well be at the top of it. Jones is the UFC Light Heavyweight champion and has run through a who's who list of elite fighters without so much as breaking a sweat. Jones is 18-1 (and that one loss was a garbage disqualification), and 12-1 in the UFC. He holds career victories over Rashad Evans, Rampage Jackson, Shogun Rua, Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort, and Chael Sonnen.

[CPT]

Yeah, some people may say it is too soon, but if he retired tomorrow, he'd arguably be even higher.

Nobody is unbeatable, but he seems so far ahead of the curve athletically and physically that it's hard to imagine anyone beating him, at least at LHW.

The only things I could see stopping him from being the best ever are an average run at HW, or injury.

[NZB2323]

Yeah, some people may say it is too soon, but if he retired tomorrow, he'd arguably be even higher.

Nobody is unbeatable, but he seems so far ahead of the curve athletically and physically that it's hard to imagine anyone beating him, at least at LHW.

The only things I could see stopping him from being the best ever are an average run at HW, or injury.

No doubt Jon Jones has GOAT potential, but he's not the only current UFC fighter that does. If Jones beats Tito's record, takes out Anderson Silva, and then dominates the HW division and has 3 consecutive title defenses, he's hands down the GOAT.

However, if Silva beats GSP and Jones in catchweight bouts, Silva has to be the GOAT.

If GSP moves up to MW and takes out Silva, Weidman, and everyone else, he has an argument.

If Cormier beats Jones at LHW and then takes the HW crown and defends it 3 plus times, he has an argument.

If Aldo beats Pettis and then moves up to LW taking out Bendo, Maynard, and Edgar in a rematch he'd have an argument.

Meanwhile Rory MacDonald is still younger than me, and new kids are training MMA every day. Maybe we'll see a Jon Jones that has tree trunks for legs.

[SDM]

We'll probably see some hulking LeBron-esque freak at HW at some point. Just a total genetic marvel who wasn't blessed with the ability to play one of the four major sports, but blessed in athleticism, strength, explosiveness, etc, and able to translate that. If someone with LBJ's physical tools trained MMA from a young age, like Rory.... yikes. I'm sure MMA will land those generational athletes, we're starting to see them... Bones is one. GSP might be another. No surprise they're legends.

[Cammo101]

#6 - Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva



http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Wanderlei-Silva-209

Wanderlei Silva is a former Pride Middleweight champion and 2003 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament champion. He has also had two stints with the UFC, but most of Wanderlei's biggest accomplishments came while fighting in Pride. Silva had a 5 year undefeated streak that included 18 wins and 13 knockouts. His career record is 35-12-1-1, with a Pride record of 22-4-1-1. Wandy holds career victories over Guy Mezger, Dan Henderson, Yuki Kondo, Michael Bisping, Rampage Jackson twice, and Kazushi Sakuraba three times.

[Cammo101]

#5 - Dan Henderson



http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Dan-Henderson-195

Dan Henderson is MMA's ultimate big game hunter. More than willing to move up a couple weight classes for a big fight. He was the final Pride Welterweight and Middleweight champion, as well as the last Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion. Henderson also won the UFC 17 Middleweight tournament and the 2005 Pride Welterweight Grand Prix. Hendo has a career record of 29-9, a Pride record of 13-5, and a UFC record of 6-3. He holds career victories over Rich Franklin, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva, Michael Bisping, Shogun Rua, and Fedor Emelianenko.

[CPT]

Hendo.

Got an awesome resume, should probably be one spot higher, but was he ever truly dominant? Maybe his fight anyone, anywhere, anytime nature prevented him from running off one of those streaks, but it doesn't seem like he ever even won 5 fights in a row, nevermind 10, 20, 30 like the guys ahead of him.

I'm not even arguing his placement really, I guess it just speaks to how big a drop off there is between the top 3 and the tier below.

[High 5]

Hendo was the guy it took me a few minutes to think of when I was mapping out the top 10. Which is strange because he's probably my favorite fighter of the bunch.