Last night, I opened Pandora's Box by calling out some foul play in the Main Event of UFC 84: Ill Will. There are those who believe that B.J. Penn is one of the greatest fighters in UFC. There are those who believe that Penn is the greatest fighter in the world.
With that being said, I compiled a list of fighters who could hold the title of The Ultimate Fighter.
And unlike the cheerleader who spewed the column with her anti-Kobe list of the greatest basketball players of all time, there is no order. I want everyone's opinion. Out of this list (and whoever is missing from it), who is The Ultimate Fighter in UFC?
You decide. Here are the usual suspects.
Today's Must Reads
The Toughest and The Best
BJ Penn
Kenny Florian
Diego Sanchez
Josh Koscheck
Chris Leben
Rich Franklin
Chuck "Iceman" Liddell
Randy "The Natural" Couture
Rashad Evans
Evan Tanner
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
Forrest Griffin
Tito Ortiz
Royce Gracie
Joe Lauzon
Anderson Silva
Wanderlei Silva
Matt Serra
Jens Pulver
Karo Parisyan
Frank Mir
Roger Huerta
Matt Hughes
Jeremy Horn
Chris Lytle
Patrick Cote
Michael Bisping
Sean Sherk
Travis Lutter
Nate Quarry
Thiago Silva
Mike "Quick" Swick
Thiago Tavares
Jon Fitch
Thiago Alves
Mauricio Rua
Gleison Tibau
Heath Herring
Dan Henderson
Tyson Griffin
Keith Jardine
Georges St-Pierre
Dan Severn
Ken Shamrock
Stephan Bonnar
Josh Burkman
Here's the rundown. There is no particular order, and I want to know once and for all who is the best in the UFC. Place your votes, and we'll unleash the Top 25 (yes, just like college rankings) at UFC 85: Bedlam on June 7th. Start voting, and we'll put the question to bed.
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3 months ago
How in the world can you not have Mirco Crocop???
3 months ago
Forget Crocop. Where is Frank Shamrock?
3 months ago
Both Shamrock's, Frank and Ken, are legends. Gotta go with them.
3 months ago
Forget them, where the fuck is Fedor? He is the greatest of all time, and he's not even on your UFC biased list?
from 3 months ago
Which part of include those I forgot did you not get? So you say Fedor? Another guy says Crocop? Another guys says Frank Shamrock? Now we're getting somewhere. I will include all three simply because you guys want them there and feel that they are worth it. Done. Satisfied? Now hype them up because they might need it.
3 months ago
Royce Gracie, if you saw his early fights you would agree.
3 months ago
The Ultimate Fighter is Chuck Liddel. He gets beat and you never hear a word of excuses. He just comes back. Now THAT is the mark of a true champion. I would rather watch Liddel in a losing effort then watch anyone else win. He just has that much class.
3 months ago
Read the last sentence!!!!!! who is the ultimate fighter in the UFC not in the world!!!! guys read before you comment!!!!!!!
3 months ago
Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Noguiera would beat every single fighter on that list. 'Nuff said.
from 2 months ago
no way would he!!! nuff sed
3 months ago
ok seriously go to any website and youll see this debate over and over and over. its a pointless debate because everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but if youre gonna make a list, couldnt you at least narrow it down to the somewhat best of the best. U got guys like Chris Lytle and Josh Burkman who no one believes its him. then you got guys like Severn and Shamrock who havent fought in the UFC and won in god knows how long. You got like maybe 10 guys on that list worth arguing about.
3 months ago
Serra? Cote? Pulver? Bonnar? What, did you just pull out a phone book and list names?
from 3 months ago
by Logan
from about 1 hour ago
Serra? Cote? Pulver? Bonnar? What, did you just pull out a phone book and list names?
By Tony: Are you kidding me? Serra previous Champ, Cote very nearly a champ very good fighter, Pulver previous champ, and Bonnar most likely in one of the best knock down drag out fights ever wittnessed on the UFC with Forrest Griffen. Do you even follow the UFC or did you just see it for the first time? Have a clue before you post ignorant comments like your last one.
3 months ago
What are we supposed to do with guys like wanderlei silva, dan henderson, etc... who have only fought in the UFC a couple times but were dominant in another organization?
3 months ago
Dude randy is a legend and so is chuck. i would say chuck first cause he was the former light wight champion at one time. and all the loses he had he was able to come back and take them back by beating his opponents that he lost too. and randy number 2 cause he has the heavy wight title. and he is the most talked about fighter along with chuck liddell. now number 3 i would say Rampage jackson cause he is undefeated in the ufc right now and he has the light heavy wight title. oh and he did beat chuck. but i still would not put rampage as number 1 cause he could not do what chuck did go back and beat the people he lost too. oh and i know chuck did not beat rampage for the second time. but he still beat i think it was 4 people he beat that beat chuck. number 4 Anderson silva cause he has the middle wight title and he is also undefeated in the ufc. he was able to beat henderson for god sake. number five is Rashad evens. rashad is undefeated and has a great MMA record. he took down that huge guy on the ultement fighter. on thats my top 5. Roger Huerta,BJ Penn,Georges St-Pierre and off course Royce Gracie would be in my top 10. but i might throw Royce Gracie in the top five. maybe number one. but thats what i think should be the top 5 and some of ten.
3 months ago
Well, Ron, I'll give you this much, you certainly know how get get MMA fan/writer attention with your articles.
Though I wouldn't mind seeing what your personal feelings about a 25 (or even top 10) would be. There are a lot of names on that list that just don't belong and would like to see some of the lesser names taken off.
Plus, what is the criteria for the best fighter? Is it an all-around fighter? A fighter dominant in one or two styles? A legend/hall-of-fame inductee? Is it someone that has a big name in the business but not necessarily the best fighter? Do weight classes come into affect?
3 months ago
I def need to know what the actual criteria is before I nominate Tito without any thought whatsoever put in to it. Plus it says ultimate fighter in the UFC. What the hell is that? If the UFC is the Ultimate Fighting Championships aren't all 250 fighters under contract "Ultimate Fighters"
In that case I choose Rob Emerson as my "Ultimate Fighter In the UFC"
Also look out for my new article, Who is the best NBA'er in the NBA?
Included on the list are Joel Anthony, Fred Jones, Kevin Ollie, and the always great Alando Tucker!
from 3 months ago
My original title is who would hold that title as Ultimate Fighter. But for searching preferences, they changed the title. But to answer the question, I would look at this as criteria: Fighting Styles, All Around, Best Stand-Up, Best Ground and Pound, Best Submissions, Best Fights, Best Upsets. That kind of thing. As for Weight Class, if it becomes a big issue, then weight class will be taken into consideration, but I think those previous submissions will work for this situation. As for your question, Jon, I say this. I feel that my personal feelings are not on the table for this one. I'm just intrigued what MMA fans feel about some fighters being dubbed with the title of best all around fighter. That's the main reason for this piece.
3 months ago
Why not just pretend Fedor is a UFC fighter? Then the debate would be over.
Ron, you sure know how to get a lot of reads. Props for bringing more attention to the MMA section.
3 months ago
George St. Pierre...has the most skills at the moment
3 months ago
I agree with that notion.
3 months ago
What about me ron do agree with me
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