The 10 Greatest MMA Heavyweights of All-Time: Where Does Brock Lesnar Rank?

There is just something about heavyweights that seems to captivate fans. Perhaps it's simply the sheer size and power that makes heavyweight division so appealing.

Whatever the reason, everyone knows that the big boys are the main attraction.

This list will countdown the Top Ten heavyweights to have ever competed in MMA.

How to define and compare greatness is a difficult task. The criteria used for this list included records, titles, opponents, and overall impact on the sport.

Please enjoy and feel free to comment and critique once the show is complete.

Dishonorable Mention: Josh “The Baby Faced Assassin” Barnett

Record: 24-5

Key Wins: Dan Severn, Pedro Rizzo, Randy Couture, Antonio Rodrigo Nogeira

Titles: 1x UFC HW Champion (Title was stripped due to positive steroid test)

For those who think Barnett should be on the list—just stop!

Yes, he was and is a tremendously talented fighter, but you can't overlook the positive steroid tests. If it were only one, perhaps we could look at it as a mistake in judgment, but on three separate occasions Barnett tested positive.

So either he is an idiot or without the PEDs we would not be able to compete at such a high level.

Either way, he doesn't make this list.

Honorable Mention: Bas “El Guapo” Rutten

Record: 28-4-1

Key Wins: Kevin Randleman, Frank Shamrock, Guy Mezger, Maurice Smith

Titles: 1x UFC HW Champion, 1x King of Pancrase

Without question, Rutten was one of the original pioneers of the sport. But because most of his accomplishments came in the world of Pancrase and not MMA, he just missed the list.

10. Ricco Rodriguez

Record: 38-11

Key Wins: Andrei Arlovski, Pete Williams, Jeff Monson, Randy Couture

Titles: 1x UFC HW Champion

One of the best heavyweight grapplers, having won numerous grappling titles, to ever transition into MMA, Ricco Rodriguez was a force. Big, strong, and technical, Rodriguez was a difficult matchup for anyone matched up with him.

Had he been able to maintain a stable personal life, there is no telling just how good Rodriguez could have been.

9. Brock Lesnar

Record: 4-1

Key Wins: Frank Mir, Randy Couture

Titles: 1x UFC HW Champion

While Lesnar has yet to really achieve greatness within the sport, the attention that he generates for MMA is undeniable.

What other current MMA fighter could have used ESPN as their vehicle to announce their return from illness? NO ONE!

8. Tim “The Maniac” Sylvia

Record: 25-6

Key Wins: Andrei Arlovski, Ricco Rodriguez, Ben Rothwell

Titles: 2x UFC HW Champion

Before you ask...yes, Sylvia tested positive for steroids and was once stripped of his belt just like Barnett. The difference is that it was an isolated incident and had it occurred again, he too would be off the list.

Sylvia has had a rough go as of late, but from 2002 to 2006, Sylvia was a dominate force in the UFC.

7. Dan “The Beast” Severn

Record: 91-16-7

Key Wins: Forrest Griffin, Ken Shamrock, Tank Abbott, Oleg Taktarov x2

Titles: UFC 5 Tournament Champion, UFC Ultimate Ultimate 95 Tournament Winner, UFC Superfight Champion, UFC Hall of Fame

Dan Severn was a pioneer in every sense of the word. Not only was he one of the sport's original champions, but he was the first to really incorporate dominate wrestling into his style.

Just look across the MMA landscape today and it is littered with champion amateur wrestlers. Much of that can be attributed to the success that Severn found in the sport.

6. Mirko “Cro Cop” Flipovic

Record: 26-7-2, 1NC

Key Wins: Josh Barnett x3, Kevin Randleman, Mark Coleman, Wanderlei Silva

Titles: 2006 Pride FC Open Weight Grand Prix Champion

Two words sum up the rise and fall of The Croation Sensation: Head kick.

Hands down, Cro Cop is the most feared heavyweight striker of all time. But, it always seemed as if Cro Cop could never get over that "Big Fight" hump.

Had he been able to capture another title during his career, he would be right at the top of the list.

5. Frank Mir

Record: 13-4

Key Wins: Tim Sylvia, Antonio Rodrigo Nogeira, Brock Lesnar

Titles: 1x UFC HW Champion, 1x UFC Interim HW Champion

Frank Mir is one of the best heavyweight submission specialists of all time. His bone snapping armbar of Tim Sylvia to win the UFC HW title is an image that will forever be a part of MMA lore.

Now that Mir is improving his striking and he has dedicated himself to a strength and conditioning program, there is no telling just how high Mir can climb the list.

4. Mark "The Hammer" Coleman

Record: 16-10

Key Wins: Don Frye x2, Dan Severn, Igor Vovchanchyn

Titles: First UFC HW Champion, 2x UFC Tournament Winner, 2000 Pride FC Open Weight Grand Prix Champion, UFC Hall of Fame

Mark Coleman was the innovator of ground-and-pound. His blend of Herculean power and dominate wrestling made him nearly unstoppable in the early days of the sport.

While it is sad to see Coleman in his current state, we must never forget his contributions to the sport.

3. Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira

Record: 32-5-1, 1NC

Key Wins: Randy Couture, Tim Sylvia, Josh Barnett, Mirko Cor Cop, Mark Coleman, Ricco Rodriguez, Dan Henderson

Titles: First Pride FC HW Champion, 1x Pride FC Interim HW Champion, 1x UFC Interim HW Champion

What's not to love about Big Nog? The guy has compiled wins over a who's who of great fighters, and he always seems to come back from the edge of defeat to sink in a submission and win the fight.

Big Nog is the greatest heavyweight submission artist of all time.

2. Randy "The Natural" Couture

Record: 18-10

Key Wins: Tim Sylvia, Gabriel Gonzaga, Mark Coleman, Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, Pedro Rizzo x2, Vitor Belfort x2, Kevin Randleman

Titles: 3x UFC HW Champion, UFC Hall of Fame

Some may argue that this is way too high for Couture, but with all Couture has done for the sport, this spot is just right.

Couture's biggest mark on the sport—dirty boxing. No one does it better. The way Couture can control and pummel opponents from the Greco clinch is spectacular and while it can be boring at times, its effectiveness is unquestionable.

1. Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko

Record: 31-1, 1NC

Key Wins: Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia, Mark Coleman x2, Kevin Randleman, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira x2

Titles: Pride FC HW Champion, 2004 Pride FC HW Grand Prix Champion, WAMMA HW Champion

Really no question here, Fedor is the best MMA has yet to see.

Let the Debate Begin!

To your keyboards internet warriors!