Top 10 Fighters That Need To Go Away

Robert Laberge/Getty Images

In the sport of MMA, there are fighters who rise to the top and there are fighters who fall to the bottom.

There are some fighters who refuse to leave the sport or improve as a fighter despite either a lack of talent, the game passing them by, or refusing to get into top condition.

In writing this slideshow, I realize that I will anger fighters and maybe some fans, but I respect all of the fighters I've mentioned for even getting into the cage and risking injury.

These are the top 10 fighters who need to go away.

10. Paulo Filho

Chris Dela Cruz/Sherdog.com

MMA Record 20-1-1

On paper, Paulo Filho’s record is really good, but his actions as a fighter have been atrocious at times and bizarre.

In the Chael Sonnen rematch, Filho not only came overweight, he started talking to people who weren’t even there.

Lately, Filho has skipped out on most contractual obligations and skips fights whenever he feels like it and still has trouble making weight.

Perhaps another despicable moment was when Filho showed no regard for anyone in the audience when he walked onto the stage naked at the Impact FC 2 weigh-ins.

9. Jens Pulver

Courtesy of the "War on the Mainland" post-fight press conference

MMA Record: 22-14-1

As sad as it is to say, former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver needs to go away from the sport.

Pulver has gone 2-8 in his last 10 bouts and only one of his fights he managed to not get stopped.

Most recently, he lost to a regional fighter in Diego Garijo by getting dropped on the feet and then submitted by a guillotine choke at just over a minute into the first round.

8. Phil Baroni

Bill Goldberg Interviews Phil Baroni for Elite XC

MMA Record: 13-12

Phil Baroni is another classic case of a fighter not evolving with the sport not only by submissions and striking; his cardio has yet to improve.

As much as his fights tend to be exciting, Phil still got beat up by an out-of-his-prime Frank Shamrock and regional fighter Kala Hose.

It pains me to say this due to the fact I am a fan of the “New York Badass” but he has not performed too consistently for any organization.

7. Kevin Randleman

MMA Record: 17-15

These days it’s almost hard to believe that at one point Kevin “The Monster” Randleman was UFC heavyweight champion.

Randleman has gone 2-8 in his last 10 bouts and has shown that he has yet to evolve as a fighter in the sport.

 “The Monster” has always had a great double leg takedown, but he’s never rounded out his skills and it has been detrimental to his career as evident by his last 10 bouts.

 

6. Bob Sapp

MMA Record 11-6-1

Bob Sapp….. and that’s all I got to say.

But seriously, Sapp has got to go, with a lack of conditioning, and a lack of technique, it’s amazing that Sapp even had 11 wins.

Sapp should stick to professional wrestling (he wrestled in HUSTLE in Japan) because he clearly has shown a lack of skills and conditioning that it takes to be even a mediocre fighter.

5. Wagner Da Conceicao Martins

Courtesy of Zuffa/Pride FC

MMA Record: 8-6

Known by hard-core fans as “Zulu” Wagner da Conceicao Martins has been most known for being a highlight reel victim of Fedor’s.

Of course a loss to Fedor isn’t bad, but losing to Butterbean and Geronimo Dos Santos isn’t going to do wonders for your career.

Still to this day around the forums, when a fighter gets brutally beaten up in the first round they call it getting Zulu’d.

4. James Thompson

Dream Stage Entertainment

MMA Record: 15-13

“The Colossus” James Thompson is another fighter who definitely has got to go.

Thompson’s only good win is over Hidehiko Yoshida, besides that he’s been a highlight reel for many of his opponents.

Perhaps Thompson should’ve been exiled from the world of mixed martial arts before fighting “Kimbo Slice” for Elite XC so none of us would have to run for a barf bag after his ear exploded.

3. Jose Canseco

MMA Record 0-1

After a devastating loss to Hong Man Choi, it quickly became apparent that MMA is not the sport for one Jose Canseco.

After the Choi loss, Canseco challenged former football star Herschel Walker, but Scott Coker mentioned that he has no interest in Canseco

To make matters worse for himself, Canseco recently lost a boxing match to a 60-year-old man named Gary Hogan.  

2. Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson

MMA Record: 4-2

Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson bravely went to the UFC after suffering a devastating loss to Seth Petruzelli.

It’s commendable that "Kimbo Slice" put forth an effort, but let’s face it, this is not a sport for “Kimbo Slice” to be given the biggest spotlight.

In Ferguson’s last fight, he lost to Matt Mitrione, who only had one fight on his MMA resume in and Ferguson lost in devastating fashion.

"Kimbo Slice" needs to leave the spotlight, as he has shown that his skills are just not there to hang with even mediocre fighters. 

1. Ken Shamrock

Courtesy of Impact FC 2

MMA Record 27-14-2

“The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock is at No. 1 due to his constant need to stay in the spotlight.

Shamrock has gone 2-8 in his last 10 fights and is looking like a punching bag right now.

The UFC Hall of Famer should remove himself from the spotlight and realize that his day is done or at least fight in the smaller shows.

In his last fight against an over-the-hill Pedro Rizzo, Shamrock looked terrible as usual and was easily dominated with leg kicks.