Who's Really the Best Fighter?

#5- Urijah Faber

Here's a guy that cannot be denied his spot among the top fighters in the world.  He has wiped out the guys with the best pedigree in the featherweight division and his only loss is to a guy who is one of the best lightweights in the UFCtoday (Tyson Griffin).  His ability to scramble, be explosive, and pull off unique moves to adjust to any situation (like that knee while balancing on 1 leg) is what makes him so dangerous.  He is a really good wrestler, has improving jui-jitsu, and a much improved stand up as you can see from his latest fight against Pulver.

#4- Bj Penn

Now here's one of the original hybrid MMA fighters, "The Prodigy".  After winning the World Jui-Jitsu Championship after training for such a short time, he started training with the original hybrid fighter Frank Shamrock to expand his game for MMA, and expand it did with noteable K.O. victories over Caol Uno and Din Thomas.  The grappling master was knocking guys out!!!!  With wins over some of the top fighters in the world the last of whom was arguably the #2 lightweight in the world (Sherk) BJ, the ability to capture the belt in 2 separate divisions, his good stand up especially in his hands, his awesome grappling that goes well with his flexibility and dexterous feet, he definitely has earned this spot.

#3- Anderson Silva

Well explaining this one should be easy.  A laser accurate and diverse striker, as well as an ever improving grappler, this guy is a true fighter, and looks at times to be unstoppable.  He came into the UFC making quick work of Chris Leben, knocking the guy out who supposedly had an iron chin.  It was almost as though his fists were laser guided to Leben's head.  The only time he's ever been put into question is when he has to grapple on his feet eg. being easily taken down by Travis Lutter.  He somewhat answered that by the reversal he did on Nate Marquardt in ther title fight.  He still showed a bit of weakness against Dan Henderson's wrestling, but come on, it was Henderson.  The point is, he has been finishing guys like crazy, he beat Franklin twice, beat Hendo, Marquardt, and beat Irvin in the only area James had a good chance in, the stand up. 

#2- GSP

Only in his mid 20s, this guy is almost the perfect fighter.  There's no real area where you can call him weak.  Text book stand up, a phenomenal wrestler and an ever improving jui-jitsu fighter, you can't deny his talent.  The only flaw he has ever had is what goes on inside his head.  Which he readresses everytime by returning a much better fighter, as you can see in his 1st rematch aginst Hughes and his rematch against Serra.  He even shows he ca beat people in their own game.  I mean he outgrappled Hughes and Koscheck, are you serious?

#1- Fedor Emelianenko

Now here we are at the top, Fedorand Penn were always considered by many fans to be in this position, however recently, with the Anderson Silva craze and with Fedor's decline in top competition until Tim he was given a kind of default #1.  I even used to be a little skeptical when people said #1 lb for lb, I mean #1 heavyweight fine but best fighter period, I just wasn't convinced and that slightly pudgy built didn't help either.  However, looking back in retrospect on this decorated sambo and judo fighter who has beaten some of the best in the world, I couldn't deny him his rightful place.  He beat the current Interim HW UFC champ twice and recently stood with the stand up artist that gave the legendary Nog so many problems in the striking and beat him in 36 seconds!!!  He is versed in every aspect of the game, he's a great striker (even though he can get a little too wild) and a great grappler.  He has one other thing going for him which causes him to edge GSP, his mental stability.  There's no one calmer and more undeterred in a fight than this guy.  And if you're still not totally convinced that he's #1 there's 1 more test.  The test of what a fighter does when he's in a bad situation, and he shows his resilience even in these moments after coming back to beat Fujita after being rocked and coming back immediately to kimura Kevin Randleman after receiving the most awesome suplex I've ever seen in my life!!!!

There you have it, my opinion of the best lb for lb fighters in the world.  Just remember, this sport is constantly changing and so can this list.  Peace.