Creating The Greatest Fighter of All Time: Lightweight

I've seen a few articles here and there creating the greatest fighter in a certain class or things like that. I decided I would write 5 articles creating the greatest fighter in each class. Maybe afterwards I'll just create the greatest fighter overall or something, but until then here is the first article. Creating the greatest lightweight fighter of all time.

(Bruce Lee would have been a lightweight, that's why he is the main picture)

Striking- BJ Penn

It has been stated many times that BJ Penn has the best boxing in the lightweight division. So I'm going to agree with all of them. Next!

Submissions- Shinya Aoki

Valerie Macon/Getty Images

HOLLYWOOD - MARCH 17: Dream 155-Pound Champion Shinya 'Tobikan Judan' Aoki attends the CBS' Strikeforce MMA Fighters Open Media Workout on March 17, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images)

Out of 31 fights (25-5 [1NC]), he has 15 submissions. He is known as "The Master of Flying Submissions" and while BJ Penn does have amazing Jiu-Jitsu, having great Jiu-Jitsu is different than having great submissions.

Wrestling- Gray Maynard

27 for 36 on takedowns in the UFC. 75% success rate. 9 UFC fights, one of which ended in 9 seconds. So in 24 rounds in the UFC (disregarding the 9 second fight then its 23) Maynard averages more than a takedown per round. He has also avoided 84% of takedown attempts, he is the best wrestler in MMA in the lightweight division.

Cardio- Frankie Edgar

How many people can say they've beaten BJ Penn? (5) How many can say they've beaten him twice? (2) How many can say they beat him by 5 round decision twice? Only one, and that man is Frank Edgar. Edgar's cardio in the lightweight division is unparalleled, and he did not stop moving through the entire 50 minutes that BJ and him fought. BJ had absolutely no Answer for Edgar (sorry for the overused pun) and the biggest factor was that Edgar didn't stop moving.

Speed- Takanori Gomi

He has 10 stoppages in under 5 minutes, 7 (T)KOs, one of which is the fastest in the history of Pride (:06) which he got over Ralph Gracie. I think it would be safe to say he is the fastest lightweight around. In his last fight, he stopped Tyson Griffin in just over a minute and got knockout of the night... so I wouldn't say he's lost anything.

Not to mention he's about to totally destroy someone in that picture.

Heart- Clay Guida

Ya gotta love that picture, but nonetheless, Guida has the most heart of anyone in the lightweight division. He has 3 Fight of the Nights against Diego Sanchez, Nate Diaz, and Tyson Griffin. Every time he steps in the Octagon you are in for a show. He goes out there like a wild man looking to entertain the crowd and he looks to finish every time (even though he doesn't always). He goes out not caring win or lose, he just wants to put on a show.

Chin- Clay Guida

Again, Clay Guida, the man with 39 fights, has never been knocked out or TKO'd. He has fought Kenny Florian, Diego Sanchez, Nate Diaz, Roger Huerta, Tyson Griffin, Din Thomas and Gilbert Melendez, and not one of them was able to knock him out. Guida has an iron chin, and there are plenty of other people out there who would agree with me.

Ground And Pound- Tatsuya Kawajiri

Having ground and pound in the lightweight division is usually unnecessary, but this guy has 10 out of his 26 wins via TKO, so he must be doing something right when he's punching your face in on the ground.

Jiu-Jitsu- BJ Penn

Do I even need to explain this one?

Just in case you think I do... see below

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B.J._Penn#Grappling_credentials

Athleticism- BJ Penn

The man jumped out of 3 feet of water. He really needs no explanation for anything.

And There You Have It!

And there you have it, the greatest lightweight fighter of all time. Now there is a very good chance I have overlooked someone or there's someone who's better at something, so I look forward to hearing your opinions in the comments. Thanks For Reading!