UFC 129: Power Ranking Randy Couture and the 7 Fighters in the UFC Hall of Fame

If Randy Couture’s knockout loss to Lyoto Machida truly was the last time we will ever see him fight, it will not be the thing that we always remember him by.

Rather, like the UFC Hall of Famers who came before him and the ones who will come after, we should always look back on him being one of only two men to hold a championship in two different weight classes.

With Couture likely done with the sport and Matt Hughes nearing the end of his own career, I think it’s an appropriate time to take a look at the seven fighters who are currently members of the UFC Hall of Fame and rank them by the level of greatness they achieved while fighting for the world’s top mixed martial arts organization.

Without further ado, here are the members of the UFC Hall of Fame and how they stack up against one another.

7. Ken Shamrock

UFC Record: 6-5-2

After dominating Pancrase in 1993, Ken Shamrock helped make history by competing in the very first UFC tournament at UFC 1. He made it all the way to the finals where he eventually lost to Royce Gracie.

Shamrock would later fight to a draw with Gracie at UFC 5 in a historic fight that went to a draw for the UFC Superfight Championship. The title would not elude him for long, though, as he beat Kimo Leopoldo to win it less than a year later.

Unfortunately, his run as champion didn’t last long. Shamrock lost the title in his first defense against Dan Severn at UFC 9.

But what newer fans may remember Shamrock most for is actually the worst part of his career, after his run in pro wrestling. He returned at UFC 40, fighting then UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Tito Ortiz, in what was at that point the biggest fight in the history of the company.

But Ortiz absolutely smashed Shamrock for 15 minutes before the fight was stopped between the third and fourth rounds, declaring Ortiz the victor by TKO.

Then after knocking out Kimo Leopoldo and losing a bizarre fight to Rich Franklin, Shamrock returned to face Ortiz in back-to-back fights to end his UFC career. He would not make it out of the first round in either contest, as Ortiz destroyed him with his signature elbows and punches.

If Shamrock wouldn’t have tried to come back to the UFC, he would likely be higher on this list. But as it is, it’s hard to put him any higher than last, even given the important role he played in bringing popularity to the sport.

6. Dan Severn

UFC Record: 9-4

One of the truest pioneers of the sport, Dan “The Beast” Severn is was one of the fighters that helped put the UFC on the map with his performances in the tournament days.

Severn won both the UFC 5 and UFC “Ultimate Ultimate 95” tournaments as well as making it to the finals of the UFC 4 tournament. But his biggest achievement may have been defeating Ken Shamrock at UFC 9 to become the UFC Superfight Champion.

At 99-17-7 overall, Severn is nearing his 100th win which may be the milestone he was looking to end his career on. He may not be fighting elite competition anymore, but it’s still impressive to see Severn compete at 52 years old against some of the young up-and-comers in the sport.

Not to mention, the mustache remains an epic piece of nostalgia.

5. Mark Coleman

UFC Record: 7-5

Many credit Mark Coleman as being the man who “invented” the style we now call ground-and-pound.

A former NCAA and Olympic wrestler, Coleman made his MMA debut at UFC 10, winning the heavyweight tournament that night. He destroyed the legendary Don Frye by TKO in the finals of the tournament.

He then went on to win the UFC 11 tournament as well before becoming the very first UFC Heavyweight Champion by defeating Dan Severn at UFC 12.

“The Hammer” looked unstoppable until he lost his title to Maurice Smith at UFC 14, a loss which stopped his meteoric rise and may have laid the groundwork for Pete Williams and Pedro Rizzo to defeat him in back-to-back fights before he left the UFC.

Coleman returned at UFC 93 as a light heavyweight, where he lost a decision to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

He earned the final win of his career over Stephan Bonnar at UFC 100, but lost his last fight to Randy Couture at UFC 109.

Still, Coleman is a legend and was the best heavyweight on the planet for a period of time.

4. Chuck Liddell

UFC Record: 16-6

Some may say that he deserves to be higher, and I’d have a tough time arguing against that, but the end of Chuck Liddell’s career bumps him down a bit on this list.

At one point, though, Liddell was arguably the most dominant fighter on the planet after taking Tito Ortiz’s position as the face of the UFC. He went on a run of seven straight wins, including two memorable knockouts of fellow Hall of Famer, Randy Couture.

Had Liddell not lost five of his final six fighter, I’d be much more likely to put him higher on this list.

3. Matt Hughes

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LONDON - JULY 13: Matt Hughes of the USA and current Welterweight Champion celebrates his win over Carlos Newton of Canada during the Ultimate Fighting Championship, 'Brawl in the Royal Albert Hall', in the Royal Albert Hall London, England on July 13, 2

UFC record: 17-6

The long career of Matt Hughes may be nearing its end, but he still sits solidly in my current Top 10 Welterweight Rankings.

Even after a violent, knockout loss to BJ Penn at 123, Hughes is still the same beastly wrestler that he has always been. He doesn’t have great one-punch knockout power, he doesn’t pull off many crazy submissions, but he consistently controls fights and just wins.

It sounds like Hughes’ next fight may be against Diego Sanchez later this Summer in a fight that I fully expect him to dominate.

2. Randy Couture

UFC Record: 17-7

The unbelievable knockout loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 129 may be the last time that ever see “The Natural” step into the Octagon, but it has been a long and impressive career for the 47-year old.

Though his 17-7 record may not be quite as impressive as other fighters on this list, it must also be considered that he has been fighting top-level talent throughout almost his entire career.

A former UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Champion, Couture will be remembered as perhaps the greatest game-planner in the history of the sport and is certainly worthy of the No. 2 ranking on this list.

1. Royce Gracie

UFC Record: 11-1-1

If there wasn’t Royce Gracie, there may never have been what we now refer to as mixed martial arts in the mainstream.

Prior to Gracie, most fighters were primarily strikers who could mix in some wrestling, but almost no one had any submission skills. He was a completely revolutionary fighter whose skills were unbelievable at the time.

Gracie embodied the role of David in the David vs. Goliath type matches the UFC put on in their early days, finishing numerous opponents who were significantly bigger than him.

Though he looked like an old man against Matt Hughes at UFC 60, Gracie is still the most important, and many would argue most dominant, fighter in UFC history.