UFC: Creating the Ultimate Fighter

Yet another season of The Ultimate Fighter is in the books, and this season saw featherweight Diego Brandao and bantamweight John Dodson both come out victorious. For winning the show they are given a lucrative contract with the UFC and given the title of the "ultimate fighter."

We all know that neither of these guys are truly the "ultimate fighter," they're really just the guys that were able to win all the fights in this particular season and win their respective fights at the finale.

The truth is, the ultimate fighter doesn't really exist.

The interesting thing about the sport of MMA is that anyone can be beaten. Even the best in the sport can be caught on any given night.

Anderson Silva, undoubtedly one of the greatest fighters of all time, has been beaten by Ryo Chonan and Daiju Takase. He has also looked very human on occasion, most notably in his UFC 117 victory over Chael Sonnen.

Fedor Emelianenko, considered by many to be untouchable for nearly a decade, now holds a 1-3 record in his last four fights.

Even current "untouchable" fighter Jon Jones could be beaten on any given night, perhaps even by a flying kick by Lyoto Machida in their upcoming bout.

So what would the "ultimate fighter" look like? What traits would an unbeatable fighter have?

Anderson Silva's Timing, Accuracy and Elusiveness

For five years now Anderson Silva has been the closest thing to the ultimate fighter as anyone, so his skill set is the most obvious place to start.

Silva brings a level of striking and a striking style that has never been seen in MMA.

What truly sets apart his striking is his impeccable timing, accuracy and elusiveness. Anderson uses these three aspects to sufficiently send his opponents into a nice deep sleep.

Time and time again Silva has been able to feel out his opponents early on in fights, using his feints to figure out his timing and distance. Then, just at the right time, he pounces in with the perfectly timed strike.

Then there's Silva's accuracy.

Silva's pinpoint accuracy is far and away the greatest in the UFC. When Silva throws something, it lands. It's hard to bring the fight to a guy that can and will make you pay every time you miss.

Speaking of opponents missing...

Silva's elusiveness is also the best in the UFC. While Lyoto Machida's style is highly elusive, too, Silva's never taken a shot quite like Machida did in his second fight with Shogun Rua, and that is why Silva is slightly more elusive.

Silva's elusiveness can make high quality UFC fighters and even former champions look silly when they are swinging at air (just ask Forrest Griffin).

Silva's ability to use these three aspects in unison to crush his opponents is what makes his striking above everyone else in the sport. It's also a great foundation for the ultimate fighter.

Junior Dos Santos' Boxing

Many people would probably take Nick Diaz's boxing here, but Junior dos Santos is every bit the boxer that Diaz is and has used it at an even greater advantage than Diaz has.

Dos Santos has done nothing but batter people since his arrival into the UFC and has done so almost exclusively with his boxing skills. JDS's ability to keep the fight standing and use his powerful body blows to break down his opponents is the No. 1 reason that he is the current heavyweight champion.

Dos Santos' boxing is the best combination of technique and power, making him the ideal boxer for our ultimate fighter.

Demetrious Johnson's Quickness

Who better for quickness than the UFC's resident little guy Demetrious Johnson? Watching "Mighty Mouse" fight is like watching a fight in fast forward.

Everything Demetrious Johnson does, he does fast. His ability to get in and out of striking exchanges and his lightning quick grappling transitions is what makes Demetrious Johnson one of the top bantamweights in the organization and potentially a future flyweight champion should the UFC add the division.

Johnson's quickness is perfect for the ultimate fighter.

Pat Barry's Kicks

There's two things we know about Pat Barry:

1.) He's at best a gatekeeper due to his one-dimensional skill set.

2.) His leg kicks could cut down a large tree.

While Pat Barry may not be the most skilled fighter overall, his submission loss to Mirko Cro Cop may be the worst display of ground skills this side of James Toney—but Barry sure can kick.

A world level kickboxer, Barry's leg kicks are the most vicious in MMA, and he also has the ability to change a fight on a dime by landing one of his devastating high kicks.

Jose Aldo's Explosiveness

When the WEC folded into the UFC, a plethora of great fighters were welcomed into the organization. Perhaps the best of those fighters is Jose Aldo.

The reigning featherweight champion is also the most explosive fighter in the UFC.

Everything Aldo throws is with bad intentions, and more often than not, he's successful with those bad intentions. From flying knees to head kicks to ferocious combos, Aldo has a full bag of tricks—and he knows how to use them.

Jon Jones' Length, Takedowns and Ground and Pound

Who better to transition the ultimate fighter's skills to the ground game than the UFC's newest phenom, Jon Jones?

Jones has made the UFC look like his playground en route to becoming the UFC's youngest champion, thoroughly dominating his opponents with his rare combination of size, athleticism and technique. He truly has the highest ceiling anyone has ever seen in MMA history.

The first thing that is striking about Jones is his incredible length. Boasting an 84.5 inch reach, he easily has a reach advantage over everyone he fights. His ability to control the distance with his impressive length sets up everything else Jones does.

In terms of skill set, Jones' takedowns are second to none.

Not only are Jones' takedowns effective, they are also versatile. Jones has taken down opponents in every way imaginable—suplexes, slams, trips and judo tosses; he does them all, often times making it look easy.

Even against some of the stronger wrestlers at 205, he has thrown them around like rag dolls.

Once Jones gets his opponents to the ground, their lives don't get any easier. His ground and pound is already among the best in the sport.

Jones' creativity and brutality are oftentimes what breaks down his opponents on the ground. His best weapon is his incredible elbows. His tremendous reach advantage allows him to put great force behind his elbows, causing cuts and doing damage to even well defended blows.

While Jones seems to evolve and come up with new ways to punish his opponents every fight, his ground and pound is still the best in the UFC.

Chael Sonnen's Tenacity

Regardless of his testosterone levels, Chael Sonnen's tenacity is remarkable. His swarming style is what makes him the most dangerous contender in the middleweight division.

Regardless of opponent, Sonnen brings the fight and is constantly the aggressor. That type of tenacity is what makes Sonnen a special fighter.

Chael may talk a lot and he may be highly controversial, but his exceptional work rate is something that is unmatched by anyone in the sport.

An excellent trait for the ultimate fighter to have.

Shinya Aoki's Submissions

Shinya Aoki is the lone non-UFC fighter on the list, but with 19 submission victories, he's too hard to ignore to not be included.

From armbars, hammerlocks, triangle chokes, flying triangle chokes, neck cranks to gogoplatas, you name a submission and it's likely Aoki has pulled it off—or has at least tried to. 

While it would be interesting to see how he would fare in the UFC, it's hard to deny his impressive skills in the art of submissions. His knack for finishing fights with whatever is given to him is the kind of trait that is perfect for the ultimate fighter.

Georges St Pierre's Mind and Athleticism

George St Pierre is about as close to the ultimate fighter as it gets. His overall game has very few holes in it, and other than a knack for taking fights the distance, there isn't too much anyone can really say to take away from him being the most well-rounded fighter in the UFC.

What makes GSP near unbeatable, though, is his uncanny ability to formulate the perfect gameplan and execute it to perfection.

Great wrestler?

Stick and move on the feet while denying all takedowns.

Great striker?

Use world class wrestling to smother opponent.

He may not always finish fights, but he is definitely the smartest fighter in all of MMA.

What allows him to pull off his near flawless execution is his exceptional athleticism.

GSP is the most well rounded fighter because he doesn't really have one specialty. His ability to adapt to every individual martial art and apply them to his game is unprecedented in UFC history. St. Pierre doesn't just do one thing well, he does everything at the highest level.

Mastering all of these individual disciplines so quickly and blending them into one nearly unbeatable style is something that only a true athlete would be able to accomplish in the time frame that he has been able to do this in.

Clay Guida's Cardio

If the ultimate fighter had hair, Guida would probably provide that too, but his cardio is what really stands out. Guida may not be an elite lightweight, but you'll never gas him out.

Guida brings it every fight and sets a pace that not too many fighters can keep up with, let alone for three or five rounds. Guida fights above his talent level simply for the fact that he is able to wear opponents out with his unlimited gas tank.

Cardio is one of the most important elements for any fighter. It doesn't matter if you have the best skill set in the world, if you can't make it more than a round or two, you'll eventually get caught. With Guida's cardio, that would never be a concern.

Frankie Edgar's Heart

Frankie Edgar may be on the most shaky ground of any UFC champion, but if someone wants to take his title, they shouldn't plan on finishing him.

If Edgar's last two title defenses taught us anything, it's that he may just be the hardest guy to finish in UFC. In two separate fights, Gray Maynard completely rocked Edgar with solid punches that sent Edgar stumbling to the canvas. Both times Edgar was able to come back.

Edgar's heart carried him to a draw in the first title defense and a come-from-behind technical knockout in the second. Maynard must have thought Edgar was a zombie with his ability to come back after seemingly being completely out of it.

The willingness to continue fighting when things look bleak is an amazing trait of a great fighter and champion. Edgar has that in abundance, and it's what defines him as a champion.

The ultimate fighter would have to have a heart like Frankie Edgar's.

So those are the traits that would blend to create the ultimate fighter. Disagree with one? Is it missing one? Let me know what you think in the comments!