MMA's 25 Most Well-Rounded Fighters

In order to become great, one doesn't need to be "great" in one aspect but exceptional in many. The sport of mixed martial arts is no different, as it is home to some of the world's most well-rounded fighters.

Many of these fighters are skilled at the top of each art, while others have simply mastered them all.

Regardless of the circumstances, these fighters have developed themselves into legitimate threats, title contenders and champions due to their ability to fight at almost position.

As we know, it's the fighters that are skilled overall who are most likely to be remembered, not the one-dimensional artists.

The following slides display the 25 most well-rounded fighters in MMA.

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

More times than not, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua will be classified with his ability to knock his opponent senseless.

While that is certainly true, Rua has also developed a skill set that masters the Muay Thai clinch, which he has used in many of his victories over the course of his career.

Despite it rarely being used throughout his fights, Rua has also demonstrated a significant gain in his wrestling.

Nick Diaz

Nick Diaz may not be the most liked man in MMA today, but he has evolved into a fighter that is feared in nearly every aspect of the sport.

Because of his well-rounded skills, Diaz has recently made the transition to the UFC and will be squaring off with Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight title.

Not only is Diaz arguably the best boxer in MMA today, but he's also shown the ability to grapple and submit his opponents.

Lyoto Machida

Surprisingly, Lyoto Machida has just two submission victories in his career.

Sometimes numbers are deceiving, though, as there are few areas of the sport that Machida hasn't come to be exceptional in.

Machida's southpaw stance has helped him throw off his opponents and helped him become one of the more perplexing fighters in MMA today.

With his underrated striking, karate and kicks, Machida has one of the best put together games in MMA.

Fedor Emelianenko

Have your say about Fedor Emelianenko and the biggest collapse in MMA history.

While Fedor may have fallen from the rankings, it's hard to deny just how great he is despite losing three of his last four bouts.

Fedor is often known solely for his knockout power, which has allowed him to be one of the most feared fighters in the world.

But it's actually his submission game that's taken the lead in his career, as he's totaled 16 wins by submission.

Dominick Cruz

At times Dominick Cruz may lack a killer instinct, as he often fails to finish his fights.

But it's not finishing fights that has allowed him to become the UFC bantamweight champion, but his well-rounded skill set.

Between his lightning speed, boxing and takedowns, Cruz has come to be arguably the best 135-pound fighter in the world.

Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva is what some consider the best fighter in MMA not only today, but of all time.

The reason: Silva is nearly untouchable in every aspect of the sport.

Like anyone else, "The Spider" has shown signs of weaknesses here and there throughout his career, but his overall exceptional skills have overridden any criticisms.

Silva is the definition of well-rounded.

Georges St-Pierre

We've all heard the Georges St-Pierre criticisms over the past several years in reference to his inability to finish fights.

The great thing about St-Pierre's career is that it won't be defined by the fights he didn't finish but the fights that he was declared victorious in.

Through his world-class wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, "GSP" has earned the right be considered the most well-rounded fighter in MMA history.

St-Pierre has all the ingredients, which has made him nearly unbeatable.

Urijah Faber

Urijah Faber proved just how powerful his striking is in his defeat to Dominick Cruz at UFC 132 and his win over Brian Bowles at UFC 139.

However, it's not the striking that has made the "California Kid" one of the best overall fighters in MMA today, but his submission game.

Over half of Faber's wins have come by way of tapout.

In addition, Faber's never been submitted in his career.

Frankie Edgar

There were questions as to if Frankie Edgar would ever become a champion after his defeat to Gray Maynard in their first meeting, as he was taken down at will.

That question has been answered, as Edgar is the reigning UFC lightweight champion and has improved his game significantly since then.

Edgar's striking, wrestling, ability to escape from his back and heart have helped shape him into a well-rounded force in the UFC.

Forrest Griffin

Forrest Griffin is often scaled on his standup and how well he can stand and exchange strikes with his opponents.

What many fail to realize is how well-rounded Griffin is in the submission aspect of MMA.

Nearly half of Griffin's victories have come by submission, including the biggest of his career over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 76.

Griffin is also a kickboxer at heart.

BJ Penn

Sure, BJ Penn announced that he would be stepping away from the sport of MMA to spend time with his family.

But it won't be the last time we see "The Prodigy" fighting inside the Octagon, as he's one of the most well-rounded fighters of all time.

Penn can end a fight in any way, as he's knocked out, submitted or taken his opponent to a judges decision many times throughout his long-lived career.

Penn is also a world-class defenseman, as he's been finished just two times in his career.

Dan Henderson

Dan Henderson may lack some submission skills, but that's about it.

As we've come to see over the years, "Hendo" is arguably the hardest hitter in MMA today, as he's compiled 13 vicious victories by knockout.

Not only is Henderson a knockout artist in his own right, but he's never been knocked out in his career.

Let's not forget that Henderson is a former Olympic wrestler.

Miguel Torres

Unfortunately for Miguel Torres, things haven't been nearly as ideal as he'd like them to be as of late, as he was recently released for sexual comments made through his Twitter account.

On the upswing of things, Torres won 37 of the first 38 fights of his career, establishing himself as one of the best submission artists alive.

That's not all she wrote for Torres, as he's also been recognized for knocking out nine of his opponents.

Alistair Overeem

Alistair Overeem is widely regarded for his standup, as he's come to be one of the most talked-about strikers on the planet.

However, many fans fail to realize that Overeem is great in other areas as well, as he's totaled most of his victories through submission.

Overeem has also been proven to stuff the takedown, escape from the guard and finish the majority of his fights.

Jon Jones

Not only is Jon "Bones" Jones the youngest champion in UFC history, but he's also one of the most well-rounded fighters in MMA today.

Jones' standup is feared by many, as he holds an 84''-plus reach, the longest in the organization's history.

But it's Jones' clinch, wrestling and kicks that have transformed him into the overall great fighter he is today.

Clay Guida

Better known for his off-the-wall type of fighting style, Clay Guida's skill set has grown immensely since joining forces with the UFC.

Not only has Guida proven he can roll around and submit the best of them, but he can exchange blows as well.

Guida displayed full well what a well-rounded fighting style looks like against Anthony Pettis even without finishing the fight at the TUF 13 Finale.

Benson Henderson

MMA fans weren't entirely sure what to think heading into Benson Henderson's bout with Clay Guida at UFC on FOX 1.

But all questions were certainly answered, as Henderson put on a show for the ages and displayed overpowering strength that was too much for Guida to handle.

Henderson is proven to be a standup artist, connects on his takedowns and brawls on the ground.

Rashad Evans

Rashad Evans' standup has grown so greatly since first entering the sport of MMA that many often forget about his collegiate wrestling past.

A former Michigan State Spartan, Evans is one of the best wrestlers in the UFC today.

But as we've seen, Evans can stand with the best of them, as he's only been finished off once in his career, against Lyoto Machida at UFC 98—his only defeat.

Gilbert Melendez

Often recognized for his wrestling, Gilbert Melendez proved full well he's capable of dominating fights in many ways.

In his recent win over Jorge Masvidal, Melendez remained on his feet and put on a boxing clinic for those in attendance.

Melendez's overall skill set has allowed him to become what many think of as a top-three lightweight in the world.

Jon Fitch

Jon Fitch isn't your ordinary fighter, as he hardly ever finishes fights. The majority of his wins have been a direct result of the judges' decision.

However, Fitch has lost just one fight in his career, meaning his mastery of martial arts is second to none.

While it's been quite some time since his last win by finish, Fitch has proven time and time again that he can stand, wrestle or survive in the clinch.

Gray Maynard

Despite a recent defeat to Frankie Edgar at UFC 136, Gray Maynard's career has been nearly flawless.

Maynard has often been criticized for his boring or lackluster performances, but he always manages to come out on top.

Maynard's boxing has come to be among the best in the 155-pound weight class, and his wrestling isn't too far behind.

Cain Velasquez

Cain Velasquez is one of the few heavyweights in MMA today that is considered well-rounded.

Looking past his recent loss to Junior dos Santos, Velasquez is one of the best strikers and hardest-hitting heavyweights in the UFC.

But it's Velasquez's wrestling that has helped him become an overall great at just 29 years of age.

Fans can expect Velasquez's skills to evolve even more in the years to come.

Yushin Okami

A black belt in judo, Yushin Okami has emerged on the scene as one of the pound-for-pound best middleweights in the world over the past few years.

Okami, a taller and stronger fighter than most 185-pounders, has put on electrifying performances with his knockout power in the past.

The Japan product can also submit his opponents when need be, as well as demonstrate some of the best submission defense known to mankind.

Kenny Florian

While Kenny Florian may have come up short in several title opportunities, there aren't too many things "KenFlo" isn't great at.

Florian is one of the last martial artists an opponent will want to be on the ground with, as his experience in the submission is nearly untouchable.

But Florian has also been seen to spar and hold his own in the standup, allowing him to become one of the best overall fighters in MMA today.

Josh Koscheck

Josh Koscheck has become one of the most popular and talked-about fighters in MMA today, as he is fearless, outspoken and downright dangerous.

But to back up his talk, Koscheck has established himself as a well-rounded fighter in the UFC, as he doesn't have one specific strong point in his game.

Over his career, Koscheck has finished five fights by knockout, five by submission and six more by decision.

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