The 411 MMA Top 5 02.01.10: Week 28 – Hall of Fame Fighters

Posted by Larry Csonka on 02.01.2010

From Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture and Matt Hughes to Kazushi Sakuraba, Fedor Emelianenko and Wanderlei Silva, the 411 MMA writers decide who they would start their MMA Hall of Fame with! Check out the full column to see which fighters made the list and why!



Welcome:
Welcome back to the MMA Top 5! What we are going to is take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 MMA will have the ability to give us their Top 5 on said topic, plus up to three honorable mentions. At the end, based on where all of these topics rank on people's list, we will create an overall Top 5 list. It's highly non-official and final, like WAMMA.


And now…

411's HALL OF FAME FIGHTERS!
Fighters each writer would start their hall of fame with…


Samer Kadi

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Kazushi Sakuraba - By and large, Kazushi Sakuraba is responsible for the popularity of MMA in Japan. His battles with the Gracies are stuff of legends.

Royce Gracie - While I do believe Royce's status in MMA is vastly over exaggerated by many, the fact remains he's a pioneer in the sport and the first dominant mixed martial artist. Nevertheless, we mustn't forget how much the sport has changed since, as witnessed in his fight with Matt Hughes.


5. Wanderlei Silva - He's arguably the biggest superstar to emerge out of PRIDE Fighting Championship, and one of the most dominant fighters in history. Wanderlei's reign of terror in PRIDE turned him into one of the most feared fighters on the planet. And while he wasn't able to find the same success stateside, "The Axe Murderer" remains a true legend of the sport, with one of the most violent highlight reels of any fighter alive.

4. Chuck Liddell - You can't mention Silva without mentioning Liddell. Chuck Liddell is the biggest superstar in MMA history. He's one of the main reasons the UFC is where it's at today. For three years, Chuck was one of the biggest PPV draws in North America. His dominance over the UFC light heavyweight division during that span can't be forgotten, with wins over the likes of Tito Ortiz, Babalu Sobral and Randy Couture. All of whom he's beaten on two different occasions.

3. Randy Couture - Say what you want about his 17-10 record, Randy Couture is one of the most accomplished mixed martial artists to ever grace the Octagon. He's a five-time world champion, winning belts in two different weight classes. This kind of resume can't be ignored. Couture took part in some of the biggest, most memorable fights in UFC history, and more often than not came out on top.

2. Fedor Emelianenko - Usually, I don't like it when people hold the fact that Fedor hasn't fought in the UFC against him, especially when it comes to rankings. But when it comes to Hall of Fame, then it becomes a factor. Which is what keeps him from being away from the top spot in my book. Granted, Fedor dominated the PRIDE heavyweight division when the competition was light years ahead of the UFC's heavyweight division at the time, and for that alone, he gets the second spot. Add to that the fact that the man is practically undefeated, and you've got an all time MMA legend.

1. Matt Hughes - Plain and simple, Matt Hughes is the greatest champion in UFC history. The man is considered the most dominant welterweight of all time and for good reason. Hughes' initial title reign saw him defend his championship for five times, before recapturing it and defending it an extra two times. With seven successful title defenses to his credit and victories over the likes of Hayato Sakurai, Carlos Newton, Frank Trigg, Georges St. Pierre, Royce Gracie and BJ Penn, Hughes has fought, and beaten some of the cream of the crop in MMA.

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Jonathan Solomon

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Bas Rutten - The most dominating PANCRASE fighter avenged all his defeats except Ken Shamrock, and he was also UFC heavyweight champion before retiring and becoming a great commentator.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - If it were not for Fedor, Big Nog would be considered the best heavyweight in the history of the sport.

Randy Couture - He continues to surprise as he continues to win. He has held championships in different weight classes and is one of the biggest fan favorites in recent UFC memory.


5. Matt Hughes - The man who had as great a run as a UFC champion as anyone else is the farm boy, Matt Hughes. Over two reigns, he defended the welterweight strap seven times. Hughes' appearance on two seasons of TUF also made gave him a larger platform to showcase himself and led to him fighting and beating Royce Gracie in 2006.

4. Fedor Emelianenko - Nobody has been as dominant as Fedor over his entire career. His only credited defeat was due to a cut and he later avenged that 'defeat.' Fedor gets crap for not signing with the UFC but he continues to fight all comers and destroys them.

3. Chuck Liddell - The Iceman is arguably the most famous MMA fighter and ran through the UFC while champion until he ran into a stumbling block. Despite his recent losses, he is going to be remembered for being one of the best UFC champions.

2. Ken Shamrock - One of the most recognizable figures in MMA history, he has been involved in some of the highest grossing fights and feuds in the sports history. It was his fight with Tito Ortiz in the early-2000s that proved the potential was there. His feud with Tito on TUF 3 and their series of fights in the mid-2000s were witnessed by millions of people across PPV and Spike TV. Sure the end of his career may not be so pleasant, but you cannot deny his impact.

1. Royce Gracie - The original MMA phenom was the first fighter that made people rethink combat sports. He was not a jacked up 200+ pound striking phenom. He was a (barely) 180-pound Brazilian who took fights to the ground and submitted bigger men. The original UFC was created to showcase Gracie and the sport would not be where it is if it were not for him. Plus, PRIDE launched into super stardom after Gracie fought Sakuraba.

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Jeffrey Harris

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Wanderlei Silva - The dude was Pride's biggest superstar and champion ever.

Quinton Jackson - Jackson has formed a decade of destruction.

Anderson Silva - One of the best fighters in the world and possibly of all time.


5. Chuck Liddell - Like Randy Couture a phenom for the sport and helped pave the way for MMA's modern day popularity. Liddell was a light heavyweight monster and dominant champion at the right time and place. And then we started seeing Liddell all over the place. With the Ultimate Fighter, the movies, and the TV episodes.

4. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - The only Pride and UFC heavyweight champion in the history of history. A lot of people thought Nogueira was done, then he came back more motivated and in better shape than ever and had an applause worthy fight with Randy Couture. A fight people said was no longer relevant or mattered, but the fight finally happened and it was awesome. Nogueira is without hyperbole.

3. Randy Couture - Randy Couture and the level of popularity he's reached and the lines he has crossed are simply amazing. Not to mention that Randy only seemed to get better and more successful as he got older. Randy Couture started fighting at a time most guys start hitting the end of their prime years. UFC's only heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, Randy Couture.

2. BJ Penn - A phenom that is without question one if into the best lightweight MMA fighter ever. Penn has now forged a legacy at lightweight as the most dominant UFC Lightweight champion ever. Not to mention, he won the UFC welterweight title in his first ever lightweight fight by beating Matt-freaking Hughes.

1. Dan Henderson - It's too bad right now it looks like Hendo won't be ending his career in the UFC and getting a spot in the hall of fame. One of the biggest fumbles of 2009 was Hendo and the UFC not working out a deal. Henderson is a living legend and one of the greatest, toughest fighters of all time. The first MMA fighter in the history of history to hold titles in two separate weight classes at the same time.

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Daniel Bonnizzio

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Dana White - Where would we be without him? Quite possibly the most influential person in the UFC to never strap on the 4oz gloves.

Randy Couture - The Natural should, naturally, be in every Hall of Fame everywhere for everything. I don't care if it's for the Hall of Fame of People Who Pick Noses.


5. BJ Penn - He is the single best fighter in the world at 155, and was once the best at 170. He may come off as a prick more than half of the time, but the fact is that he is one of the best at what he does. The best boxing in MMA, skin that never shows damage, a ridiculous tank (at 155), unstoppable finishing power, the technical ability to make most men jealous, and the satisfaction of knowing that nobody can hold a candle to his game once he steps into the ring to defend his title.

4. Dan Henderson - Find a fighter database. Now look for guys who have held two different championships in different weight classes. Now, find guys who have held them at the same time for a major organization. You'll find but one: Dan Henderson. Hendo was the last 183-pound and 205 pound champion in a PRIDE ring, and he won them by beating Kazuo Misaki and by knocking out Wanderlei Silva while the Axe Murderer was in his prime. Hendo just has the kind of physical ability and mental toughness you need to be a champion, and it's just a shame that we won't get to see him in a rematch for the UFC's Middleweight Championship, because I'm sure he would give Anderson a bigger run for his money.

3. Kazushi Sakuraba - Sakuraba was one of the true heroes of Japanese MMA. He was the Randy Couture of PRIDE. He used his catch-wrestling prowess to constantly beat guys who - by all means - should have murdered him in the ring. He managed to beat the Gracies under their own terms, breaking Renzo's arm, beating Royce after a 90-minute match, submitting Royler with another kimura. Saku just brought a sense of pride and perseverance to the ring unmatched by any of today's 'warriors.'

2. Fedor Emelianenko - Fedor is just astounding to try and analyze. Everyone knows EXACTLY how he plans on fighting yet nobody has really been able to crack the Fedor cypher. He is (technically) undefeated in 32 fights, has beaten every top flight heavyweight that ever walked through PRIDE, and continues to dominate the new breed of bigger, faster, and stronger guys while he walks around eating two ice cream cones at one time.

1. Bas Rutten - I am legitimately surprised Bas is not already in the UFC Hall of Fame, to be honest. I know he only had two fights under the UFC banner but he was a monster. A great ambassador for the sport, somewhat who is well articulated but knows when to crack the joke, and excellent fight analyst, and the primary proponent of DAH LIVAH SHOT~! Bas is just a great guy in general, he helped build Pancrase up from almost nothing, he is one of the greatest Heavyweights of all time, and he's just an awesome dude.

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Jeremy Lambert

5. Matt Hughes - Right now he's the greatest Welterweight of all-time and he's had one of the most successful UFC careers of anyone. Nine wins in title fights, seven defenses of the title, and five straight title defenses. Wins over BJ Penn, Georges St. Pierre, Royce Gracie, Sean Sherk, and countless others. When Matt Hughes was on top of his game there was no more dominating wrestler in all of MMA.

4. Wanderlei Silva - When Wanderlei Silva was in PRIDE he was regarded as the scariest fighter of all time. A well earned reputation given his knockouts over guys like Quinton Jackson, Kazushi Sakuraba, Guy Mezger, Fujita, and others. His style is one of the most exciting styles in MMA as it's always knockout or be knocked out with him. He was the first non-Japanese fighter to become a big star in PRIDE, which was no easy task either.

3. Randy Couture - His record isn't all that impressive and his style isn't all that exciting yet Randy Couture will still go down as one of the greatest fighters of all time. That's because Couture has never had an easy fight in MMA, he's fought all the best fighters in the world, he helped usher in the MMA boom, he became the first UFC fighter ever to hold two titles in two different weight classes, and he's Joe Rogan's hero. On top of all his in ring accomplishments, he's also runs one of the best camps in the business and is a great ambassador for the sport.

2. Kazushi Sakuraba - Sakuraba is one of the all-time legends in MMA. He was the first man to crush the Gracie mystique, he's fought a who's who of MMA fighters, and he was one of the first fighters to successfully make the transition from a pro wrestling background. He's an entertainer inside and outside of the ring and he'll go down as one of the true pioneers of the sport.

1. Chuck Liddell - It should shock no one that Chuck Liddell is #1 on my list. He's the best Light Heavyweight of all time, he helped usher in the MMA boom, and he was the first MMA star to really become a mainstream hit. His knockouts of Randy Couture, Kevin Randleman, Tito Ortiz, and Renato Sobral are on all-time MMA highlight reels and his fight with Wanderlei Silva is one the best fights of all time considering all the hype behind it.

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AND 411's HALL OF FAME FIGHTERS ARE…




T4. Kazushi Sakuraba – 7pts.




T4. Matt Hughes – 7pts.




3. Randy Couture– 9pts.




2. Fedor Emelianenko – 10pts.




1. Chuck Liddell – 11pts.


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