MMA Spotlight 7.31.08: Top Ten Most Exciting Fighters

Posted by Reuel Mante on 07.31.2008

Have you ever been in this situation? “He’s fighting?! I have to stay and watch this. I WAS going to pee but that can wait. Hey, can somebody get me one of the empty Mountain Dew bottles?”




There have been many fighters in the past that have dazzled us with new styles or unique fighting techniques. Some of them have shown us how technique is vital to earning a submission. Others have displayed unparalleled power that achieves them a highlight knockout. Then there are the others who are so charismatic that you just can't take your eyes off of them. Here are the top ten of those fighters:


1. Fedor- Yeah, the guy is that good that even in top ten heavyweight rankings; he's listed by his first name only. When the ground and pound style was defined by boring fighters like Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman, here came the Last Emperor from Russia who added style, flash, and destruction. Just watch the fight when he became the Pride Heavyweight champion. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira had no answer while he was constantly facing the barrage of fists at lightning speed. If the ground control isn't enough, Fedor's standup is devastating. Every punch and kick is thrown with nothing but bad intentions. Ask Tim Sylvia. Ask Cro Cop. The man is damn near unstoppable and fans all over the world love him.

2. Anderson Silva- The Spider continues his reign of terror against all fighters American, apparently. Silva's Muy Thai has proven to be the undoing of the elite middleweights in the UFC and there may be no stopping him. When a fighter is lucky enough to close the distance to take him down, then the other dangerous half of Silva comes out with his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. If he chooses to continue fighting at light heavyweight in the future, then I truly believe he may be the second man in MMA history to hold belts in two different weight classes at the same time.

3. Randy Couture- Captain America has something besides "Natural" athletic ability and pure fighting techniques. He has heart. And with that heart comes the love of fighting at the level he's maintained for so long. Does he really have anything left to prove? I really don't think so. His legacy has been cemented by his proven ability to face the odds head on and break them down with sheer force. Every time this man steps into the cage, fans around the world hold their breath for when the fight is called off and he's declared the winner. Very few men in this business have the ability command audiences' attention like Couture.

4. Wanderlei Silva- I've written a previous article on this man but that does not change the fact that fight fans love seeing this guy unleash pure hell on his opponent. The Japanese fans initially hated Silva due to his destruction of their hero Kazushi Sakuraba. But as the bodies started to pile up, Pride fans started to rally behind him as he would punch, knee, and stomp his victims into unconsciousness. If there was any doubt about his drawing ability in the U.S., listen to how the fans roared as he obliterated Keith Jardine under a minute at UFC 84.

5. Kazushi Sakuraba- The Gracie Hunter will forever be in the hearts of Japanese fight fans for generations. He's the only man to defeat not one, not two, but four Gracies. And not just defeat them, but outgrapple and outwit them every minute he was in the ring with them. His first fight with Royce Gracie was incredible considering the fact it was an hour and a half long affair. What was more incredible was that he would go on to face Igor Vovchanchyn. Tired, worn out, and beat up, Saku lasted fifteen minutes with a man who outweighed him and very possibly could have knocked him out. He had style, grace, and showmanship that many try replicate today. Just look at Jason Miller.

6. Urijah Faber- Yes, I know. I covered him in my last article about how a number of fight fans love to hate him but that doesn't take away the fact that he is still exciting to watch. Dangerous standup, powerful grappling, and endless cardio make him still one of the most dangerous featherweights in the world. With only one loss on his record so far, the sky is the limit for the California Kid.

7. Georges St. Pierre- GSP's fighting style has been labeled as the next step in the evolution of the mixed martial artist. Powerful standup, dominating ground work, and constant pressure on his opponents have lead the Canadian to the top of the heap on two occasions. Quite easily a future Hall of Famer as he has truly shown what real dedication and hard work will get you in the end. Think about this: he's only 27 years old. Imagine what he'll be able to do eight years from now!

8. Mauricio Rua- He still has yet to show U.S. fight fans why he was so popular in Pride Fighting
Championship but there's still time. He's only 26 years old. While he was in Japan, however, he rattled off 12 wins that included some of the most exciting destructions ever. Quinton Jackson was TKO'd in less than five minutes, Ricardo Arona didn't even last three minutes, and Alistair Overeem was knocked out in three and a half minutes. Shogun's most exciting fight in Pride was a back and forth battle with Antonio Rogerio Noguira at Critical Countdown 2005. I, along with many, believe that when Rua returns to the Octagon, we will see what Wanderlei Silva's protégé can really do.

9. Mirko Cro Cop- The Croatian has come on hard times recently with losing two in a row in the Octagon and suffering from injuries but you can't deny this man's ability to keep people watching him. A lot of that has to do with the fact that you don't know when the fight is going to end with Mirko around. His patented head kick is so devastating; one has to think that it equals the impact of a sledgehammer swung at full strength on the head. Cro Cop's fight with Vovchanchyn comes to mind with that analogy. The left head kick landed so squarely on Igor's head that you could hear the impact and see the sweat fly away. I honestly will be looking forward to a Fedor/Cro Cop 2 if the fight ever materializes.

10. Nick Diaz- I know. It sounds crazy but I have to say this guy has never had a fight I didn't love to watch.
Every time he steps into the cage or ring, you know something bad is bound to happen. A lot of that comes from the fact that he is what a real bad boy should be in MMA. Tito Ortiz be damned! Just watch his fight with Takanori Gomi. Diaz was bloodied and beaten up but still throwing punches and picking off the Japanese superstar left and right. Once Gomi went for a take down, Nick slipped in the gogoplata and won the fight. Better than that fight was his match with Karo Parisyan. Despite losing a split decision, there was never a dull moment in the fifteen minutes of action. If Nick were to continue refining his skills as he grows up as a person and fighter, I guarantee you he will be the man to beat at 155 lbs.


So there it is. Once again, this list is in no particular order. An honorable mention for this list was Tito Ortiz. When the guy told me that, I wanted to either slap him or laugh hysterically at the suggestion. Another mention for the list was Jake Shields. Jake is very good but not as exciting as the men on this list. It just doesn't feel like he has that extra something that makes him special. I will delve into that in a later article but it was a good thought. Any other thoughts? I'm sure there are other exciting fighters so let me know. Until next time…