SI's Top MMA Fighters of the Decade

[DixieDestroyer]

This is a solid list, but the ranking is BS. No way was Silva more dominant (for the decade) than Liddell, Couture & Hughes.

SI's Top MMA Fighters of the Decade

My top 10 (for the decade) is...

1) Fedor (best P4P & Overall MMA fighter of all-time)
2) Couture (UFC HW & LHW Champ)
3) Henderson (Pride MW & LHW Champ)
4) Hughes (2 time UFC WW Champ & one of the best ever)
5) Penn (current UFC LW Champ & former UFC WW Champ)
6) Liddell (Former UFC LHW Champ & one of the best LHWs ever)
7) Silva
8) GSP (About to eclipse Hughes as best WW of all time IMO)
9) Nog
10) Wandy

***My top P4P fighters are Fedor, GSP, Penn, Silva & Machida

***My top Overall fighters are Fedor, GSP, Lesnar, Silva & Machida

Edited by: DixieDestroyer

 

[whiteathlete33]

I don't get what all the hype over Silva is. He has 4 losses while Fedor only has one which I believe was controversial. I know he has been dominant lately but that shouldn't qualify him as MMA's top pound for pound guy over Fedor. Some publications list him as #1. Also Fedor fights in heavyweight so at times he has to go against guys much bigger than he is. That is much more difficult than what Silva has to face. The guys he goes against are all in the same weight range.
Edited by: whiteathlete33

 

[DixieDestroyer]

Good points WA33. Fedor has fought against a slew of monsters who physcially dwarfed him (Rogers, Sylvia, Hong-Man Choi, Zuluzinho, Semmy Schilt, Kerry Schall) & beaten ALL of them! Whereas, overhyped Silva walks around at 210 and fights at 185. In addition to his 4 losses, Silva got beat the 1st round against Henderson & had a weak performance against heavy-handed Patrick Cote (who lost due to a knee injury).

There's talk of Silva fighting Mir (in 2010)...if Frank beats caste-pushed Kongo (which he should). If it goes to the mat, Frank has better BJJ, size & strength than Silva & I like Mir's chances to win.


Edited by: DixieDestroyer

 

[whiteathlete33]

I know that there are several MMA venues like Pride, UFC, and Strikeforce. I don't follow MMA much but I think Silva would lose to a top guy in his weight class from another MMA venue.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

Well, Pride was the best MMA promotion in its prime (IMO). UFC parent company Zuffa purchased Pride in 2007 and the Pride Worldwide's Japanese staff was laid off, marking the end of the organization as an active fight promoter. Several of Pride's top fighters (Henderson, Nog, CroCop & Rampage) joined the UFC.

As far as other top MWs who could beat Silva, I like UFC's Nate Marquardt in a rematch vs. Silva. Nate's quick, powerful with heavy hands & a good ground game. Others who'd have a good chance IMO include Dan Henderson (Strikeforce), Jake Shields (Strikeforce MW Champ), & Vitor Belfort (will fight Silva at UFC 112 in April...although Marquardt deserves that fight more). Bisping could give Silva a solid fight if his BJJ was better, and the same for Damian Maia (...if his stand-up was better).


Edited by: DixieDestroyer

 

[Tired old White]

So if I understand this correctly when someone is an MMA Champion they are a corporate champion not a world champion?

 

[whiteathlete33]

I believe so Tired old White. It is similar to boxing where where you have 4 champions in each division. You have the WBO, WBC, WBA, and IBF in boxing. Then you have the Ring Champion which is a magazine of so called "experts" who choose a "real" champion.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

I believe so Tired old White.  It is similar to boxing where where you have 4 champions in each division. You have the WBO, WBC, WBA, and IBF in boxing. Then you have the Ring Champion which is a magazine of so called "experts" who choose a "real" champion.  

Yep, the fighter is the "world champ"...only for that promotion. With UFC being the top, best MMA promo...most experts "default" to the UFC champs. UFC, Strikeforce/M-1, & WEC (also owned by Zuffa) are the best/top, current MMA organization. Here's a list of various MMA promotions (some defunct)...

List of MMA promotions