1. Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Emelianenko
The “Last Emperor,” the “Terminator,” the “Russian Experiment:” simply stated, Emelianenko is the greatest MMA fighter to ever live. Fedor Emelianenko’s peak is unequalled in the world of MMA and, if we were to compare it with any other combat sport, then only another Russian, Alexander Karelin, could match Fedor’s magnificence.
Fedor stayed unbeaten for 32 bouts over a decade, only losing when he was elderly and much beyond his peak, and the opponents he lost to would likely have been decimated during his heyday. He held the Heavyweight Title for an astonishing 10 years, and destroyed multiple Pride and UFC champions along the way. He has arguably defeated more champions and all-time greats than any one else, and he’s largely regarded by most analysts and experts to be the king of the sport.
Notable Wins: Renato Sobral, Semmy Schilt, Heath Herring, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (x2), Gary Goodridge, Mark Coleman (x2), Kevin Randleman, Mirko Filipovic, Mark Hunt, Matt Lindland, Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski, Choi Hong-man, Jeff Monson, Pedro Rizzo.
2. Igor Vovchanchyn
Igor-Vovchanchyn
Igor is the definition of the phrase “underrated.” He’s the guy with the longest unbeaten run in history (37) and, in his heyday, was one of the most dominating fighters of all time. Igor was also one of the smallest heavyweight champions ever (5’8″,) which makes his statistics and exploits much more astounding.
Notable Wins: Kazushi Sakuraba, Mark Kerr, Valentijn Overeem, Adilson Lima (x2)
3. Dan Henderson dan-henderson
Words are not enough to explain Dan Henderson’s awesomeness. He’s arguably one of the finest and most durable boxers of all time, and what’s more astounding is that he still battles against current, younger opponents to this day.
Henderson is one of the very few guys who have become a superstar in both Pride and the UFC. A former Olympic wrestler, he fought for the most of his career in the middleweight and light heavyweight class, capturing important championships in three different weight divisions. He won the UFC 17 Middleweight Tournament, became the first fighter to win Pride crowns in different weight classes (welterweight and middleweight,) became the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, and was the RINGS King of Kings 1999 Tournament winner. He has won more championships in more major organizations than any other boxer in history.
Notable Wins: Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Renato Sobral, Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva, Maurício Rua and Fedor Emelianenko.