What Fighter Best Respresents MMA?
MMA is brutal, bloody and controversial. While some claim it should be banned, others clamor for more coverage and high profile fights. At a pivotal time in the growth of this sport, which fighter stands out as the best representative of mixed martial arts on the basis of skill, personality and worldwide recognition?
About the Author Jon Grilz (senior writer)
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- 657 comments posted
- 76 fans
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about 1 month ago
I think that the answer is GSP. He is the most marketable. He should be the face of all of this.
from about 1 month ago
I definitely think that he has some of the strongest potential, and seems to be pushed that way by the UFC... just so long as he can beat Penn and retain the belt.
about 1 month ago
His youth is a definite advantage. He can and will be with the sport for a long time, and his classy, humble, upbeat attitude are crucial.
from about 1 month ago
All great points Mike, thanks.
about 1 month ago
im not saying its Chuck Liddell but he should have deffinately been in the slide. He brings exitement and explosiveness that MMA fans love to see. Not to mention that he dominated the LHW division before hitting a wall in the past year or so.
from about 1 month ago
I see where you are going, but I had to draw the line somewhere. I had thought about Chuck and Urijah and Miguel, but due to (at least Chuck's) resent losses in the light heavyweight division, he would need to focus more on the sport than himself.
about 1 month ago
Nice job getting this on the front page of B/R. Its got to be GSP right? I would say Franklin or Couture (two of my favorites) but they seem to be on the back nine of their career. I was surprised Bas Rutten made it on here if your narrowing it down to seven ambassadors. I thought you would have put Forrest Griffin and/or Brock Lesnar on here. Cool list though and I really like the slide show concept.
from about 1 month ago
I sold my soul to get front page coverage, don't tell anyone.
Don't get me wrong, I like Forrest and Brock, but frankly, I just don't see them caring that much about the way that the sport is perceived, or fighter relations. They are excellent competitors, but I doubt they are interested in being "the face of MMA".
from about 1 month ago
Brock - no, Forrest - yes
Brock will always be the "WWE guy who came to UFC"
Forrest won the fight which made MMA blossom
So - Forrest Griffin would be much better choice for MMA than Bas Rutten (whom I have never seen fight)
about 1 month ago
great article, Nog, Anderson Silva, GSP and Forrest all will be great ambassadors of the sport
from about 1 month ago
Thanks, Tom.
about 1 month ago
I dont think any of them is a face for MMA. There are so many styles and all of those fighters have 2 styles down really well and 1 that is lacking.
from about 1 month ago
What aspect of fighting is lacking in the skill set of BJ Penn, Fedor or GSP?
Not one.
about 1 month ago
We have never seen GSP on his back, and frankly I highly doubt he will win if he goes on his back, and how about his striking? Why cant he get his accuracy to 100 or 90% like Silva? GSP is my favorite fighter yet even he shouldnt be representing mma.
BJ Penn, his striking is horrible, and his take downs are crap. His BJJ is I think the best though, but why doesnt he try to improve his striking, making it more dynamic? Why doesnt he start training in wrestling so that way he doesnt have to rely on his BJJ but gets some good ground and pound.
Fedor is a close candidate, but his skills dont seem at all that refined. Personally I think his kick boxing needs work, and some of his wrestling skills could improve too.
No fighter yet is the true face of MMA. The true face of MMA is going to be someone who has learned like 6 or 7 different styles and is dominate in all aspects of a fight.
from about 1 month ago
"BJ Penn, his striking is horrible,"
Erm ... what? Have you actually seen BJ Penn fight?
from about 1 month ago
lol CJ
from about 1 month ago
Sorry CJ, I think Jay has a valid question.
from about 1 month ago
I have seen him fight, he boxes, there is nothing special about it. If he went against a good striker he wouldnt win. Look at his record, he hasnt fought a legit kick ass striker. If you say Jens Pulver is a good striker your on drugs. Especially since he lost to Garcia. BJ Penn is a defensive fighter, he just waits waits waits and then thrusts forward with a punch, he is not a good striker.
from about 1 month ago
Interesting point, CJ. However, by your criteria (boxing) is Patrick Cote not a good fighter. Or Andrei Arlovski for that matter?
from about 1 month ago
There is a major difference between being a good fighter to being the face of MMA. All those people on that list are great fighters, but I think the face of MMA is someone who has mastered the way of fighting completely.
Arlovski is a good fighter, but not the face of MMA. Cote...I dont think Cote is a good fighter period and definitely not the face of MMA, especially since he was too afraid to do anything to Almeida because he might get submitted.
from about 1 month ago
lol CJ, I think posting that BJ Penn is not a good striker borders on "flag as offensive" :)
In fact I'm going to flag your comment as such. It's actually far, and I mean FAR worse than if you were to post that 2+2 does NOT equal 4, but equals 3...
Seriously dude, I really don't even know where to start! I mean, there are major elitist boxing promoters who HATE MMA, and even they have stated that BJ Penn is an amazing striker!
fedor's kickboxing needing work?? ummm..... Fedor tooled JLB in training, and Hoost stated this: "Fedor would be absolutely awesome in K1"
Fedor's wrestling needs work??? ummm..... Randy Couture praised Fedor for his Greco! Olympic wrestler and World Champion Wrestler Mark Coleman stated that when he wrestled Fedor it felt like Fedor was 600lbs, his balance was so amazing that Mark said he couldn't even move him.
anyway, peace man,
from about 1 month ago
Hey its my opinion and I know I didnt ask for you opinion. Seriously you dont know good striking if you think BJ Penn is a good striker, he maybe a good boxer but as we have seen in several fights just boxing doesnt win in MMA.
I flagged your comment as offensive too, especially since I made no personal attacks in my comment, but you attacked me in yours, so I will be waitin to see one of the BRs goons come yell at you.
from about 1 month ago
CJ,
One doesn't have to use kicks to be a good striker. BJ CHOSES to box. He doesn't like to kick because he believes it leaves him open to takedowns. It's his style, and it works great for him. Another fighter may chose to kick more if it works better for him.
You see, it's a FACT that BJ is a great striker. it's not a matter of an opinion. It's a FACT that was voiced and stated by the world's best fighters over and over again. Take my word for it, they know better than you or me.
lol at you flaggin my comment.
from about 1 month ago
*cough* Duane Ludwig *cough*
from about 1 month ago
*cough* Lyoto Machida *cough*
from about 1 month ago
BJ Penn gets taken down anyway. He doesnt kick because he is too nervous on his feet to really let go. He backs up until he throughs a couple of punches and then continues to back up. Lets look at other fighters who lost because they only box. Koshcheck has lost twice because of that, once to GSP and again to Thiago Alves because they are more dynamic strikers. Lets not forget the infamous Griffin and Jackson fight.
You say your proof is fact, but its really just opinions by other fighters. My proof is evidence that everyone has seen. Those who only box lose to dynamic strikers.
from about 1 month ago
really? How come Fedor outstruck prime Crocop then?
Didn't you say fedor needs work on his kickboxing?
What about Rizzo-Zentsov? Zentsov boxes, Rizzo boxes and kicks...
Dude, are you serious???
about 1 month ago
Great Read, I agree with all of your picks. I think you should've increased it to 10 though and included: Forrest Griffin,Urijah Faber,and Kenny Florian. All have great out of octagon traits and are very exciting and marketable. None the less great list! My picks are Nog,Anderson,and GSP!!!!
from about 1 month ago
It feels like Florian is being pushed into the role. He gets insane coverage in Ultimate Grappling and even subbed in for Joe Rogan a while back as announcer, but I have always pulled away from ideas that are being shoved in my face.
Like sobriety.
about 1 month ago
Definintely some good picks here. I would have bet money Forrest would be in their, luckily Im under the legal age. Anyway, I keep seeing slide shows popping up all over the sight and I had a good idea for one but i have no idea how to make one, a little help would be appreciated
from about 1 month ago
Thanks, Mike. I just don't know how interested Forrest would be in that role.
Just go to write an article. It asks you what format and walks you through the process.
about 1 month ago
Big Nog is my choice, Jon, of
Of course I'm assuming that when you say "best representative" you mean popularity/skill/classiness/public relations/humility. Under that criteria, all of your selections are suitable, but I'm giving Big Nog the edge because not only does he posses all of these requirements, a freaking hand-grenade can't knock the guy out!
from about 1 month ago
To tell you the truth, Joseph, he's my choice as well.
If every fighter were (or at least came across) like Big Nog, the general public would stop chastizing the sport and start singing its praise. He is also the fighter whom I would most want to train with, if it is possible to sell your soul for a second time.
Of course, in a cruel twist of irony, I don't think that Big Nog would train with me if I were that careless as to trade away my eternal soul for worldly advancement. He's that cool.
about 1 month ago
After watching Nog on TUF I really began to like this guy. Especially with Mir acting like such an ass. If he can get past Mir, which I think he will, and defeat Lesner that would bring some serious attention his way. I'm going to say GSP or Forrest but they gotta keep defending those belts!
from about 1 month ago
It is a strange time for being a UFC champ these days. The guys that have it either seem to have people wondering if they can defend it or they want another one.
about 1 month ago
4 stars for missing Griffin
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