In the mid '90s, the UFC emerged as the first popularized mixed martial arts events in the United States. It was bloody, messy, and uncoordinated. Bruce Lee versus Jackie Chan it wasn’t. There was a lot of criticism of the sport and the organization in terms of brutality.
Eventually, legislation spearheaded by Senator John McCain fought to ban MMA, as it was known (few if any rules or regulations). After a hiatus, change of ownership, and increased rules, the UFC returned with a vengeance and began their climb to the top of the popularity charts for professional sports.
There were many factors that have contributed to the UFC as we know it and the popularity it holds (how many people think that MMA and UFC are the same thing?). Forgetting the pain and effort that was needed in conference rooms and over the telephone, in the end, it is the fighters that make the UFC what it is.
Here is a list of the Top 10 fighters that have most influenced what the UFC is today:
10. Don Frye
Often forgotten in recent times thanks to his standoffish attitude and belligerent behavior, Don Frye took on some of the best fighters the UFC had to offer and ground them into the mat. Most memorable of all was his enduring and eventually tapping out Tank Abbott when Abbott was at his best.
He was the first and best wrestler the UFC showcased by combining solid strikes to his grappling skills. He set the stage for future champions like Randy Couture, Matt Hughes, and even Brock Lesnar to show how dominate wrestling can be in MMA competition.
9. Ken Shamrock
Love him or hate him (probably the latter), Ken Shamrock was there from the beginning and brought Pancrase fighting to the UFC. With dangerous ankle locks and a tenacity that was enough to stop the previously unstoppable Royce Gracie (unofficial Super Fight), Ken Shamrock was, at one point, at the top of the UFC food chain.
(Of course, then he fell apart and is yet to realize that he needs to retire)
8. Marco Ruas
Marco Ruas brought Vale Tudo style fighting to the UFC back in 1995. His dismantling of the giant Paul Varelans at UFC Seven exemplified that Brazilian fighters brought more than just BJJ to the mixed martial arts table.
He is the first example of a truly complete fighter to compete in the UFC. All the while showing, before its time, what the future of MMA would become.
7. Frank Shamrock
The UFC’s first middleweight champion, Frank Shamrock was so successful that he left the UFC, retiring, claiming that there was no one left that was any competition. At the time, he was right.
A combination of formidable striking, incredible cardio (one of the first fighters to truly show a high level of conditioning), and top-notch submissions, Frank Shamrock tends to be forgotten in the history of the UFC but still stands as one of the most dominant and complete champions that the UFC has ever seen.
comments (24) write a comment »
write a new comment
about 1 month ago
Great list.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks, Robert.
from about 1 month ago
Ditto (to what Robert said). I particularly like that you gave credit to Frank, Don, and Marco.
from about 1 month ago
They don't get the recognition, but they were instrumental in the early days for setting the stage.
about 1 month ago
Good job Jon, this is on the front page. Good to see our community up there with the big boys.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks, Todd.
Slowly but surely, the 1500 or so of us are getting heard.
about 1 month ago
wat about dan severn, surely this list is incomplete without the beast.
from about 1 month ago
I had thought about adding Dan Severn to the list, Neil. I had thought about him when I put Don Frye on the list, but while he was an excellent and dominant wrestler who ended up making the most of his popularity by going to the WWF, he was missing other aspects to his game.
That is why I put Don Frye on instead, due to his being more well versed in striking and submissions in the early years.
Though Severn definitely gets props for longevity. To date he is 86-16-7, with his last fight being May of 2008. Maybe that will be a subject for another article.
about 1 month ago
Although Bas Rutten's career in the UFC was short, he has had a tremendous impact on MMA as a whole. One of the greatest fighters in our time, I'm not sure if he should necessarily be on the UFC list, but he deserves recognition as one of the original gritty, tough guys in MMA.
from about 1 month ago
I agree that Bas Rutten emerged as one of the great all-around fighters, but like you pointed out, I had to narrow the list down, so I just kept it to the UFC.
about 1 month ago
Fine article, Jon. Very enjoyable.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks, Dorothy.
about 1 month ago
Good read.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks, Jeff.
about 1 month ago
Good stuff Jon...really nice list. Question however: Do you think perhaps that someone like Mark Coleman should have been on this list? What about the others like Tank Abbott, or Kimo Leopoldo? I personally think Coleman's a no, Abbott, as crappy as he may be now, yes, and Kimo is a toss-up. Just was wondering where those three stand in your opinion. Good stuff once again.
from about 1 month ago
Well, Coleman was a personal choice. He was about as one-dimensional as a fighter gets and just never really seemed to embody what I feel MMA should be about.
Tank Abbott was also a consideration because he was the original bad boy and very successful early on. But again, way to one-dimensional and more suited to Tough Man Competitions.
Kimo isn't happening. He might be one of the most hyped fighters to ever enter the UFC and he failed on all attempts to succeed. He was a total flop.
about 1 month ago
Oh, and as a quick mention, I think that Forrest and Bonnar should be higher, as I know that was the night I officially got into MMA.
from about 1 month ago
That was a judgment call as well. I felt that I could have ranked it as high as 3rd or 4th due to how popular of a fight it was and how many fans it drew in, but it was also one fight, and this list is more about the fighters.
The Top 5 just deserved too much respect for their careers for me to overshadow them with one fight.
about 1 month ago
Good points Jon. Good points about the fighters, and the matchup with Forrest and Bonnar. Very good explanation.
about 1 month ago
Good list. For me, there are four fighters who are heavily responsible for the UFC's current popularity: Ken Shamrock, Tito Ortiz, Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar.
I realize you're talking from a historical perspective, but those four guys I listed are almost entirely responsible for the meteoric rise of late 2006 and early 2007.
about 1 month ago
Terrific article, Jon. You can really crank 'em out!
All I remember about Marco Ruas in the UFC was his dismantling of "The Polar Bear" Paul Varlens, a stand-up, one dimensional fighter, but a tough one nonetheless.
And the Ruas/Takarov "non-fight" in which Ruas avoided contact like no other fighter or fight I've seen. Ruas did absolutely nothing...and I really mean nothing. Not that Taktarov was setting a blistering pace himself, but at least he tried a few Sambo moves. Catch that tape and you'll be amazed that Ruas wasn't disqualified for avoiding contact.
There are quite a few fighters and fights that have impacted the UFC and made it what it is today. And other than Ruas (unless he won other UFC fights that I missed), I think your picks are pretty much on the money, Jon.
I'm glad you left out Joe Rogan...LOL
about 1 month ago
I forgot to mention something, Jon,
Did Ken Shamrock really stop Royce Gracie in the superfight? I thought the fight went the full 30-minutes (plus the 5-minute overtime.) The final bell rang and the fight was ruled a draw. Please correct me if I'm wrong, Jon.
The were no judges, but Gracie landed strike after strike while in the guard, while Ken landed only one significant punch (A stand-up strike which busted up Gracie's eye.) Gracie won the fight with room to spare in my opinion.
from about 1 month ago
You're right, Joseph. Shamrock and Gracie went to draw in a fight that definitely wasn't as good as everyone expected it would be, and it was ruled a draw. Shamrock then beat Dan Severn for the Superfight title.
about 1 month ago
I agree with everyone: good article and explanations, Jon. I was there from the beginning, UFC I. I remember ordering that 1st open-style fighting tournament in my basement, but when I talk MMA with people nowadays, they don't know the old school names that I reference.
This list brought me back to those good ol' days sigh*. I can remember Pat Smith taking out the only ninja to ever compete in MMA (to my knowledge), guys fighting up to 4 matches in a given night, all the crazy new styles popping up like John Hess's SAFTA (Scientifically Aggressive Fighting Technology of America) lol, Art Jimmerson fighting Royce Gracie with one boxing glove on, me being puzzled as to what Royce was doing on top of Art during that fight (my first look a BJJ), Steve Jennum coming in as a last minute alternate to win UFC 3, and Harold Howard's crazy eyes, somersault kick, dismantling of Muay Thai kickboxer Roland Payne, and bursting open a punching bag full of sand in his UFC bio, of course.
I could go on and on (Joe Son having trouble lifting the crucifix a la Kimo, Keith Hackney using wild hay maker punches to take Emmanuel Yarborough down in their David vs. Goliath match and also unmercifully punching Joe Son in the crotch in a later UFC. Hmmm, I guess that makes him a Giant AND midget killer, with Joe Son only standing 5' 4") and it looks like I did. Anyway, thanks for the memories, Jon.
write a new comment