TSM Top 10

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Fedor Emelianenko - Wins over Coleman, Randleman, Schilt, Herring, Goodridge, Fujita, TK, Cro Cop and most importantly Noguiera. Probably the most well-rounded heavyweight fighter ever, with the ability to sub off his back, destroy in the guard, ko power in his hands, solid takedowns, great balance, and great strategic mind. Stood with Cro Cop, stayed in Nogs guard. And almost more importantly, he proved he can take a shot, take punishment, and come back.

 

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - If it wasn't for Fedor, Nog would be heads and shoulders above the rest. Wins over Goodridge, Coleman, Rodriguez, Cro Cop, Schilt, Sapp, Herring, Kharitonov, and VOLK HAN. Rock-hard chin, the biggest heart, best heavyweight off his back, and great, memorable, fights. He pretty much cleared out the division before Fedor came along.

 

Mark Coleman - Might be a controversial choice given his past losses to Cro Cop, Nog, Fedor, Williams, Smith, Rizzo... but the guy pretty much made the Heavyweight division with tournament wins at UFC 10 and 11 as well as dominant wins over Severn and Frye. First Heavyweight champion, influencial in that he proliferated the gnp style that is still popular today. Came back and won the PRIDE Grand Prix.

 

Mirko Cro Cop - A surprise pick, perhaps, given that he's still a competitive fighter and his place in history is still being written, but wins over Herring, Vovchanchyn, Fujita, Coleman, Randleman, Barnett, as-well-as a tremendous performance against Nog and Fedor certainly puts him in considertation. The most deadly striker in the HW division, did more with it than Pedro Rizzo, and if you put him against any Heavyweight who has ever lived, he'd have a good chance of winning it.

 

Pedro Rizzo - Wins overAbbott, Rodriguez, Arlovski, Barnett, Severn, TK, debated loss against Couture, and debated win over Coleman. At his best, there were very few better. Unfortunately, he failed to live up to his potential on many occasions, but all those big wins (cept for Abbott) were, at the time, against top 10 calibre fighters. Significant drop-off in recent years hurts his legacy.

 

Ricco Rodriguez - drop-off aside, Ricco is one of the more talented Heavyweight fighters in history. Good wrestler who was able to use size and positioning effectively to get off submission and GnP wins. Wins over Couture, TK, Williams, Arlovski, Monson, Buentello, Goodridge, and a debated loss against Noguiera

 

Dan Severn - UFC 4 finalist, UFC 5 winner, Ultimate Ultimate 2 winner, Superfight Champion. Wins over Griffin, Christison, Eilers, Silveira, Sims, Kopylov, Shamrock, Taktorov, Abbott, Fulton... not the greatest calibre of wins, and he's not the most exciting fighter, but all things considered, a remarkable set of accomplishments. He was the first successful wrestler in MMA, and though he was never in the top ten for the vast majority of his career, he gets points for laying the groundwork for the heavyweight division.

 

Don Frye - Another one of those foundation fighters who are on the list because they were necesary for the development of the HW division. I think these type of fighters should be considered seriously because when you look at what makes for a legitimate top 10 fighter, who they beat is very important. Frye didn't really beat anyone big. Goodridge and Abbott are about his biggest wins. However, UFC 8 tourny champ, UU champ, the guy was a top guy during a period of time when everything was very disorganized and chaotic and Frye stood out as a clear top fighter. Along with Severn, Frye was a trailblazer.

 

Randy Couture - Not a tremendously accomplished HW. I was debating putting him on the list. But wins over Belfort, Randleman, Smith and Rizzo - he helped bring the UFC heavyeweight picture legitimacy coming out of the dark-ages.

 

Igor Vovchanchyn - Probably one of the most debatable picks on this list, but I look at him as a much better version of Tank Abbott. Looking at his fight record shows many tournament wins, many ko wins... the guy was a wrecking machine. Sure, those wins over lots of junk fighters, but this is something we have to accept and appreciate in the development of MMA history. The guy was a definite force in early PRIDE and helped lay the foundation for their HW division.

 

Kazyuki Fujita/Josh Barnett - Fujita is a pick that will probably get lots of eye rolls. Wins over Kerr, Shamrock, Sapp, Yvel. Took Cro Cop to a decision. Came closest to beating Fedor. The best Japanese Heavyweight, and I think he could be competitive against anybody in the division, even today. Barnett has wins over Couture, Schilt, Hoffman, McGee, Severn, and competitive losses against Rizzo and Cro Cop. One of the more well rounded heavies.

[Lei Tong 0]

1) Fedor

2) Noguiera

3-10) A bunch of other guys

 

Those're my feelings on the subject.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Yeah, I was writing the list and was like "jeez, I could put ANYONE after Fedor and Nog and it wouldn't matter."

[Lei Tong 0]

If we're talking strictly skillset wise, Gonzaga/Werdum alone submit half of those guys.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Well it depends on whether you look at it as who has done what when, or how they relate now.

 

I mean if it's now than you might as well just take the current list, since MMA is ever evolving and I can't think of a retired heavyweight fighter that would jump in the mix.

 

It's scary to think about it that way, that the sport has grown to the point that what we have now is the best it has had to offer since it has been around.

 

*Sees Buentello "armbar" Aldana* Oh shit.

[Lei Tong 0]

Previous list retracted.

 

1) Fedor

2) Noguiera

3) Volk Han

4) Terzyan

5) A bunch of guys who want to be Terzyan and/or Volk Han

[AboveAverage484 0]

I have no complaints with Rudo's list. And I agree with the 1. Fedor, 2. Nogueira, 3. A bunch of other guys sentiment.