There are few jobs in this world that could match the scarifices and risks of an aspiring Professional Mixed Martials Artist. It takes a strong will and unlimited drive to go through days of uncertainty. On your first fights, you have to start in the dreadful regional circuit where pay could not even settle your bills. You have to have a regular job until you reach the big leagues. These are the days where safety and insurance will be the least of your concerns - guaranteed, the local shows won't and can't provide it. Somedays you wonder if it is still worth it, success is far from achievable. You just to shrug the feeling off and try to numb yourself with hope. Aside from the will, you also have to have talent - and hopefully its more than your opponent who is going through the same process.

I just couldn't place myself where I will bet my health - this is a violent and dangerous profession. You have to inflict pain to another person and expect to receive some - only a few have the mindset of accepting this as a need and truth of your chosen livelihood. I wont place my family's welfare in vain - I can't gamble on a job that doesnt guarantee enough money to pay place to live in and get food on our plates. There is just too much of a psychological toll that a start up MMArtist take in a sport that only honors a few. You have to want it - and want it bad.

This whole experience builds up character and the resolve of a fighter. I have to win, I have to do my outmost best at every little chance that I get. You gain respect to the sport. You breathe the dedication it asks of you. If you already have the required initial drive to be a fighter - this multiplies it to a level most of us wont experience.

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Captain America just retired, maybe this time it’s for good. His last 4 fights are uneventful not worthy of the name. The Vera fight was a big time snoozer. The Coleman rape was just agonizing to watch. The Toney fight was just for novelty purposes. The knockout from Machida ala Karate Kid is no way he envisioned to end his career. But when we think about his career, we won't even mention these fights. Nor they don't have any effect to our respect and adoration of a man that has graced our sport. Randy Couture has had so many legendary moments - our mma minds automatically shrug these fights and proceed with gratitude for the man.

Randy had that aura of professional and charismatic figure. But this is not the reason we all love him, it was his moments in the cage that has engulfed all of us to appreciate what he means to MMA. At 34 years old, in his 3rd MMA fight – he faced a phenom like no other, Vitor Belfort. Most expected that Belfort would just maul the wrestler and add to his growing highlights. Randy shocked the world by defeating a force that was deemed unstoppable. Sure, on hindsight, we can criticize Vitor’s skill – but that moment lives on forever. At  37 years old, when most athletes contemplate on retirement or are already retired - our hero won his 2nd UFC belt against a monster on a tear named Randleman. Kevin was younger and faster - I for one didn’t give Couture a chance because The Monster looked like he was going to dominate the division for years. But again, Randy rose to the occasion and surprised the sport. A great comeback win against Pedro Rizzo gave us another chapter of this old man who seems to conquer all odds specially when stacked against him. Then after losing to Barnett and Ricco – it just seemed right that his tale of upsets have reached the end. He moved to LHW and faced another killer in the name of Chuck Liddell. On their first bout, he fucking outstruck the Iceman and eventually finished him via TKO. This was Chuck Liddell at a time when the organization’s champion was ducking him for multiple reasons. But our David, just placed a pitstop on his rise and took the centerstage again, when nobody seemed to give him a chance. He then played a major role in the Vitor-Chuck-Tito-Randy round robins that really helped the organization reached its current stature. But after the 2nd Iceman KO, at 43 he opts to call it quit.

The HW division was ruled by Tim Sylvia, an effective and very big HW but was putting the division on a stagnant state. And we all know what happened.. That was 5 rounds of pure greatness. It’s really hard to top that fight in terms of sheer orgasmic viewing. Nothing can take this moment away from the Natural. He owned the world, and rightfully so.  The Gonzaga defense fight was just a cherry on his list of historical fights. Even in defeat against Brock, we still applauded him.

This is Randy Couture – the one who conquered the sport, us. When impossible was made possible, the old man was present. He has a win loss record of 19-11 and infinite moments when all of us wished we wanted to be him.  The Natural doesn’t have Anderson Silva or Georges St-Pierre streaks of domination,  but neither the Spider nor Rush have his countless David stories.

After Strikeforce's last event, it was probably one of the most surreal and glorious moment in Mixed Martial Arts.

When seeing Gus Johnson promoting Jake Shields' fight against GSP in Showtime. When Shields was proud to say he was once a Strikeforce champion and will try be the first cross promotion champion. When you saw Dana White wearing a Strikeforce shirt and actually promoting the event by even simply saying "Holy fuckin shit!!!!!!". When most of the messageboards actually just appreciated the Strikeforce fights for what they are instead of bashing it.  When seeing my beloved Asian stars fight in American soil.  When SF delivered again on what they are best at - exciting fights. Everything seems to be just right after the event and everybody was just happy that we just saw amazing fights. How fucking good was that.

I strongly wish the UFC Management would just keep Strikeforce and leave them as they are. The occasional superfights between champions will just be bonuses on ,imo, would be the Golden Age of MMA. If Strikeforce eventually folds into the UFC - it would be fun, intriguing at first but later on, will just the same one product. I love both organizations - and never I imagined that this day was possible - when the MMA community, fans, fighters and promoters are all in for one motive - enjoying the sport for what it is.

Fuck, this shit is too awesome.

While smoking, I remembered one of my favorite years in MMA - 2005. Figured to Google the rankings back then and compare how they fair in the current landscape of our beloved sport.

I used Sherdog's ranking.

J.G.’s Dirty Dozen — A Pound-for-Pound MMA Ranking as of 11/29/05

12. Mirko Filipovic (17-3-2)

 When you talk about scary fighters, he tops the list. If he doesn’t get bored and if PRIDE doesn’t burn him out with a non-stop fight schedule, this man could still be the one who dethrones Fedor.

 Admit it, this made you smile - Crocop is the zenith of nostalgia. We were all salivating at the idea of Mirko dominating the UFC and taking the belt from Couture. Since that dreadful day when Mirko got brutally KOed by a head kick, we have been waiting for the revival of the once feared beloved striker. Don't worry fellas, we have another chance for a miserable disappointment at UFC 128.

 11. Rich Franklin (19-1-0)

Combine the most natural talent in his division with a work ethic that would make Jerry Rice beg for two weeks in Cancun and you have a fighter on the verge of something special

 I was never a Franklin fan, but after KOing Quarry - it just felt right that Rich would dominate the UFC MW division for atleast 10 more years. Most MW stars were residing with Pride and with a very shallow division; there was really no foreseeable contender until the signing of one named Anderson Silva. After the 2nd nose job from Silva's knees, Franklin's career never had any clear direction. Moving to LHW to Franklinweight and back to LHW, fighting former champions that always had the air of used to be.

10.  Dan Henderson (18-4-0)

A longtime favorite of any pound-for-pound list, Henderson is finally fighting at his natural weight (185 lbs.) for first time in his career. Competing a division above this weight at 205, Henderson still enjoyed major successes, but an extended stay at 185 could let us all see how great a fighter he actually is

Hendo have been fighting MMA professionally since '97.  This 40 year old fighter always seems to loom around the rankings and championship in his entire career even up to this point. The highlight of his career was carrying two Pride belts and now still hunting for another championship. When you are about just to write off Hollywood Dan, he either responds with a KO of the year or the slightly controversial jump from UFC to SF. Henderson, imo, is an undervalued legend of this sport - and ill give him 2 more years of a relevant fighting career.

 9. BJ Penn (10-2-1)

 Here’s where it gets tricky. Why is a man who submitted the No. 2 and 3 fighters on this list stuck at No. 9? Two uninspired decisions at 185 over Rodrigo and Renzo Gracie (Pictures) and a horrible performance at 205 in decision loss to Ryoto Machida (Pictures), that’s why. A recent return to the UFC means he’s going to fight to 170 pounds — by far his best weight — and could regain the form that had many calling him the best in the world in Jan. 2004 after wins over Gomi and Hughes. The Hawaiian is special. He has all the tools that make Fedor and Gomi great, but has shown a lack of interest. How bad does he want to be the best? We should find out in 2006 with potential bouts versus Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) and Hughes.

5 + years later - it seems like we are back with the same Penn. After two losses against Edgar (still shrugging at this), BJ is looking to reestablish his career at WW by defeating Fitch. BJ's impact to the MMA world has decreased since those losses to Edgar - but I have a good feeling that the community will be praising Penn again as one of its very elites.

8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira  (11-2-0) 

 Lost somewhere in the shadow of his big brother Rodrigo, Lil’ Nogueira has enjoyed a productive 2005, scoring a decision over Alistair Overeem (Pictures) and submission of Dan Henderson (Pictures). His only loss in ’05 came in a war against Shogun

Now that his brother's shadow is almost gone, Lil Nog seems to have faded with it as well. After a lackluster win over Brilz and a loss to Bader - Rogerio has alot to prove to regain any sign of contendership status that he once had. Still very dangerous to any LHW opponent, but being pitted against Ortiz - who hasn’t won a fight since '06, I sincerely hope Lil Nog is not on his permanent way to the senior circuit or a stepping stone for all up and comers.

7. Wanderlei Silva 29-5-1

Wanderlei Silva’s 29 wins had ended before the bell.Despite being criticized throughout his PRIDE 205-pound title reign (he still holds the PRIDE middleweight belt) as a fighter who padded his record against weak Japanese opposition, Silva’s reputation as a killer is well deserved. The Brazilian Chute Boxe fighter is as aggressive as they come, and though he lost to Arona, who offered the worst possible style match-up for a man of Silva’s knock-your-head-off style, Silva still ranks ahead of the Brazilian Top Team fighter.

Mirko's head kick and Hendo's KO probably should have notified the Wandy fanboy in all of us should have expected that the murderer act was about to end. Now on his way to reestablishing his career in the MW division, all of us are just a bunch of hopefuls who try to logically explain the success the Silva will regain. But with Okami, Maia, Marquardt, Sonnen playing the division's contender carousel - we know that Silva will not be a glorious champion he once was. Oh man, atleast he won his last fight - and to make it sweeter, it was against Bisping. Hey Fate, just give us the Belfort / Wanderlei rematch and we can call it even.

 6) Chuck Liddell (17-3-0)

The UFC light heavyweight champion has won four in row by stoppage: Jeremy Horn  (TKO), Randy Couture  (KO), Vernon White  (KO), and Tito Ortiz  (KO). In case you weren’t sure, The Iceman has explosive hands.

 4 out of his last 6 fights - he was knocked out to oblivion that no one among us wouldn't dare to experience. Out of this whole list, Liddell is the only retiree. A sad truth for the once biggest star of the sport. There is really nothing much to say about Liddell's fall except for that nobody wanted it to end this way.

5) Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (25-3-1) 1 NC

If it wasn’t for Fedor, we’d all be trying to figure where "Minotauro" ranks amongst the all-time great MMA heavyweights. Known for an elegant ability to grapple unlike any other heavyweight in the world, Nogueira hasn’t lost to anyone outside of Fedor since 2000 and avenged the only other loss of his career (to Dan Henderson ( in RINGS) in 2003.

If I could choose a fighter to represent the essence of the sport - it will be Big Nog. If  you were following MMA at this time - you were a Nogueira fan, in the same level when everybody was a Royce Gracie fan back in the 90's. The 2nd Fedor fight gave me a wicked hope that Nog can regain his status and the best HW alive. Everybody was eager in waiting for Rodrigo to reclaim, as a fictional hero in flesh., was seemed to be rightfully his, the Pride HW championship. We respected Fedor, but we all loved Nogueira. Its been a year since he last fought, that devastating KO by Velasquez. Now, deep down - we all just want him to retire. It is just the right thing to do. I don't even have a prospestorous longing for another run at the title - he is like your ex wife, anything less than moving on would be disastrous.

4) Mauricio Rua (12-1)

 The Brazilian’s only loss came against his countryman Renato Sobral  in Sept. 2003. This year the young striker is 5-0, holding impressive victories over Ricardo Arona , Alistair Overeem , Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Quinton Jackson . There’s no other way to put it except to say that Shogun has exploded in the 205-pound division this year, and his combination of Muay Thai and wrestling skills, as well as an understanding of how to submit and stay out of submissions have this 24-year-old Chute Boxe product the favorite to win Sherdog.com’s Fighter Of The Year honors.

Epic year for a 24 fucking year old fighter. He just blasted out of now where and stole the division from Chuck Liddell - Icefuckingman. His sudden rise using his skill and charisma reminded me of that 19 year old Vitor Belfort. Simply phenomenal. Rua, one of the very few Pride fighters that fanboys(yes im looking at you) are holding on for a continuous success in the UFC.  He is about to face this decade's Phenom - as much as I like Jones, the PRIDE NEVER DIES in me wishes for a Shogun win.

3) Matt Hughes (38-4-0)

Sporting just one loss since the spring of 2001 (a submission defeat versus B.J. Penn , Hughes has basically cleaned out the UFC 170-pound division. With the Penn loss hanging over his head, he armbarred Georges St. Pierre  in Oct. 2004.. Pound-for-pound the strongest fighter in MMA.

After the 2nd loss to GSP, it was apparent to all that the once ultra dominant champion of our time will never regain the crown again. I personally like the fights the Matt have chosen recently - I am happy that a legend of his status is somewhat enjoying the tail end of his fighting career. Imo, this should be the way legends end their careers.

2)Takanori Gomi  (22-2-0)

Undefeated since losing to B.J. Penn  in Oct. 2003, the Japanese lightweight has wins over Jens Pulver , Luiz Azeredo  and Tatsuya Kawajiri . More than winning, Gomi has taken his game to a new level in 2005 and is poised to win the Bushido 160-lb. Grand Prix on New Years Eve. He fights without fear and can dominate from any position. It’s his tenacity on the feet combined with a world-class submission wrestling background that sets Gomi apart from virtually every other fighter on the planet. If he’s impressive in taking out Hayato Sakurai  on Dec. 31, Gomi could challenge Fedor for the top spot on this list.

2005 was Gomi's best year some may even say better than Shogun's. There was no fucking doubt that Gomi was the best LW living by this time.  For the past 2 years, Gomi's only 3-3. Gomi's reign at the top of the LW division is obviously done. I fear that Gomi will be used by the UFC as a stepping stone for their contenders up to the last drop it has. He won't have the same luxury as Hughes - he will be fed to LW's future contenders. It will be a sad end of a fighter that at one time threatened to claim the #1 spot.

1)Fedor Emelianenko(22-1-0) 1 NC

The Russian PRIDE heavyweight champion and reigning PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix champion is the most complete fighter this sport has ever seen. Bold statement? I don’t think so. He is undefeated in last 20 fights (if you include the No Contest) and decisively avenged the only loss of his career. His victory over Mirko Filipovic  in August showed how intelligent he is in the ring, and it also displayed what kind of toughness the champ brings with him. With the exception of Sergei Kharitonov , Fedor’s beaten every worthy heavyweight PRIDE has to offer, which means he’s beaten nearly all the heavyweights in the world worth fighting. Questions linger about a Fedor-Andrei Arlovski contest. At this point, I don’t see anything that prevents Fedor from dominating that bout. He is the best fighter in the world.

After the shocking loss to Werdum, the SF's HW tournament is the redemption road for arguably the best fighter of this sport (save your debate for GSP & Silva). He is an enigma that still lingers over the sport. Sure, we are all interested in seeing Overeem's progress through this tournament. But the bigger story still relies on the Last Emperor. We are all waiting for a gigantic rise or definite end of an empire that have shadowed this sport for a decade. You can call it a gigantic wet dream if he wins the epic tourney and call quits at a career that will probably outlast even the sport, with or without the UFC.

The Community Interview series have been great so far. Bloody Elbow has been my main website for anything MMA. I just believe that it would be beneficial for the community to know its beloved writers. Knowing more about our writers would help us better understand their point of view when putting up their pieces.  

Its up to the staff if they are going to entertain this but I think I speak for the majority in saying that we will appreciate it if they will do so. I plan to email to email the most recommended questions and do another fanpost from that.

Lets do this fellas. What are your questions for Mr. Snowden!

Barely an hour before typing this, I almost witnessed somebody die. Everything seems to be at slow motion, my mind unable to process logic as the feeling of helplessness wont go away.

A young college boy was in a hurry because it was raining and he didn't want to get wet. He slipped and hit his head on a curb. I approached him asking if he was ok, if he could stand up. Seconds later, he had seizures, his eyeballs almost out of sight and he started vomiting blood. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't save him. Death unraveling in front of me. I wasn't scared of the blood, I was terrified he would have died in my hands. I wanted to save him, I wanted to fight death. I just didn't know how. 

In the state of shock, I was still able to look for security within the area and ask for help. He was meters away and I ran consciously safe. I told him to hurry because he was about to die. Upon getting back to the boy, the seizures stopped. He was covered in blood, but consciousness was slowly running through his veins. There was relief, and I was able to get a cab and a good samaritan and policeman offered to accompany him to the hospital. I carried the boy to the cab, wishing he can recover from the trauma his head suffered. 

On my way back home, I was still troubled at the sight of death and helplessness.

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Thank you Mirko, Thank you Chuck.

One won, one got knocked out, both fought their all. Two legends doing what they were born to do, to fight and they fought indeed. Crocop wont probably have the same success on his next fights. It is obvious his time at the top is over even with a win, Barry made him happy and that was special. After unimpressive fights in his UFC career, this perhaps was his bravest attempt at recapturing the glory that he once had.  Liddell was in great shape and fought his most impressive performance against Franklin. I can't ask for anything more. Two aged lions fighting for their pride, both won my admiration for a lifetime.

I can't seem to find the right words to describe the respect that I felt for what I witnessed, but I am proceeding to post this, it is the least I can do. I know I am not alone, I should not be.

Crocop and Iceman fighting everything they had for what mattered to them the most, it set me as a fan of MMA for life. Thank you to all the legends of this sport, you shall be remembered forever.

via 6th-round.com

 Have you ever idolized somebody so much that the mere mention of his name makes you smile because it gives you a chance to talk about him? A chance to explain to people (you know and don't know) how lucky we are to have an athlete that we can brag about watching to future generations? You defend this hero for hours and hours on a senseless internet blog regardless realizing that he won’t even know about it? This is Fedor Emelianenko to me and I do not even have an ounce of shame saying it.

 He is by far the best fighter by skill and character; there is no question about it. I could post arguments as to why he is the greatest, but this is BE, I don’t have to and don't want to.

 But this fandom can't forever be self sufficient. It needs to experience the feeling for its existence. It needs fuel to be functional. I admire your solemnity, but after shouldering your silence in the middle of continuous criticism, I want to hear from you. I want my hero to be a hero. Am I foolishly waiting for nothing? Free us even if you don't care.

 The revolution of despair is almost unbearable. I'll do it a favor: I shall not expect. I will conceal this fandom on a tiny box and be indifferent to you as you are to it. I'll only free it when you perform as the fighter it always looked up to, but maybe then.. I am hoping it is not too late. 

 I realize that the fandom itself is wrong, nevertheless it happened and probably will never die. Until then, see you when I see you Mr. Emelianenko.

   It was an emotional roller coaster ride. From the joy of witnessing a great comeback by Muñoz to the heart stopping surprise when Edgar was declared a winner. I wasnt able to answer my wife when she asked why and how  Penn lost the fight. I didn't know and didnt want to know. My brain was half dead due to the shock it had to endure.

  I was never a big Anderson Silva fan, I appreciated his skills but somehow I was always looking for him to be defeated (I guess due to what he did to Rich Franklin). The mockery of Maia whom I am a big fan of, didnt help. I was so mad at him at the way he "disrespected" Maia during the first rounds. My mind was screaming "Just fucking finsh him! You dont have to do that!" The hatred was too much to handle, my mouth and body completely shut, I just stayed on my seat, I just simply wanted it to be over. Then he didnt opt to attack at the latter rounds, I was puzzled but immediately dismissed it and didnt care.

  It all change after the Rogan post fight interview, Silva did say that he wasnt as humble as he wanted to be. Then it struck me, and surprisingly, I suddenly find myself as a huge Anderson Silva fan. 

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MARK COLEMAN TO BROCK LESNAR

Wrestling has always been a big part of MMA. Japanese MMA roots can be tracked down from its pro-wrestling circuit , Kid Nate blogs it here and here. On the other side of the world, amateur wrestling was making a mark in MMA. Don Frye stormed thru UFC 8 and looked like an unstoppable force, but then came Mark "The Hammer" Coleman in UFC 10. After winning their respective fights, they finally met at the finals. Brent describes the fight :

Mark was able to bust Frye up throughout the bout.  Repeatedly putting him on his back and repeatedly throwing fluries of heavy punches downward and providing an exclamation point to the beating with a few heavy headbutts, a Coleman trademark.

The always dangerous Frye was in a fight where he was forced to be on the defensive from the opening bell.  It was the perfect statement that a new force had arrived on the scene. 

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   When Mark Coleman was ground and pounding the hell out of all tournament fighters, separating the big men from the children was a necessity. 13 years after the first ever UFC heavyweight title fight, the true monsters had emerged, bigger , faster and stronger. This is a quick look at the recent KOs/TKOs on the most dangerous division in MMA right now , where being considered top 5 means consistently knocking out you opponents unconscious.

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Negativity is an addiction to the bleak shadow that lingers around every human form.
-John O'Donohue

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It is a 97.68% certainty that UFC wont co-promote with any organization this year but it wont stop me for wanting these match-ups. Unless UFC signs the non-Zuffa fighters, they won't happen without  co-promotion. Imagine these fights as undercards for a Fedor/Brock or BJ/Shinya main event. *Drooling*

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     If you cross breed a pitbull stud with a rottweiller and add a gladiator skirt, you'll produce a monster and it would name itself Melvin Manhoef. Whenever Marvelous steps in a cage or ring, its a guarantee somebody will be punished. After almost 15 years of professional fighting (and not yet done), Manhoef have compiled 23 knockouts in his 24 MMA wins,its an absurd 95% ratio and 27 in his kickboxing career, grand totalling 50 knockouts! There are a few men who were born just to fight, and after 76 of those, Manhoef have proven he is a killer waiting to be unleashed since birth.

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     I guess like most hardcores, I tend to hype myself with the fights I am very excited for by watching their previous fights and reading prior materials about them. I would just like to share this vice to everybody.

      I am very excited for the upcoming Diaz vs Zaromskis title fight. Let me feed you some Whitemare (13-3, 11 KOs) highlights. Zaromskis entered the awesome Cage Rage promotion in 2006 after 4 fights, 3 -1 all via KO/TKO including his loss. Rewatching Marius' stint at Cage Rage was nothing short of outstanding. He had a 5 - 2 record with no fight going to the scorecards. It was like a white mad man going thru a tear with non stop violence.  The Damien Riccio fight was the best fight of his Cage Rage carreer. It was a back and forth battle with both fighters able to land some shots for 3 rounds. Zaromskis landed the crispier shots and excuted very good combos. There was also a good amount of GnP, but at the 3rd round, Marius delivered a kick for the ages causing the fight to a stoppage due to cut. His wins included a flying knee KO and a rare Whitemare submission via a triangle choke.

Che Mills handed him the two losses, one for the WW championship. After Cage Rage, he fought at his homeland in Lithuania bagging another KO win then proceeded with the epic Dream GP performance as if his prior demolition wasnt enough. First round was against Seichi Ikomoto who was the Deep WW champion. This is the only fight Zaromskis had ever gone to the judges. It was a decent performance but very entertaining. A backflip and a Akuma-esque hurricane kick in one fight was awesome. Though they weren't really  effective, it did give you the Krazy Horse value.

 Mr. Roling made a good write up about Dream 10, particularly Zaromskis' 

In what could be considered one of the most astonishing stories of a fighter beating the immense odds against him, Lithuanian-born Marius Zaromskis, despite being a near 5-to-1 underdog, managed to defeat Japanese legend Hayato "Mach" Sakurai via a devastating shin-to-chin head kick.

Sakurai and Zaromskis traded shots for much of the fight, although it was evident that Zaromskis had a bit more mustard on each shot as Sakurai's face began to bleed significantly as the fight progressed. Ultimately, the battle came down to Zaromskis' combinations coupled with his power. He was able to throw heavier punches, but also throw solid one-two punch flurries with high and low kicks mixed in. The combination paid off beautifully as Zaromskis was not only able to hurt Sakurai with the strikes, but he managed to catch Sakurai later in the fight with a kick that ended the bout 

Whitemare was at  +500 against to the ever dangerous Sakurai, but Cage Rage should have already gave us enough reasons why we shouldn't be surprised with this..

After the upset win, Zaromskis followed thru with the brutal KO of Jason High in the finals winning the first ever Dream WW title.

For his last fight, it was fitting that in was done in the White Cage.  Ho Bae Myeon was trapped and there was no escaping this Whitemare.

Zaromskis is definitely one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA. His wide array of strikes that can make you unconscious is his best arsenal. He also has a decent ground game. If Diaz would use his pepper punches on the 30th, he will be rolling his eyes while laying flat on his back on the mat.

3. Wanderlei Silva - Though every fan loves the Axe Murderer, it never strikes me that he is your typical Hero.

 With the face of a psycho-killer, the stare of a devil and lust for murder, Wandy has the perfect look for a villain. Then you add his viciousness in the ring/cage, you can't give him a Superman cape, it wont fit him. He is more of a Pitbull rather than that of a Clark Kent. His amazing 4 yrs+ of undefeated streak mainly showcased the annihilation of 9 Japanese fighters, (Saku being murdered 3 times) in front of their home country. Yet everybody loves him. I guess we share the same animal instinct and feel the rush whenever Wanderlei Silva feeds on the helpless.

2. David Lee Abbott - The very first feared monster of the cage.      

                 (pic:http://tinypic.com)

At 6 ft , roughly 280 pounds and with fighting background of  "Pit Fighting", Tank stormed UFC 6 with destructions of Matua and Varelans. During the first years of the UFC, every fan was hungry for blood, Abbott was happy to deliver. His looks and words not to mention his brutatily, made everyone want for more UFC. After the epic battle w/ Taktarov, it was an up and down carreer for Tank. Despite any loss, his contribution on the sport's early popularty is undeniable.

                                              (gif: mma-core.com)

1. Gilbert Yvel - Nobody is worse than Yvel when he is bad. Unlike Browning and War Machince, most of his memorable actions are done inside the ring.

He bit Karimula Barkalev at a 1998 IAFC event disqualifying him of the bout. At Pride 16, Yvel repeatedly pushed his thumbs into Frye's eyes as a form of takedown defense. Was eventually disqualifed because of "grabbing the ropes". .

 Then to top it all, the infamous referee KO back in November 2004. He was obviously disqualified due to "Referee Attack", it was like a scene from WWE, surreal. Yvel always go for the kill, 31 out of his 36 wins are due to KO. "The Hurricane"  is a true anti-hero by nature.

Royce Gracie is my all-time MMA hero, I can still smell the VHS tape of my first UFC. When Gracie sunk  the triangle against Dan Severn and executed the armbar to Kimo Leopoldo, it made me a believer that a little guy can outwork and defeat a larger and stronger opponent. It made sense to learn Martial Arts. Since then, I followed the sport and its evolution.

MMA today is all about who is the better athlete and executioner of a game plan, no more of the Gracie advantage on the ground and the Abbott dominance on the stand up. What we have right now are the complete fighters (w/ the exception of a few), you must learn both stand up and ground games or you will definitely fail.

 Yet every once in a while, we get to see fights that resembles the first UFCs, the freakshow fights.

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