Top Five MMA Legends Who Should Never Reach the UFC Hall of Fame
The UFC “Hall of Fame” is home to some of the pioneers of mixed martial arts, fighters such as Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Matt Hughes and the godfather of ground and pound Mark Coleman. Many fighters have done just as much for the sport of mixed martial arts but have either never fought for the UFC, joined on the downside of their careers or for some reason haven’t put it together inside the octagon. Check out my list of legends that in my opinion should never join that glittering list…
5. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua – Former UFC light heavyweight champion and the PRIDE middleweight Grand Prix winner in 2005. During his PRIDE run, in which he only lost one fight due to a arm injury, he was the most feared light heavyweight on the planet. When the UFC signed him in 2007, expectations were high and he was expected to run through “Ultimate Fighter” season one winner Forrest Griffin but the unthinkable happened and Shogun tapped to a third round rear naked choke. Two wins over aging “Hall of Famer’s” Chuck Liddell and Mark Coleman earned him a title shot against Lyoto Machida in 2009, and after a extremely close back and forth fight in which he was defeated by a unanimous decision, he was awarded a rematch in which he viciously knocked out Machida to finally claim the light heavyweight strap. He then lost the title in his first defence against Jon “Bones” Jones, being absolutely dominated en route to a third round TKO stoppage. Since then he has avenged a loss to Forrest Griffin and lost a very close fight (one of the best fights I’ve seen) to Dan Henderson. Shogun’s UFC record stands at 4 wins and 4 losses.
4. Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira – An all time great, one of the best heavyweights of all time. Known for his ability to withstand great amounts of punishment and keep coming forward. A former PRIDE heavyweight champion and interim UFC heavyweight champion. A few of my favourite Nogueira fights are the 2003 war with fellow legend Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović, the 2009 fight of the year with “Hall of Famer” Randy Couture and his recent knockout win over rising star Brendan Schaub. Now his career is legendary and even though he has beat current “Hall of Famers”, Couture and Mark Coleman, his UFC record stands at four wins and three losses. Although he won the interim UFC heavyweight title, he failed to defend it and has been brutally finished in all three of his UFC losses.
3. Wanderlei Silva - I don’t think there is MMA fan alive that doesn’t know “The Axe Murderer’s” name. The PRIDE middleweight champion not only ruled the roost from 2001-2007 but was undefeated under pure PRIDE rules during his time in Japan. Known for his vicious knees from the clinch, face stomps and soccer kicks, he beat notable fighters such as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Dan Henderson in his epic run. Unfortunately his UFC record of four wins & six losses won’t qualify him for the “Hall of Fame”, which is unfortunate as he is as deserving of a place as any of the current members.
2. Fedor Emelianenko – “The Last Emperor” is definitely one of if not the best heavyweight of all time. Undefeated for nine years and in that time he defeated such names as Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko Filipović and Mark Coleman. But after the UFC bought and absorbed PRIDE, Fedor was accused of ducking the best competition and fighting people past their primes, choosing to fight a natural middleweight in Matt Lindland and ailing former UFC champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski. He then went on a bad run in Strikeforce, being finished three times in a row by Fabricio Werdum, Antonio Silva and natural middleweight in Dan Henderson. He has since posted two wins against sub-par competition, but to prove he is as good as everyone once thought he was, he MUST try and sign a deal with the UFC, which has now has all of the best heavyweights in the world.
1. Dan Henderson – “Hendo” is without a doubt the greatest American mixed martial artist of all time. His accolades include the UFC 17 tournament winner, the 2005 PRIDE welterweight Grand Prix, the PRIDE welterweight champion, the PRIDE middleweight champion and the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion. A breath taking list of achievements. But for some reason, when it comes to attaining a UFC championship belt, Dan has failed on two occasions, losing at light heavyweight to Quinton “Ramage” Jackson and at middleweight to Anderson Silva. Dan is am amazing fighter but I feel in order for him to cement his “Hall of Fame” status, he must be successful in attaining a UFC championship belt, either at 205 or 185 pounds. After all it is the UFC “Hall of Fame” and not the MMA “Hall of Fame”. I honestly don’t see him defeating either Anderson Silva or Jon Jones, but he will go down as a legend, Hall of fame member or not.
Do you think I’m missing anyone out or is their somebody on this list that you feel will definitely been a inductee to the “Hall of Fame”? Feel free to comment below…
By Jamie Mckay.
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