Doh! Just beat me to it! Sudo's gotta rate as one of the all time best, if just for his WWE style entrances!
Yeah, I go for Vanderlai Silva. That dude has some amazing striking skills and can play the game his own way. He really controls a fight. But yeah - scary bugger!
I like Genki Sudo, but more in a submission wrestling environment - the clips circulating are awsome. But in Vale Tudo I feel he tries to frustrate his opponents too much with his un-authodox stances and kicks ... Still cool though - but I don't like his entrances, he came into UFC 42 as a woman !! I've struggled to think of my top fighter - I don't like 'ground and pounders' (I think Matt Hughes is unbelievable, but I get a bit bored watching his fights) - I would have to say Mario Sperry is my No 1, he can stand and fight (if you haven't seen the Ninja V's Sperry fight - WATCH IT ! ) and his ground skills are amazing. The Axe murderer is also one of my favourites Jay
Until someone dethrones him, I will have to say my new favorite is Fedor Emilienko. That Russkie put the G & P in ground n pound! I've never seen ANYONE hit as hard and accurate as that guy. As far as overall technique is concerned, however, would still have to be Frank Shamrock. I look forward to see him back in the MMA scene. Hopefully, we can see him mixing it up with the fighters in PrideFC. THEN we'll see what kind of pressure he can overcome (or not).
Ken & Frank Shamrock Kazushi Sakuraba Marco Ruas Ricco Rodriguess Carlos Newton Wanderlay Silva Pat Melitech
i ve just seen the pride fight between the two gracie brothers and Kazushi Sakuraba. And i must say i m "hooked". I last saw gracie fight in UFC 1,and 2 or 3 and he kicked ass. But In pride sakuruba used kicks to keep him penned to the floor( in intense pain i must say) Does it mean brazilian JJ dont have any answers to kicks? Wot fighting style do the japanese team use.
finally someone mentiones saku, thank you acekicken! as far as entertainment goes, my favorite fighter is probably sudo. submissions: probably give it to nog striking: mirko filipovic, vitor belfort, and vanderlei silva.
I'm sorry but my all time fave fighter is Royce Gracie. with rgd to more modern times: Pat Miletich, Carlos Newton.
rOYCE gracie was good in the ufc, until i saw this pride video. Dont know how recent it was but his corner threw in the towel. He took such a beating. Until then i d never heard of sakubura. I know nothing bout brazilian jj. Does anyone know if Brazilian jj include kicks to their training?
Saku is an excellent fighter, how could I forget the 'gracie hunter'!! ratman, A BJJ school that adheres to the Gracie method of teaching will teach basic kicks. If you look at Renzo and Royler Gracie's book they demonstrate a side kick to the knee. There is also a method of kicking from a downed position. Sakuraba countered Royce's attempts very well, but Rickson displayed what it was capable of when he used kicks to damage Funaki's knee. Also, Renzo used an up-kick from the ground to KO Oleg Taktarov(a former UFC champ).
