The Most Exciting MMA Fighters of All Time
In recent years, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has become one of the most popular sports that has gathered millions of fans around the world. It is a full-contact combat sport and there are plenty of reasons why its fanbase is constantly growing.
Throughout the years, MMA has separated itself from the underground combat scene and has become a mainstream sport which has also earned its spot on the online betting market. In November 1993 the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has helped popularized MMA as a sport.
The UFC organizes pay-per-view fights which are broadcasted every week. Needless to say, it is the UFC that has sparked the careers of many famous MMA fighters such as Chris Weidman, Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey. On August 26, 2017, was ‘The Money Fight’ between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor. The match had the second highest pay-per-view buy rate in UFC history and a number of media websites including BBC and Casino Guardian covered every aspect of the match.
As MMA has become a mainstream sport, it has turned many professional fighters into true celebrities and some of them has earned themselves the title of the most exciting MMA fighter of all time.
Conor McGregor
The aforementioned fight between Mayweather and McGregor was one of the most popular UFC fights and it was partially because of the eccentric personality of McGregor. It is true that Conor, or The Notorious as some people call him, had made himself a reputation of being way too brazen but if we must be completely honest, he absolutely deserves to be among the top MMA fighters of all time. Some of the most notable titles that he has won are UFC Featherweight Champion and UFC Lightweight Champion.
B.J. Penn
Known as The Prodigy in MMA, B.J. Penn was also very popular thanks to his accomplishments in jiu-jitsu. In addition to his skills in this type of martial arts, B.J. Penn has also proved himself as a great boxer. Although he is naturally a lightweight, he has fought as a welterweight, middleweight and even open weight.
One of the most memorable fights of The Notorious is the one against Joe Stevenson. After beating Stevenson, B.J. Penn licked the blood off his gloves. This scene, as well as the fact that he is a champion in two different weight classes, are the things that have made The Notorious one of the most eye-catching fighters in MMA history.
Chuck Liddell
Chuck Liddell, or The Iceman, as some fans call him, has also earned his spot on this list of great MMA fighters. His technique and his aggressive nature are the things that have made him one of the most interesting fighters to watch. He has won the title of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and his fight against Tito Ortiz is a match to remember as The Iceman truly revealed his skills during the match.
Matt Hughes
A holder of the UFC Welterweight Champion MMA title, Matt Hughes is yet another fan favorite among professional MMA fighters. Having a great boxing background and an amazing technique are the things that made Matt Hughes stand out from the crowd. His heavy ground and pounds show how Hughes is ready to defeat his opponents and his impeccable submission grappling skills are the thing that completes his amazing ground work.
Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson is the first and only UFC fighter who has won the title UFC Flyweight Champion. He has been defending his title with a great success and MMA fans are wondering if there is an opponent who can defeat Demetrius and steal his title of Flyweight Champion. Johnson’s technique is definitely very hard to beat which makes him one of the best MMA fighters of all time.
Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor, also known as The Last Emperor, is often considered the best heavyweight fighter. His physique may fool you, however, Fedor has a great technique and fighting skills which have won him the title of PRIDE Heavyweight Champion. The Last Emperor is definitely one of the most exciting MMA champions.
Ronda Rousey
Thanks to the great accomplishment of Ronda Rousey, numerous of people started paying more attention to female MMA fighters. Ronda, also known as Rowdy, has won the titles of Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion and UFC Bantamweight Champion. Many people admire her skills and this is why she has definitely earned her the spot of one of the most exciting female fighters in MMA history.
It is no wonder that many online sportsbooks offer virtual punters the opportunity to bet on MMA matches. After all, some of the UFC fights remain forever in the history of MMA. Online bets do not simply end with choosing who will win the fight. Nowadays, punters have the opportunity to make props bets such as who will bring more people with him while walking to the ring or what will be the method of the win. Various betting sites are streaming live matches and allow bettors to make wagers on some of the most exciting fights in MMA history.
In addition to the fighters mentioned in this article, there are also plenty of other MMA professional fighters who have helped for the popularization of the sport. Many fans around the world follow the UFC matches and make different predictions about the fights. With numerous talented fighters, MMA will definitely continue to be a great source of entertainment for fight fans all over the world.