Who is the greatest MMA fighter of all time?

[Boxing Master]

I am relatively new to the world of mixed martial arts and I only know of a few of the great MMA's of the past decade, and I would like to know of those I have not heard of yet, or those who are up and coming.

Who do you think is the pound for pound, the greatest MMA of all time, or at least as MMA has been around?

From what I have seen, I believe it to be Royce Gracie of 10 years ago, but I have read that the time of his domination is over, since more MMA's have studied GJJ and BJJ to counter act his tactics.

[TylerDurden]

Rickson is twice the fighter Royce ever was, so if it's a Gracie at the top it would be Rickson.

I would say Wanderlei. Inspite of a couple losses early on he has been unstoppable. Has the complete game, cardio of an olympic athlete, quick, strong. He can throw, clinch and grapple. Doesn't have a real strong take down game, but he doesn't care all that much about taking his opponent down anyway.

Rounding out the top five. Rickson, Sak, Nog, CroCop.

[CKD]

Well Royce may not be as dominant as he was 10 years ago but he is still one of the best in the biz. Many people thought he could not keep up with the caliber with todays mma fighters but he shut everyone up after he came out of his 5 year retirement. Rickson is one of the best, Newton is good, the member of the Brazilian Top Team are great.

[gracilva]

i.m.o Rickson Gracie even though he is past his prime.
If he fought someone for honour, not money
i think it would be over preety quickly.
He is supposed to have a 400+/0 ,win/loss ratio.
Alot of people laugh at that or simply don't believe it,
but i have never ever heard of anyone saying....
"Hang on a minute, how about that time i kicked your ass
at whatever place ,whenever time".
He has been fighting since he was a kid and not one person
has put their hand up saying "Yeah i beat him".
I heard a story once where some thug beat the shit out of
one of the younger gracie boys.
That night the thug found out it was Rickson's brother he beat up
and never came back to school, ever again.

[CKD]

The story is a bit wrong. That was Rolls Gracie. A 18 year old Luta Livre fighter jumped a 15 year old Charles Gracie. He told Rolls and Rolls went to the Luta Livre place started beating the guy up and then all the Luta Livre guys jumped in too attack rolls and then rolls bjj students that came along started attacking and there was a big brawl

[Mister]

Randy Couture has beaten some very tough opponents.
Vitor, Liddel, Tito, Rizzo twice...
Id like to see him go up against Vanderlei. That would be interesting...
I dont really think he's the best though.

[gracilva]

The story is a bit wrong. That was Rolls Gracie. A 18 year old Luta Livre fighter jumped a 15 year old Charles Gracie. He told Rolls and Rolls went to the Luta Livre place started beating the guy up and then all the Luta Livre guys jumped in too attack rolls and then rolls bjj students that came along started attacking and there was a big brawl

That sounds like a completely different story.
The Gracies have been fighting different M.A pratitioners
their whole life, so i would imagine there would be a number
of stories going around, some true, some not so true.
I will try and find it again, it was from an interview.
If i do, i will post it.
Cheers.

[gracilva]

The story is a bit wrong. That was Rolls Gracie. A 18 year old Luta Livre fighter jumped a 15 year old Charles Gracie. He told Rolls and Rolls went to the Luta Livre place started beating the guy up and then all the Luta Livre guys jumped in too attack rolls and then rolls bjj students that came along started attacking and there was a big brawl

Here it is.

http://bjj.org/interviews/tnfc/r_rint2.html

I read it somewhere else too in more detail.

Remember...."The mind is like a parachute, it works much better open"-Rickson Gracie.
Like i said earlier, these guys have had hundreds of fights, so don't be
surprised if there are more than one or two stories going around.

It's ok mate, you can apologize later.

[CKD]

Well that is the only one I remember in which a young Gracie member was jumped and anther went for revenge. I have heard a story of another bjj practicioner getting jumped by 3 luta livre fighters and Rickson found them and beat them one after another.

[uk-ufc-kid]

Randy Couture

Randy Couture is the best fighter in the world bar none, yea you may say he got beat by ricco but he had a huge weight disadvantage and to come back after such an injury like a broken eye soket shows just how much of a real champion this man is.He has amazing cardio which he showed against tito, he has amazing grappling which , again, he showed against tito , and improved stand up which he showed against chuck.Randy to take back his UFC belt from vitor when they have thier rematch, i garaunte it.

[gracilva]

Randy Couture is the best fighter in the world bar none, yea you may say he got beat by ricco but he had a huge weight disadvantage and to come back after such an injury like a broken eye soket shows just how much of a real champion this man is.He has amazing cardio which he showed against tito, he has amazing grappling which , again, he showed against tito , and improved stand up which he showed against chuck.Randy to take back his UFC belt from vitor when they have thier rematch, i garaunte it.

With wins over Belfort, Mo smith, Randleman, Rizzo x2, Liddell and Ortiz
I'd have to agree he is right up there in the top 3.
The man is a freak.

[CKD]

Couture

Well I think maybe Nog or someone else from the Brazilian Top Team can beat him but he is defenitely a great fighter.