209"d@170 - There are likely no MMA fighters past or present who could have done what Anderson did to Leben, Forrest, Bonnar, Okami and Rich twice. When he decimated those guys they were all top 10 (and possibly top 5) in their division with the exception of Bonnar who had never been finished, not even by Bones. For a period, Anderson was the most effective striker we have ever seen in MMA.
Conor decimated Aldo, Alvarez and Mendes. Poirier was also ranked top 5 maybe at the time. Yes, Mendes had no camp but Conors knee was also screwed.
And although I think Nate was also injured in the 2nd fight, nobody has pieced Nate up like Conor did both fights early on. And calm down, Nate turning it back on Conor was one of my all time fav moments but that level of opposition in terms of striking is better than the list above. Don"t forget what Andy did to Vitor though and Hendo. No one has beat down Hendo like that. Many have hurt him but no one has taken him out like that. Andy did end up tapping him but Hendo was rocked first.
I rooted against Conor in most of his fights but man the guys he beat where killers. Mendes had a better overall game & wrestling then anyone Anderson faced. To do what Conor did is pretty fucking amazing. I didnt expect him to beat Eddie but he showed why he is one of the greatest.
Anderson fought in a weak division. It had fighters that had the overall game of the HW division if not worse but his distruction of TRT Vitor and Franklin was amazing. He gets in the top 3-5 for that.
If you have McGregor on your list you are automatically a douche bag.
McGregor KOd Chad Mendes, KOd the great Jose Aldo, KOd Eddie Alvarez, beat up Max Holloway, destroyed Dustin Porrier, and outstruck Nate Diaz.
Hype notwithstanding, he belongs there on resume alone.
Yea he is a great strike, but all time great? Come on now, lol!
When someone mentions All Time Great you think of a fighter like Crocop or Anderson Silva, not fucking Conor
lol
Compare Mirko's list of wins via striking to Conor's.
I'll go ahead and let you waste your time making the comparison. I thought this was about MMA striking in gereral, but it looks like you are talking about a highlight reel with wins via striking. Yea Crocop still is way about McGregor.
Strange though it might sound, I do judge somebody's ability by the amount of success they have.
Mirko outstruck Igor, a 205 Wand, Barnett, Nog, and Alexander E.
Conor outstruck Nate Diaz, Eddie Alvarez, Chad Mendes, Dustin Porrier, and the great Jose Aldo.
The idea that those are not comparable is bananas.
No love for Shogun? Have we forgotten how he masterfully beat Machida-Kun in the first fight (even though he lost that B.S decision), when no one could figure out Machida? He beautifully K.Od Machida in the rematch.
In his prime, he gave Rampage the worst bell to bell beating of his life. He beat Overeem twice. It's too bad his body couldn't keep up with his skills.
No particular order and not including anyone with a couple fights ie Tyrone Spong. And best striker i take as best technique/power combo for their division not who is scary to strike against.
Bas Wonderboy Maurice Smith MVP Cowboy Anderson Aldo Vitor Joanna Cyborg Not a complete list. Just a few off the tip of my head
The crieteria has to be: someone who won a championship by using mostly their striking abilities in the contest of MMA. Who cares what they did outside of MMA fights, they're only a great MMA striker if they did it with MMA rules. Here's the list:
MiyamotoMusashi420 - Bobby Lupo i want some of what you're smoking..... Tim Sylvia. Lmao. Im pretty sure Ray Mercer fucked him up and shot that theory to hell for ya
2x UFC HW champion. Record stands for most title defenses. KTFO Ricco and Arlovski.
