Former UFC champ champ Daniel Cormier appeared recently on MMA Junkie Radio and was asked who the Michael Jordan of MMA is.
“Michael Jordan has long been the undisputed greatest of all time in basketball, I don’t think we have that in mixed martial arts,” replied Cormier, as transcribed by Simon Head for MMA Junkie. “But I think when you start thinking about a guy who just personified ‘champion,’ a guy that just ran the table and did everything he was supposed to do, the right way, I guess I would say …
“I think we forget that Jordan lost in the playoffs, and he lost multiple times. Before the 90s, he lost in the playoffs about every year. So it’s not like he was undefeated, but if I had to pick a guy that just did everything the right way, I’d probably have to say Demetrious Johnson - defended the belt all those times, always was so well prepared, his performances got better as he went on in his title reign. No hiccups, no mistakes, no nothing, and I think he’s one of those guys.”
“I think when you start thinking about in MMA, I don’t think it’s just about one guy. I think you’ve got to look at people as a whole, and there’s going to be about five or six guys that are going to sit at the top of this sport for a long time, and I think I’m one of those guys.”
GSP’s reign was more impressive. 170 was a murderer’s row.
GSP came out of retirement, moved up and took a 2nd belt by stoppage.
I don’t think there’s any comparison imo
People don’t sugggest Bisping had more skill than GSP.
However there was a size/strength aspect that did make up for the lack of skill differential.
GSP still won by finish.
I think GSP deserves some credit for this.
BUT, if you’re going to acknowledge that size/strength can play a factor, and can make up for lack of skill, then how can you not suggest Fedor is the greatest of all time? Besides beating many highly skilled fighters, he also took on big giant mother fuckers and unlike GSP, there was no same weight aspect the day prior to the fights.
Plus, the top 15 guys GSP beat, would all lose to the top 15 guys Fedor beat. Size matters, despite what girls might suggest otherwise.
It eliminates them having to name a rival(or hated rival) and it also lets them say that little guy could whoop me if he were twice the size in a fight that could never happen.
Gsp use to like to say "Frankee edgaar wood kik myass"