Ok, so there's a thread out there asking to name 3 UFC fighters you don't respect.
How about naming three guys you USED to hate, dislike, or not respect, but now like them or respect them.
1) Koscheck (imo the most misunderstood guy in MMA)
2) Lesner (I like how he's changed his life from flashy to simple).
3) Dan Hardy (I used to think he was to annoying, but now I find his comments amusing, respect his slugging power, and hope he becomes a GSP killer).
Go.
OWNEDbythe209 - 1) Kimo
2) Steve Jennum
3) Art Jimmerson
Jennum? Dayum! Going old school. When was that...UFC 3?
Yeah, I like how he came in as a working cop and a late replacement and won. That was sweet.
Kos
Kimbo
Bisbing (wait, J/K FUCK HIM)
Brock - didn't at first, after the 'get on top of my woman' remark I laughed for a couple of minutes solid and began to like him immediately afterward,he takes it seriously and is an amazing physical specimen who came in with solid wrestling skills and has adapted and learned pretty darn well. Whether you like him or not he's one scary motherfucker.
BJ - didn't like him at first,mainly his attitude,he's changed my attitude by dominating some top level fighters and showing top level skills both striking and on the ground,when he's on he's a treat to watch.
#3. Ah,I don't know, I dislike very few fighters.
Ah, good one JR, I didn't like Kimbo at first but grew to like the guy.
Mike Swick
Marcus Davis
Diego Sanchez (even if he is a fucking fruitcake)
Forrest Griffin - sure hes a nice guy but I despised his style. I'm not a fan of toughman style haymakers & blocking punches w/your noggin, but his fights w/Quinton & esp Shogun show he is a game fighter.
Anderson Silva - This is like the exact opposite, he shows jaw dropping skills both on his feet & on the ground, but I have always rooted against him. I dont know why but hes always struck me as prima donna. After hearing more of him in the UFC, training w/the Mino's he is a respectable cat & I retract my position.
BJ Penn - the dude has literally beat most of my favorite old school fighters. He is showing great discipline now & was actually upset when GSP kicked his ass the 2nd time.
fedor
nick diaz
aoki
BJ Penn
Matt Hughes
Chuck Liddell
Hardy is a great example. I absolutely couldn't stand him at first, before the Davis fight, but when Hardy came on the UG and explained his reasoning and intent behind it, you could see his true colors. He's a nice guy with alot of talent. His involvement with the UG is what really made me a fan, who would of guessed... lol
Sonnen used to annoy me, even in the WEC, but he has sure lit a fire under his ass, taking Marquardt and Okami out of the title picture is no easy task. Congrats to Sonnen.
Ok, let me think of a third one, I do have a newfound respect for Mike Bisping, even though Hendo is my favorite fighter, their fight is over, I support Bisping now. BTW he looked great against Kang, and great against Wand, he just fought very conservative as did Wand.
The only guy who comes to mind isn't a UFC fighter but, Tom Attencio. I thought the guy was a douche until I saw him fight at Ultimate Chaos in MS. After the fight people were yelling all kinds of crap but he was so cool and respectful. I forget exactly what he said but it was along the lines of 'You can hate me all you want but please show respect for all the guys here that were willing to train hard and get in the cage/ring'. Pretty classy, imo.
knockoutfighter - Hardy is a great example. I absolutely couldn't stand him at first, before the Davis fight, but when Hardy came on the UG and explained his reasoning and intent behind it, you could see his true colors. He's a nice guy with alot of talent. His involvement with the UG is what really made me a fan, who would of guessed... lol
The one thing about Hardy's explanation about his trash-taling that didn't sit well with me--unless I missed it or don't remeber it--is that he never simply asked Davis for the fight.
He immediately turned to attacking him on a personal level because he just assumed Davis wouldn't take the fight with him otherwise. If he had asked and Davis turned him down it would be a different story, but from what I remember he just started trash-talking out of nowhere and then tried to pass it off as acceptable afterward because he was trying to goad Marcus into a fight.
BJ Penn
Rashad Evans
Josh Koscheck
^^ I know why he did it. I just think he's an asshole for going about it the way he did and then pretending like he didn't have any other way to get the fight.
Fred Ettish
Kalib Starnes
Dan Bobish
BJ Penn - talked to much in fights I thought he was lucky to get, but since the GSP owning he's really dedicated and on another fucking level, gotta love a guy backing up the talk.
Brock Lesnar - at first I was like fuck this pro wrestler, but he turned into a total war machine.
Jon Fitch - like a fine wine I found he's game a bit hard to watch at first but now I love watching the dude kick arse
Wand
Serra
Bader
Matt Serra
Thiago Silva
Ryan Bader
squirrel516 -
1) Koscheck (imo the most misunderstood guy in MMA)
2) Lesner (I like how he's changed his life from flashy to simple).
3) Dan Hardy (I used to think he was to annoying, but now I find his comments amusing, respect his slugging power, and hope he becomes a GSP killer).
I'd actually go with every name listed in the OP. Except I don't want to see Hardy beat GSP, and don't think it's going to happen.
Started out despising Lesnar, but the HW division doesn't feel the same without him in there.
Nice to see some BJ converts in this thread, too. He's always been and will always be my favorite fighter.
- DAN HENDERSON (used to hate this guy back when he was fighting Newton and Goes. )
2. Randy Couture (believe it or not, back when he beat Mo Smith, I hated his style. Now, it's Randy Freakin Couture)
3. Chris Leben
Serra - Beat Georges for the title when no one said he could (even if it was a fluke) and gave Matt Hughes all he could handle.
Lytle - Guy always brings it. Always. One of my favorite fighters.
Fitch - Not really a fan of his style, but anyone who gets put on their ass the way he did in the fight with GSP and keeps coming back for more deserves everyone's respect.