duke09

we have seen best fighter, fight, sub, etc, etc,. but i pose the question: who is the most important fighter-- who has done the most for the ufc, its success, its popularity, the image of the sport and so on? who is it that was essential for the ufc to turn the corner into mainstream culture and sports legitimacy? who best represents the ufc of today/yesterday, and so on.

i am not asking for more recent guys, just guys who have helped shape the ufc. please list fighters and reasons, and, as always, please be respectful of other's opinions.

here goes:

1) royce gracie. the man put the ufc on the map, he garnered the interest of many with his "crazy new fighting style" and domination of the early ufcs. he was also a great spokesperson for the ufc, and i really think that many tuned in/ordered to see the mystery clouted "BJJ guy".

2)randy couture. the nickname 'captain america' says it all. he wasnt a brash brawler with few teeth and tattoos, but rather a well spoken and respectful newcomer who shocked the world beating down 20 year old men whilst being older than most of those he faced. as his career progressed, he remained polite, courteous, and represented the ufc (still does) with honour, pride,and grace. a vegetarian who is always in peak condition, treats everyone with respect, has never spoke ill of any of his adversaries, randy couture is an embodiment of all that is sportsman like about this sport. he has had countless appearances, devotes much of his time to charity and the promotion of teh sport. to be sure, the ufc could not e where it is without the natural. despite his age, he always arrives to perform,and many viewers, including dukey, are afraid not to tune in when randy fights for fear of what they might miss!

3) chuck liddell. the face of mma today is certainly the iceman. countless cameos, tv appearances, radio appearances and the like, chuck is everwhere, including mainstream magazines. chuck koed people at night and exalted the ufc position in mainstream media by day. if no one around you knows a ufc fighter, he/she would likely know chuck 'the iceman' liddell

4) micheal bisping. although still relatively yound and new to the ufc, in the ufc's goal of global mma domination, young bisping is teh golden gate bridge to the European markets. his attitude, although brackish at times, has won and garnered teh respect and affection of UKers from every demographic. everything starts somewhere, and although it could be argued that the UFC would eventually bust into teh UK market, bisping was, at the very least, a catalyst that made things a lot easier for Mr. White and his brand of combat sport.

5) tito ortiz. although do not like tito, few can dispute that tito was teh face of the ufc for many a year. tito was perhaps the most recognizable face in a sea of what many though was merely a bunch of toothless goons punching each other in the face. love tito or hate him, you all know him. he was the draw for quite some time, and he continues to put asses in the seatsand buy rates on teh charts. the controversy and drama surrounding ortiz is similar to teh flies floundering around pigpen's head from peanuts, but bet your ass, people tune in for tito; some to see him get punched in the mouth, others to see him win. irrespective, tito has a following.


these are dukey's quick picks, please add your own, comment, or pm me a picture of a monkey kissing clint eastwood. just so long as it makes you happy