Mythical Top Fighter: Fedor Emelianenko's Loss Opens Door to Crown a New Top Fighter

whats with the weird poll?

Nice. I’d probably give it to Anderson just because of the domination. 11 straight wins over tough competition with maaaaaybe the argument made that Thales and Cote were easy is a pretty staggering resume of fights. GSP has those two loses, albeit against good competition, but it still leaves him out of the running as mythical top fighter.

in before 300 replies, half of which are terrible trolls :(

That Anderson Silva is not the consensus #1 p4p fighter based on his style alone. I know everyone will disagree with this, but MMA is hugely based on weighing more than your opponent, and most of the time, thats how St.Pierre dominates. When discussing P4P, weight goes out the window, and GSP suddenly doesnt seem so strong.

I know people think Anderson silva cuts hundreds of pounds to make 185, but he never bullies people around the cage because of a strength advantage.

GSP is extremely impressive, but his calulated workman’s appoach doesn’t make me think Mythical… AS and his destruction do.

Aside from completely fleeing when things aren’t going perfectly his way (not figuring out his range and Demian’s), he is also the opposite of what I’d call a “class act.”I know only the former matters for this, but the latter needed to be said.

I’m going with GSP, although he’s not my favorite fighter by any means. I think he’s currently having a little trouble between his ears. He knows he’s a wrestler, but isn’t sure if he’s a submission artist (Hughes) or a mauler/grinder (Fitch) when he’s really had the most success combining the two. I miss that GSP…

Due to his unbelievable run with the title as well as completely embarassing a former champion of the next weight class up. There should be no argument. GSP has lost twice in the UFC, AS never. Plus, the whole “wrestler” question was answered with Henderson.

Accidentally voted for Fedor, I feel dirty. (AS was the choice).

I know his last fight was incredibly frustrating, but until he is defeated I have to go with Silva.

I think that Anderson has just shown how weak the MW division in the UFC really is.

Minowaman

If GSP had a 2-0 record at 185 with a win over Rich Franklin, it would be closer.

It seems like you just want to call P4P a different name. If it IS P4P, Fedor was never “indisputably the best fighter in the world”.

If it’s just who the best fighter is period, Fedor has a much better claim to that since he was a heavyweight… but that also takes AS and GSP out of the running since Brock would kill them both.

Which is it?

IMO

These arguments tend to get silly because no one agrees (or knows) the criteria for a p4p list. It all comes down to the quality of the guys fought. WW is a much tougher division than MW imo, but Anderson stepping up to LHW and destroying Forest is a pretty big deal. If Anderson had only fought MW I think it’s a pretty easy choice for GSP, but with Anderson in both weight classes it’s hard to have a convincing argument for one fighter over the other.

Just to be clear, we are discussing pound for pound and not the best fighter in the world. It’s rediculas to even have a WW in the discussion if it’s the best fighter in the world. Especially one without KO power. Seriously. Best fighter in the world is an open weight title and HW’s win that shit 100% of the time.

His good lucks, charm, and class have helped the sport

I assume you meant “looks”…just saying.

Not sure if you’re talking P4P in the opening paragraphs, and I get the impression you’re distinguishing between P4P and the principle of being the undisputed #1 HW in the world (?), but either way, I would not have had Fedor anywhere near the top P4P.

A fighter’s resume goes a much longer way than simply an assessment of his skills. Who did you beat, how, and when are the single most important questions in relation to a fighter’s accomplishments (even in the context of the “P4P argument”). Fedor’s opponents within the past five years was always lacking. Of all the people he’s beaten, only 1 opponent has a win over a current top 10 HW (Arlovski over Werdum), and only Nog remains in the top 10 (at 9, which could quickly change if he loses to Mir again). To me, there’s real value to beating fighters who continue to be divisional threats, which distinguishes GSP from his P4P contemporaries specifically (either Fitch or Alves would likely be champ in a GSP-free WW division, and no one would think twice in properly calling them top 10 P4P fighters: both have even been on that list despite the GSP losses – Fitch still is, I believe).

It’s not to denigrate Fedor’s accomplishments. Mirko and Nog in their primes were monsters (in 2005), but if these P4P arguments are meant to be ‘holistic’ then surely the strength of their opponents is one of the proper criterias.

Forget losing fights, how many rounds has “The Spider” lost in the last four years? Maybe 2?

The top fighter in the game is something more than that. It’s a status symbol, a designation as the top guy in the industry. It means you are the big dog, but isn’t the same as saying you are the toughest man on the planet. For example, when Frank Shamrock had the crown, I don’t think anyone would have picked him over Mark Kerr. But he was still the top guy in the industry.

you’re telling me the WAMMA belt is worthless?!

As much as it pains me it’s probably Silva as the best P4P fighter.

His last escapade with Maia was the last straw, as a fan I hope Sonnen can put his efforts where his mouth is and finally give Silva the break he desperately seems to want from being the champion at 185

Right now, I think this mythical title is in limbo. Fedors historical significance is enough to stay in the running, however I think if Silva convincingly beats Chael and Vitor then there is no doubt he is the Top Fighter. If fedor wins convincingly in this time against overeem and werdum, we’re back to where we were before.

Only two guys fit the description, Fedor and Silva (and rickson actually). Right now when I think about Silva…well I don’t think about Silva cause I try to stay positive all day, so it will be Fedor.

. Someone who is reasonably considered the number one fighter in the sport with a strong showing in any measurable category of achievement. Star power, skill, success in the cage/ring. It all factors in. Presence. How fans perceive them. The total package.

“It meant more to MMA than just the inevitable crowning of Brock Lesnar as the world’s top heavyweight fighter.”

Please tell me that’s not a serious statement. Brock Lesnar has fought a total of SIX TIMES in his ENTIRE MMA CAREER. Fedor Has FIVE TIMES the amount of WINS than Lesnar, and holds more Sambo, Judo, and MMA championships than can fit inside this comment box.

Are you fucking serious?

The is wide open to crown the new king of mma.

Anderson Silva or GSP. Depends on what kind of fan you are. Personally I’m Anderson Silva.

you seem like you would be a really cool guy to just shit around and shoot the shit with.