Who are the most Influential MMA fighters of All-time?

Now a lot of guys come to mind when you think about this, Royce, Fedor, Chuck, Bas, Ken and Frank Shamrock, but if you were to create a list of the most influential guys to the rise, popularity and overall gowth of MMA, who would you choose?

I'd have to say that Tito Ortiz was pretty influential back in the day...he was one of the most popular fighters a long time ago.

I don't think Fedor has done much to influent many people.

terpsandravens wrote:

I don't think Fedor has done much to influent many people.

What?

sorry. Who has said that's he's influenced him.

Obviously Royce is one of the biggest reasons for MMA in America.

Chuck is a huge reason for the UFC's popularity.

I know, being from Iowa, guys like Matt Hughes are the biggest reason that MMA is so big around here.

I'd go with Royce, Coleman, Chuck, and Randy.

Hee's my tentive list so far
1.) Royce
2.) Chuck
3.) Randy
4.) Frank
5.) Ken
6.) Tito
7.) Sakuraba
8.) Bas
9.) Fedor
10.) Coleman

I'll give reasoning later

royce,tito,sak,ken,chuck come to mind right off the bat.

Coleman needs to be remembered as the one who showed GNP could beat jiu-jitsu for the most part...

Smith showed cardio was more important than a single discipline...

F. Shamrock showed the most well-rounded fighter wins the most...

Lets see some top 10 lists guys?

1. Royce
2. Chuck
3. Ken Shamrock
4. Randy Cotoure
5. Tito Ortiz

ANDY WANG!!!!!

Royce
Randy
Fedor
Coleman
Saka

1. Royce
2. Ken Shamrock - there was Royce and then Ken, without them UFC doesnt make it to the teens more than likely.
3. Chuck Liddell - got the TUF fans attention
4. Mark Coleman - 1st wrestler to show how dominant you could be with GNP
5. Masakatsu Funaki - Invented Pancrase, enough said
6. Dan Severn - the 1st good wrestler, showed what a wrestling base could do
7. Frank Shamrock - first well rounded fighter in MMA
8. Don Frye - damn near the first well rounded modern MMA fighter
9. Randy Couture - this guy showed you could do it reguardless of age
10. Tank Abbott - the gloves completely changed the game and the striking concept of UFC.

1. Ken Shamrock
2. Tito Ortiz
3. Chuck Liddell
4. Royce Gracie
5. Wandy
6. Randy Couture
7. Kimbo
8. Frank Shamrock
9. Tank Abott
10. Coleman

cant argue wtih that list tim

there is a reason everytime Tito and Ken fought it set a new record

Only 1 that I was iffy on was Kimbo but I think he has brought alot of fans for the sport good or bad LOL.

I think in terms of overall MMA evolution moreso than specific fighters, not in any particular order -


1. Royce for establishing Gracie BJJ.

2. Kevin Jackson, Dan Severn, Mark Coleman and Randy Couture have all inspired endless wrestlers to persue the sport.

3. Wanderlei Silva, Marco Ruas, Pedro Rizzo showed muay Thai could be used as a primary style if you had good takedown defense.

4. Mo Smith showed takedown defense and kickboxing could win fights. Crocop showed K1 level strikers could indeed transfer over.

5. Bas Rutten showed that strikers could become good submission fighters.

6. Art Jimmerson showed that boxing as a starting point for MMA is as bout a bad an artform to start with as drunken-wushu. It has taken 15 years for boxers to try it again.

7. Oleg Taktarov showed legions of Russian fighters that you can win with Sambo in MMA.

8. Brock Lesnar for showing every fat slob with a wrestling pedigree that you can get signed by simply being a team mate of his, regardless of how much of a talentless fat slob you may be(Konrad, Tuscher)