Top 10 Fighters From UFC 11-20

This is a much harder era to disect than the one before it. Here is my crack at it. I included the Ultimate Ultimates as well.


1. Frank Shamrock - hard to pick number 1, but Frank was 4-0 from this time period, with 2 huge victories over Kevin Jackson and Igor Zinoviev. Add in the submission of Jeremy Horn and John Lober, I think Frank was the best fighter from this time period. wins at UFC 15.5, 16, 17, and 17.5

2. Randy Couture - 4-0 as well in this time period. Won the UFC 13 Heavyweight tournamentand then was supposed to be destroyed by Vitor belfort at UFC 14, it didnt happen, instead we got the first huge upset of Coutures career. He then beat Maurice Smith at UFC 15.5 for the Heavyweight title, and then left the UFC.

3. Pedro Rizzo - 3-0 in this time period. Came in late but managed to beat Tank Abbott (17.5), Mark Coleman (UFC 18), and Tra Telligman (20). He was a dangerous kicker and only behind Belfort and Shamrock in the standing department. Deadly leg kicks.

4. Maurice Smith - This may look awkward. Smith went 2-2 in this time period. At UFC 14 he became the first to beat Mark Coleman, he then defended his newly won Heavyweight title succesfully against Tank Abbott at UFC 15, he then lost his title at Ultimate Japan (15.5) in a 21 minute decision, then lost to Kevin Randleman in his debut (UfC 19) in a decision. He was game in every fight, and dangerous. The fact that he went on to beat Marco Ruas at UFC 21 solidifies his spot IMO.

5. Mark Kerr - 4-0 during this time winning 2 HW tournaments at UFC 14 and 15. No fight went past 2:22. But none of them were elite. That is why I have Mark Kerr jsut cracking the Top 10. I really wish we got to see the Coleman Kerr fight.

6. Vitor Belfort - To low? I dont think so! Was a force? yes! was he a phenom? yes! was he beatable? Absolutely! I think everyone ranked above him was better or capable of beating him (if in same division). Went 5-1 during this time period, and he beat game opponents. Beat Tra Tellgiman and Scott Ferrozzo to win UFC 12 HW Tournament. Beat Tank Abbott at UFC 13, then got man handled by Couture at UFC 15, came back and beat Joe Charles (15.) and Wanderlei Silva (UFC 17.5). I really just think everyone above him beats him but man he was great.

7.Bas Rutten - Some will say what the hell, why isnt Rutten higher. Because he went 2-0 in 2 controversial fights and didnt look that impressive. Thats just my opinion dont throw me off a bridge for it. Vs Kosaka and Randleman I can sum the fights up with 5 words. Critical Big John Stand Ups. That said El Guapo was still a top fighter of this era I just think if Im doing UFC not MMA's top fighters than this is around where Rutten belongs.

8. Pete Williams - Let the hate begin, and let me make my case. El Duro was one of the toughest guys out their and that made him very dangerous. He could stay in there and have the ability to pull something off. I think he wouldve beat Bas Rutten, went 3-1 in this period. Beat Mark Coleman (UFC 17) with the emphamise head kick, then lost to Kosaka at UFC 17.5 in a decision in an off night. THen submitted Jason Godsey (UFC 19, and Travis Fulton, who holds an amazing journey man's record of 192-45-11 (UFC 20).

9. Mark Coleman - 3-3 during this time. This period started great and ended horrible for the Hammer. Came in riding a huge wave of succes and was number 1 from UFC 11-13. Won UFC 11 HW tournament and in UFC 12 fought Dan Severn for the HW Title, ended in a quick neck crank. But at UFC 14 Maurice Smith took the title, then Pete Williams (UfC 17), then Pedro Rizzo (UFC 18) beat him. Tough but I think this is where he belongs.

10. Guy Mezger/Tito Ortiz - This was hard ranking and I expect hate for it. But my main logic was that Guy won a UFC tournament during this period, Tito didnt. Guy's record was 2-1 during this time with wins over John Leninger and Tito Ortiz at UFC 12. He then was beaten at UFC 19 by Tito. Tito went 3-1 during this time period beating a sub and then losing to Guy Mezger at UFC 12. He then defeated Jerry Bohlander who was considered the best under 200 pound fighter in the UFC. He beat Jerry pretty easy, Tito then defeated Mezger at UFC 19.

Just missing the cut. Kazushi Sakuraba (1 NC 1 win at UFC 15.5 tournament) I expect alot of debate on this one, but he wasnt active enough for me. Jerry Bohlander (tournament winner and 4-1 in this time), Kevin Randlemn (controversial decision loss to Bas, 1-1) , Pat Miletich (4-0) tournament winner, Oleg Taktarov Ultimate Ultimate runner up. Dan Severn Ultimate Ultimate winner.

Notice how much deeper and better the caliber of fighters is in this era (11-20) than from the 1-10 era. Its much deeper, impressive how fast the caliber of fighter stepped up.

What do you guys think? Whats your opinoins? Whats yours look like?

I think it's easy to rank the first three within the top 3 and in the same order that you put them in. Anything after that is hard to organize, but you did a good job doing so.

does this guy sit around and watch and rewatch ancient events nonstop or what?

Main event of UFC 67, without google, go.

If anything he does his research Wolf and if it is what he wants to discuss and others choose to participate? That is up to them. I would like to see him do UFC 67 without a computer though!

Not saying anything bad Andrew. Bird is one of our more novel posters. Unlike you, who is a complete waste of bandwith.

Thanks Wolf, as usual, you inspire.

No love for Pat Miletich? He went 4-0 win a LW tourney, won WW title, and defended it. Plus he had a ton of wins in other orgs too during this time.

ram_escandon wrote:

I think it's easy to rank the first three within the top 3 and in the same order that you put them in. Anything after that is hard to organize, but you did a good job doing so.

ya top 3 not so hard the rest very hard glad you enjyed

Wolfgangsta wrote:

does this guy sit around and watch and rewatch ancient events nonstop or what?

Main event of UFC 67, without google, go.

Silva vs Leites wasnt it?

Farmer1906 wrote:

No love for Pat Miletich? He went 4-0 win a LW tourney, won WW title, and defended it. Plus he had a ton of wins in other orgs too during this time.

Yahtzee
thank you, I was waiting for someone to mention him
In my opinion I screwed up and didnt add him in the close to making it list

He won a pretty unstacked tournament, even more for the fact that Mikey Burnett dropped out of it
The Mikey Burnett fight is why I dont have him top 10
but great add

In fact if I could re-do it Mikey Burnett and Pat Miletich would be on the just on the cusp of making the Top 10 list

Ya I think you read that wrong.

No Pat, no mention of Jerry Bohlander though he went 4-1 and won a UFC title?

Oh nvm I see you had him in honorable mentions.


Wait, in that case, a lions den fighter not in your top ten?

Your list is heavily weighted toward the HW title I notice.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Oh nvm I see you had him in honorable mentions.


Wait, in that case, a lions den fighter not in your top ten?

Got Pete Williams and Guy Mezger in the list, and Bohlander and Mikey Burnett honorable mention
and Ken Shamrock going 1-0 from this time period is in the 20-15 area

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Your list is heavily weighted toward the HW title I notice.

ya it was the deepest division at this time
Vitor, Couture, Smith, Coleman, Kerr, Rutten, Randleman, Rizzo, dam, then add in the Tanks, Ferrozzos, this was a deep HW division at the time.

Also Frank Shamrock was a Lions Denner in the beginning

Its pretty damn impressive that only 1 perosn made the list from the 1-10 discussion
Mark Coleman, and he went down

The talent flux started early, Shamrock still won in this era but elft the sport, while Severn was noticeably not a top 10'er anymore.

Ya because he was off fighting nobodies in local circuts and adding half his pro wrestling wins to his pro-mma record.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Ya because he was off fighting nobodies in local circuts and adding half his pro wrestling wins to his pro-mma record.

talking about Severn right? That Neck crank to Coleman kind of marked the end of an era

He was supposed to fight Maurice Smith at UFC 15 but fought Kimo a week before and pulled out so Tank Abbotts fat ass filled in on short notice

wolf were you talking about Severn? or someone else??? just curious