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The heavyweight division in mixed martial arts doesn't get a lot of traction because the quicker/agile fighters from the lower weight-class divisions often end up stealing the spotlight. But MMA isn't about gigantic sloths delivering slow inaccurate punches; the action is high-octane and some of the fighters in division are swift A-level athletes. Here's a list of 10 of the greatest heavyweight exponents from promotions around the world:
#1 Stipe Miocic
Stipe Miocic’s ascent to the top has been nothing short of epochal. The Strong Style Fight Team maverick made his debut with the UFC after notching a 6-0 professional record in the developmental territory. Bestowed with a well-rounded fighting approach, it didn’t take long for Miocic for etching his name in the UFC’s good books. Barring losses to Junior dos Santos and Stefan Struve, the Croatian has had a tremendous run in the Octagon. He first tasted UFC gold after defeating Fabricio Werdum. He has since gone on to successfully defend his title against Alistair Overeem, dos Santos and Francis Ngannou.
#2 Cain Velasquez
With a highfalutin record of 14-2 inside the Octagon, Cain Velasquez has been a major force to reckon with inside the dreaded structure. He has literally obliterated his opponents- a long list which includes biggies such as Junior dos Santos, Antonio Nogueira, Antonio Silva and the Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar. He was forced to take time out of the UFC owing to bone spurs on his back. Hopefully, his recuperation would see him reprise the role of Octagon Terminator soon!
#3 Randy Couture
Nicknamed The Natural, Randy Couture enjoyed mammoth success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, boasting of three title-reigns. He also held the distinction of being champion in two weight classes. Couture briefly departed for Japan after his first appearance in the UFC, but came back later to cement his position as a dominant strike-force. He was the fourth fighter to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn.
#4 Fedor Emelianenko
Even despite unsuccessful acquisition-negotiations with the UFC, Emelianenko made his presence felt in almost every other major fighting promotion. Hailed as one of the fore-runners of the heavyweight oeuvre, Fedor is known for claiming the Pride Fighting Championships from Antonio Nogueira in March 2003 (and he never relinquished it!) Despite not competing in the UFC, as mentioned, the sambo exponent has defeated four former UFC champions- a list that includes the names of Mark Coleman, Tim Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski and Kevin Randleman.
#5 Tim Sylvia
Sylvia made his ingress in the UFC, in the most prolific manner. Bestowed with the gift of a gargantuan physique, it didn’t take long for Sylvia to chew out his opponents in the ring. He beat the likes of Ricco Rodriguez and Wesley Correira, en route to clinching the title. Just when everything was hunky dory, Sylvia’s grip on the division began loosening in 2008. He was soon lost in the whirlwinds of obscurity.
#6 Josh Barnett
If it wasn’t for the doping violation pulling the plug on his career, Josh Barnett could have reached the pinnacle of the heavyweight fighting division. A stellar career that boasted of victories over Dan Severn, Frank Mir, Roy Nelson and Andrei Arlovski, Barnett’s technicality and wrestling prowess made him an instant favourite amongst the UFC brethren. His last appearance was against Andrei Arlovski, post which he was banned after testing positive for a banned substance.
#7 Mirko Filipovic
While his UFC-run was a tad “lacklustre”, Mirko Filipovic is most remembered for the carnage that he caused in PRIDE. The “Cro Cop” had an unmatched run, defeating a pantheon of heavyweight superstars. One of his crowning achievements was clinching the 2006 Pride World Open-Weight Grand Prix Championship. He couldn’t continue his brilliant form onto the grander stage, i.e. the UFC; but nevertheless, Filipovic’s exploits in the cage make him one of the greatest heavyweights.
#8 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
In the realm of heavyweight behemoths, no one was more driven than Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. From sublime submission skills to a great stand-up game, Antonio Nogueira was an all-rounder who burst onto the scene with nothing but domination on his mind. His amazing comeback against Bob Sapp is a common lore around the world. Though he failed to make a big impression in the UFC, he still managed to pick up victories against notable competitors such as Sylvia and Couture.
#9 Brock Lesnar
Though I’d get the flak for posting Lesnar’s name on this list, but he easily makes it to this list of greatest heavyweight fighters. Coming from a collegiate wrestling background, it wasn’t easy for Lesnar to walk the walk, but he did it with such grace that he made quite a mark (pun unintended) for himself. Despite not having much to show in his “fighting curriculum vitae”, Lesnar’s abilities inside the octagon prove his worth as a great fighter.
#10 Fabricio Werdum
Here’s one such fighter who has been criminally underrated for his exploits inside the octagon. Fabricio Werdum holds the distinction of beating some of the best in the business such as Cain Velasquez. Nogueira and Emelianenko. The victory against Emelianenko was a crowning achievement as Werdum became the first fighter to dethrone him in ten years. Having trained in Muay Thai, Judo and BJJ, Werdum is a fairly well-rounded fighter who has shown time and again why age is just a number.
