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So what does it take to be cut out for the Gold?Oftentimes I find myself wondering what makes a champion? Is it just the grinding work ethic and persistence of will or is it talent and innate ability which some may call "the genius" of the champion?Is it just about satisfying the pop myth of investing 10,000 hours of your life in an endeavour or effectively juggling different pursuits in your life so that your sense of well-being and self-worth are not tied up to only one activity?"You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way and the only way, it does not exist." - Friedrich NietzscheThere exists no single way to reach a goal, in fact, every different perspective brings forth a new path and who's to say it is not the right path unless you tread along and find out?It takes more than just hard work to be a champion, yes. But Champions come and go. In every moment of time, the most worthy athlete has earned the right to bask in the glory of being called a "champion", but will the athlete add anything more to his legacy than just being addressed by a title that countless men before him have been addressed with as well?In the world of mixed martial arts, there have been few, among far too many champions, who have left such a lasting impression on us that merely calling them a "Champion" would not do justice to their legacy.Let's take a look at these phenomenal athletes who received more than one could hope for from a sport which is still its infancy but the one thing that makes them stand out from the rest is how much they gave back.
#1 Jose Aldo Jr.
You may know Jose Aldo Jr. as the man who is going to face Conor Mcgregor at UFC 194 in what is going to be, arguably the biggest UFC event in History.
But if that's all you know about Aldo, then it is a shame because the man is much more than just a false antagonist in a false narrative that has been painted to promote UFC 194.
The reason he made it on this list is not solely because he hasn't lost a fight in more than 10 years or because he is the number 1 ranked pound for pound mixed martial artist in the world. Or because he holds the longest winning streak in all of UFC/WEC/Strikeforce/Pride history with 15 wins.
It is because Jose Aldo Jr. is a person who you could serve a role model for your son as his achievements fall short in front of his will when you consider how hard it was for him to merely make it into the fight business because of his extremely poor background.
When Aldo used to show up at the gym, his trainer was almost always certain that the kid was hungry from past few days and they would grab some food before they would train. Gun fires were commonplace where Aldo hailed from. Aldo's biggest motivation was not a belt or vain glory but simply to have a roof over his head.
When a man emerges victorious from such conditions which are hard to even imagine for a regular Joe, you immediately recognize a man who's cut out to be a champion. Now the second most popular mixed martial artist in Brazil, Aldo has come a long way and it is scary when you consider he's only touched his prime.
Looking at Jose Aldo's highlight reel, one may make the obvious mistake that he comes from a kickboxing background even though his background is in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. For 10 years now, Aldo has been stacking victories by simply employing little more than fundamentally excellent kickboxing and an array of damaging knees and kicks, hard punches, agile footwork and extremely slick head movement.
It takes more than just physical ability to pull that off. The only Featherweight champion UFC has ever had, Aldo's illustrious run is far from over.
#2 Georges St.Pierre
Royce Gracie was the first true Ultimate Fighting Champion and when Ken Shamrock broke into the scene, he was billed as the first prototype of a true MMA fighter who could submit you on the ground and knock you out on the feet.
The path that Shamrock carved was later travelled by GSP who took it to the next level with employing skills as diverse as wrestling and boxing and executing them perfectly. GSP may not be the strongest guy with the knockout power or the fastest guy with the most unpredictable footwork but he combined all aspects of the game conveniently and the beauty of GSP's game was that he could employ any part of his game as and when required with an unprecedented perfection.
GSP knew when to time his shots and when to go for the takedown. He understood the value of strategy and used it in a way that would always fluster his opponents as they would struggle to find a way out.
GSP's philosophy later influenced many other fighters including Jon Jones and the philosophy was simple - "Find a way to win." Nothing was ever personal for GSP, the only thing he was concerned with was a victory and he wouldn't shy away from going the distance if he had to.
After he TKO'd Matt Serra to avenge his only loss via knockout and quite possibly the biggest upset in UFC history, there was no looking back. GSP then went on a winning streak like never seen before, virtually wiping out all of his division.
It was a sight to behold throughout the years as he outwrestled accomplished wrestlers such as Josh Koscheck and Matt Hughes, out struck fearsome strikers such as Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. As he defended his Welterweight title 9 times in a row, the world knew a legend was in the making.
GSP proved to be much more than just a marketable fighter in the UFC and broke new barriers for UFC in Canada and became a household name in the french speaking population throughout the world.
#3 Ronda Rousey
If Rousey's game had to be defined in one phrase, it would be utter and complete dominance. Rightfully, Rousey is now the face of the UFC and a true pioneer for Women's MMA. It is amazing to see how much she has achieved in such little time frame.
Rousey's game is so well rounded that it is impossible to anticipate what's coming, could it be a sly straight armbar in just 14 seconds into the fight or a vicious knockout punch that would leave your face planted in just 34 seconds? You never know.
Ronda Rousey is one a kind athlete who seems to have no holes in her game whatsoever. With 12 pro fights down, her total time inside the cage is just 25 minutes. It is no wonder that her opponents have a hard time figuring out her game since they fall short on study footage.
After winning a bronze in Beijing Olympics in Judo, things have only got better for Rousey who is now synonymous with success in whatever she does.
After making her pro wrestling cameo appearance in Wrestlemania 31, she has touched new heights of fame and fortune. Hell, even I wasn't writing an article about how dominant a UFC champion Ronda is, I could just write an article about "10 useless things you don't know about Ronda Rousey" and it would attract more clicks than a free database of all UFC fights that ever happened.
That pretty much sums up her brand value. Regardless, Rousey is more than just a brand and a true inspiration for the fairer sex around the world.
#4 Jon Jones
Jon Jones is a rare breed. And I say that because he is one of those fighters who make things seem easier than they really are.
As a man who started training in MMA because he needed quick cash when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant, Jones sure has come a long way. He may have started out as a confused kid looking for money but as the win streak started stacking up, he discovered something priceless, his purpose.
And when he completely dominated Shogun to later finish him through his well-timed jabs and beautiful elbows in the clinch, everyone knew that they were looking at someone special. At the ripe age of just 23 years, Jones had made history by being the youngest UFC champion ever.
Probably the scariest dude in all of MMA, Jones is already making his name into the best fighters of all time lists, period. Jones has proved time and again that you can only go so far with him until his creativity inside the octagon takes a toll on you.
When he took down Olympic wrestler and current Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier, he was left gasping for breath and it became a matter of pride of him now to take Jones down, and the number of takedowns attempted vs successful takedowns were the lowest there had ever been for Cormier.
Jones Achieved a similar feat when he out struck the most dangerous striker in his division in Alexander Gustafsson. There's something to be said when a man defeats you in the very thing you take pride in and continues to do so until he tears apart the very desire in you to fight.
Critics say that he holds and unfair advantage due to his size, frame and reach which is, as we've seen time and again, too much for the average light heavyweight. But even with such a major weight cut, he has clearly shown no lack of power or stamina.
Jon Jones's lack of experience against the likes of GSP or Anderson Silva may not make him the greatest just yet, but he's well on his way in becoming the finest MMA fighter to ever step foot inside the octagon.
#5 Anderson Silva
No surprises here.
The widely agreed upon ‘Greatest of all time’ is going to remain the ‘Greatest of all time for a long time’ unless someone comes along and breaks all his statistical records of longest win streak in UFC (16), most title defences in UFC (10), No.1 significant strike accuracy (67.8%) and longest title reign in UFC history with 3297 days.
Anderson Silva in his prime was the mythical creature that every MMA fan in the world dreamed of witnessing live at least once in their lifetime.
The very existence of Anderson Silva is a peak into the possibilities that lie untouched in the world of mixed martial arts.
One thing that is common in all of the Champions that made it on this list was that they knew how to round up their game and not stay one dimensional, the fact that they were extremely proficient in more than one form of combat is what set them apart, in that case, Anderson Silva's example led everyone else to unlock their true potential in the sport.
A true leader leads by example and not by word.
Every technique that Silva executed inside the octagon, whether it be the technically vicious Muay Thai, the beautiful transitions and movement on both the ground and standing up, the seamless switching of the stances, the unexpected angles to land a precise counter strike which would more often than not, end up changing the whole landscape of the fight in a split second, the unbelievably notorious guard that would find openings hidden to even the most seasoned Brazilian Jiu Jitsu veterans, Silva's time inside the octagon is a testament to the fact that a lot can be done when there seems to be no way out.
The manner in which in which he lost the UFC Middleweight Championship was nothing short of embarrassing but it only brings out the truth that no one is invincible and if you do not respect the game, the repercussions are going to come back with an interest.
He may not be in the picture anymore due to the fate he brought on to himself, but people who recognize talent will always know that Silva's legacy cannot and will not be tarnished.
He will be remembered fondly as the invincible Brazilian who's example will continue to inspire every fighter who steps inside the octagon and every person who wishes to make a living out of doing what they truly love.
