Although MMA has only been around for a short time, the sport has created a number of icons that have changed the game.
Some of these men went on to have illustrious careers, while others simply changed the way the game was played. Regardless of how their careers ended, all these men contributed greatly to the sport.
They came from all kinds of different backgrounds; jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and wrestling, among others. When these men stepped inside the cage or ring, fans had their eyes glued to the television screen because we realized history was unfolding before our very eyes.
Of course, the selections on these lists are always debatable and I’m sure there’s a handful of fighters you could swap in and out of this list. In my opinion, these are the most influential fighters to step inside the cage/ring.