When mixed martial arts and the UFC began, the purpose of these no-holds-barred fights was to find out which martial art was the most effective.
As the sport has evolved, fighters and fans alike have found that proficiency in all aspects of combat is more important than the clashing of styles.
Despite MMA athletes becoming well-versed in many different arts, many have taken a liking to a specific part of the game or a certain martial art that shines through in their bouts.
Guys like Demian Maia, Lyoto Machida, and Chael Sonnen all use their base styles effectively in the cage as their high level of expertise in their respective arts is quite easy to see.
Here are the best practitioners in each of the major martial arts found in MMA today.