The UFC is universally recognized as the preeminent mixed martial arts promotion on the planet. Therefore, UFC bouts usually see the best competing against the best. Of these top level fighters, who has seen the most success?It is impossibl…
The UFC is universally recognized as the preeminent mixed martial arts promotion on the planet. Therefore, UFC bouts usually see the best competing against the best. Of these top level fighters, who has seen the most success?
It is impossible to objectively evaluate which fighters have had more success based on past competition. Such a process allows for too much subjectivity when comparing the value of different wins.
To avoid such subjectivity, the rankings in this article are based on each fighter’s record over .500 (wins minus losses). This process is more effective than simply comparing winning percentages because it factors in longevity.
Also, since any fighter with a better winning percentage but fewer wins above .500 than another fighter would have to win more than half of his fights to catch up, this list assumes that it is impossible to assume such success. For example, if fighter A is 11-3 (eight games over) and fighter B is 7-0 (seven games over), although B has a much better winning percentage, B would have to 4-3 in his next seven fights to match A; it is impossible to assume such success (see Brandon Vera).
For tiebreakers, overall winning percentage will be considered (7-0 > 9-2).
UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (13-1-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) is in the final weeks of preparation for his title defense against Gray Maynard (10-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) at UFC 136 on October 8. The fight is Edgar’s third title defense and he’s now return…
UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (13-1-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) is in the final weeks of preparation for his title defense against Gray Maynard (10-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) at UFC 136 on October 8.
The fight is Edgar’s third title defense and he’s now returning to the Octagon for the second time in 2011.
Earlier this year, the champion was put to the test in a five-round draw and his elite conditioning helped him survive a dominant opening round from Maynard.
Edgar was able to escape a 10-8 opening round to even the scorecards. While a draw isn’t ideal, his supreme work ethic, which had him in phenomenal shape, played a huge factor in the fight.
TRX and Prime One Video recently caught up with the champion to get his thoughts on training.
“I consider myself (to be) one of the hardest training guys in this sport,” Edgar said. “I know a lot of guys train hard, but for me, for myself I don’t compare myself to anybody else because you can’t do that. Everyone is an individual, so I know I push myself to the limits every day.”
He’ll once again put his skills to the test in hopes of retaining the lightweight championship and in order to do so, he will have to be in top form.
The Toyota Center in Houston, Texas plays host to the event with Edgar and Maynard as the night’s headliner.
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With UFC 136 fast approaching it’s hard not to consider this one of the most exciting fight cards of the entire year. The main card is headlined by current lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, who will defend his title against Gray Maynard.The two li…
With UFC 136 fast approaching it’s hard not to consider this one of the most exciting fight cards of the entire year. The main card is headlined by current lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, who will defend his title against Gray Maynard.
The two lightweight superstars will square off in a highly anticipated rematch, after their bout at UFC 125 ended in a draw.
Also featured on the card is featherweight champion Jose Aldo, who will defend his title against Kenny Florian, who recently dropped to the 145 weight class.
This stacked fight card takes place in Houston, in front of a sold out Toyota Center.
The following slides display the early betting odds and predictions for each fight at UFC 136.
Top UFC lightweights Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard are set to throw down for a third time at UFC 136.The two met for the first time back in 2008 and Maynard was able to use his wrestling to control Edgar, earning a unanimous decision victory.Fast forw…
Top UFC lightweights Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard are set to throw down for a third time at UFC 136.
The two met for the first time back in 2008 and Maynard was able to use his wrestling to control Edgar, earning a unanimous decision victory.
Fast forward three years.
Edgar is the UFC lightweight champion, coming off his first successful title defense, and Maynard has just earned himself a title shot by defeating Kenny Florian.
Their second fight took place on January 1st, 2011 and they started off the year in fashion, putting on one of the most exciting fights in UFC history.
However, while it was an incredibly entertaining fight, the result was inconclusive; after five rounds of back and forth action, the fight was declared a draw.
In a little more than a month, Edgar and Maynard will finally settle the score.
Will Edgar retain his lightweight belt, or will Maynard become the new UFC lightweight champion?
As reported by MMAJunkie.com, Clay “The Carpenter” Guida and Ben “Smooth” Henderson have expressed an interest in facing one another on Nov. 12’s UFC on FOX 1.Though John Fosco and Malki Kawa, Guida’s and Henderson’s managers, respectively, believe the…
As reported by MMAJunkie.com, Clay “The Carpenter” Guida and Ben “Smooth” Henderson have expressed an interest in facing one another on Nov. 12’s UFC on FOX 1.
Though John Fosco and Malki Kawa, Guida’s and Henderson’s managers, respectively, believe their clients have each done enough to warrant the next Lightweight title shot, they welcome the opportunity to have the fighters make their case on network television.
The question is, does this fight make sense, not only for fans, but for the UFC?
Let’s take this one point at a time:
Guida vs. Henderson is a meaningful fight
The UFC Lightweight division is currently a jumbled mess. Anthony Pettis defeated Ben Henderson to become the final WEC Lightweight champ, with a guarantee to fight the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard at UFC 125.
Edgar and Maynard fought to a thrilling draw, causing Dana White to immediately announce a rematch.
Rather than stay on the sidelines, Pettis decided to stay active and accepted a fight against Guida, losing in a one-sided decision and becoming Guida’s fourth straight victim.
Meanwhile, Jim Miller quietly put together a seven-fight win streak against solid competition and positioned himself as a legitimate Lightweight contender. Henderson won his UFC debut against a game Mark Bocek, and was then given a significant challenge in Miller, who he completely dismantled.
Get all that?
A fight between Guida and Henderson would pit “the guy who beat the guy” against “the guy who beat the other guy,” thus clearing up the current Lightweight imbroglio. The winner would clearly deserve a title shot against the eventual winner of Edgar vs. Maynard 3.
Guida and Henderson are both marketable fighters
There are few fighters in the UFC as likable as Clay Guida and Ben Henderson.
Guida is the ultimate workhorse, a non-stop whirlwind with a never-say-die attitude and a tenacious in-your-face style. He literally lives in a van by the river while he trains, and pays homage to his blue-collar background with his nickname, “The Carpenter.”
Ben Henderson is equal parts tenacity, energy and humility. He embarks into arenas bouncing to gospel music, is an absolute pitbull in the cage, and after winning the biggest fight of his career, drops to his knees and begs Dana White, not to give him a title shot, but to give his lesser-known teammates a shot at the big time.
And, oh yeah…did I forget to mention that they both have manes of hair that a Pantene model would kill for?
If the UFC and FOX can’t market these guys during episodes of House, then we should all probably just pack our bags and go home. Though they don’t have the name recognition of a Brock Lesnar or Georges St. Pierre, they are certainly compelling characters that can draw in a viewer.
Guida vs. Henderson is something a true fight fan can look forward to
Last, but certainly not least, this would not only be an important and marketable fight, it would be a good fight.
This would be a great stylistic match up—both fighters have relentless wrestling, each averaging over 4 takedowns per 15 minutes, and both are active strikers, on their feet, and on the ground. Say what you want about wrestling in MMA, neither Guida nor Henderson can be accused of “laying and praying.”
Though Henderson is the better striker, Guida is incredibly durable and has never been knocked out. Likewise, Guida has won by submission 15 times out of 29 wins, but Henderson has only been submitted once thanks to his Gumby-like limbs and seemingly nonexistent veins.
Pitting two active, pressure fighters against one another will make for a sure-fire thriller. Wherever this fight may go, on the ground, to the clinch, or at a distance on their feet, Guida and Henderson are guaranteed to go for each other’s throats at 100 mph for 15 straight minutes.
Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson is a must-make fight for UFC on FOX 1.
Dana White and Joe Silva can’t pass up the opportunity to make this meaningful, compelling fight between marketable and well-matched fighters.
It is a perfect way to drum up future PPV interest for a championship fight against the winner of Edgar vs. Maynard 3, and is sure to please casual and hardcore fans alike.
I’ll leave my fight prediction for a later date, but no matter the outcome, both fans and the UFC are guaranteed to win.
LOS ANGELES — MMA Fighting spoke to UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar following Thursday’s UFC on FOX press conference about the TV deal, his upcoming fight against Gray Maynard at UFC 136, his nagging injuries, his and why he is tired of thinking about Maynard.
LOS ANGELES — MMA Fighting spoke to UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar following Thursday’s UFC on FOX press conference about the TV deal, his upcoming fight against Gray Maynard at UFC 136, his nagging injuries, his and why he is tired of thinking about Maynard.
UFC lightweight champion