There is always a debate about who are the greatest UFC fighters of all time. Everybody has a different list with a variety of reasons to support their opinions. Looking at Dana White’s list of top fighters there is a mixture of accolades and overall influence in the sport.
White has seen the UFC going from bankruptcy to a multi-billion dollar business over 20 years. During this period he worked with some of the best MMA fighters in the history of sports. Recently, the CEO was asked to name his greatest UFC fighters of all time. It didn’t take Dana White to come up with the fighters who were the biggest assets in the company’s development.
You gotta go with Jon Jones. You have to go with Ronda Rousey. Women would not be fighting, if it wasn’t for her. You would have to put GSP in there and absolutely, positively Conor McGregor. He elevated and changed the game globally.
Dana White via ESPN MMA
As mentioned, White’s list had some of the biggest superstars who were and still are the huge pay-per-view draws. Jones and Georges St-Pierre are regarded as two of the most versatile and complete fighters in the history of MMA. Their resume and accomplishments is a clear proof of their greatness.
Fighters like McGregor and Rousey were more upfront in the promotional aspect of the sport. They brought in millions of dollars of revenue and popularized UFC globally. Despite being inactive for years, McGregor is still the biggest star in the UFC. As such, White is a big fan of the Irish fighter also for his willingness to fight anybody at any time. Therefore, his return to fighting is highly anticipated.
As a business, White’s affinity towards these two is not surprising. However, there are several fighters that many fans believe White has missed.
Why the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov didn’t make it to Dana White’s list
In recent years Khabib Nurmagomedov is the name that has gained a huge amount of fan following. The fighter retired in 2020 with a perfect MMA record of 29-0 and was one of the biggest PPV stars. In a sport where fighters shed blood in every bout, the ‘Eagle’ never bled.
Nurmagomedov’s wrestling-heavy approach made him a dominant force inside the octagon. He ran through all the top fighters that the promotion threw at him. Dana White always liked working with the Dagestani and was aware of his greatness. However, Nurmagomedov’s early retirement is the reason why White doesn’t consider him one of the greatest fighters of all time.
It’s so hard. Obviously, he’s talented enough. Who knows what he could have accomplished but he retired too early…I have tried to convince Khabib to come out of retirement but I feel like he left in his prime.
Dana White via GQ Sports-Advertisement-
Despite having a brief career, Khabib Nurmagomedov is regarded by many enthusiasts and experts as one of the greatest of all time. His record and overall title defenses, in the opinion of many critics, are not as stellar as those of other elite legends. Since it’s a fun part of the sport, the discussion surrounding it will continue as it always has.
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