SO MANY GUYS haha. But I have my top 3 always.. Shogun is basically equal to them but if I had to pick a top 3 it'd be those guys. Here is why, too
Fedor - was the unbeatable, indestructible machine. HW champ. Was extremely humble, quiet, almost mysterious as a person. Especially before Youtube and all of the info on EVERYONE being so easily available. He truly had that aura that no one has come close to since.
Nog - was the ultimate story of resilience in both his fights and his life. His story of what happened to him as a kid, and the level he was able to reach as an adult.. It was amazing. At the time I got into MMA the only guy to really have his number was Fedor, and it seemed like NO ONE could beat him other than Fedor. Like he'd ALWAYS come back from the brink of defeat and pull out the win. The first Nog fight I ever watched was him vs Mirko and to me that perfectly defines who Nog is as a warrior in and out of the cage. Nog vs Sapp is another example of that, too.
Wand - again, when I first got into MMA, Wand seemed unbeatable. Like a complete psycho, lol. He was like not even human to me. His face actually was terrifying to me. Wand was the first MMA fighter I ever saw - his fight vs Rampage was the first fight I ever watched. He looked so crazy, barbaric almost. And his staredowns?! WTF? He seemed like a fucking monster to me.. and his fights were so violent man. My whole life I'd been a huge boxing fan and when MMA came around and I first knew of it, I dismissed it and didn't really watch it at first. However, when I saw Wandy leave Rampage knocked the FUCK out between the ropes, with blood leaking out of his face onto the white mat.. I could not believe it. Wand was solely responsible for getting me into MMA. That fight changed everything. I didn't even know you could hit people with your knees and have it be effective lol. I thought boxers were the toughest people in the world.
Anyway sorry for the long post.. but that's why those 3 guys will always be at the top[ of my life, as they were instrumental in getting me into MMA, and the first guys I watched who felt larger than life. As for all my honorable mentions.. Man, I could go on about them forever
I'd like to add Vitor as well, but already listed so any guys.. When I first got into MMA Vitor was seen as a shot fighter, and the thing with his sister was so tragic.. To see him comeback to the very highest level at the sport has been amazing. TRT, PEDs or not. It was not the PEDs that got him to where he is now. He could juice in PRIDE all he wanted. But the mental determination and I believe, acceptance over time of what happened to his sister and realizing she was not coming back, is what allowed Vitor to move on and regain his past glory. Hard not to admire the guy when you've been following him from when he was at the bottom fighting in small UK promotions to where he is now.
