UFC: Top 10 All Time Mixed Martial Artists

After his emphatic victory last weekend, Demetrious 'Mighty Mouse' Johnson staked his claim to being the greatest ever mixed martial artist. And when it comes to considering the question, he's got a point. Not only did he break Anderson Silva's all-time title defences record, as well as maintain a virtually unprecedented UFC win streak of 13, but he has single-handedly destroyed the best of the flyweight division, from Benavidez to Cejudo to Borg.

That got me thinking. To me, to be the best mixed martial artist of all time, the first word is imperative: mixed. While there are countless fighters that are excellent at one, perhaps even two of the skill-sets that make up MMA, there are rarely competitors that satisfy all three components.

So after much consideration, here are my thoughts on the Top 10 UFC Mixed Martial Artists of all time.

Matt Hughes - Welterweight (45-9)
While for many, the term 'dominant welterweight champion' will generate images of a certain French-Canadian, it originated as a description of Illinois-born and bred fighter Matt Hughes. A much celebrated collegiate wrestler, Hughes quickly demonstrated his capabilities with all three of the core techniques of MMA, finishing fights both by submission and strikes.

Amidst iconic rivalries with the likes of Georges St Pierre, BJ Penn, and Frank Trigg, Hughes solidified himself as a true great of the sport, with combined titles reigns lasting more than four years during the 00s. However, perhaps the best indication of his mastery of the various arts is his record, with his 45 wins split evenly between KOs (17), submissions (18) and decisions (10).

Jose Aldo - Featherweight (26-3)
Those who choose to characterise Jose Aldo's career by the 13 seconds that he was inside the Octagon with Conor McGregor are beyond naive, they are ignorant and disrespectful. What this man has done for the lower weight classes is, in my opinion, at least as significant as the likes of Urijah Faber, demonstrating the speed and technique that we are now so familiar with.

Despite his background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Aldo is most well known for his striking proficiency, as well as using the environment to his advantage. From his leg-kicking clinic against Faber to beating Mark Hominick so badly his head swelled to twice its size, Aldo is not afraid to make use of all his limbs. His wrestling and clinch work also supports this, perhaps best demonstrated by his dramatic knee knockout of Chad Mendes in 2012.

A ten year undefeated record cannot be ignored, and his abilities both on the ground and on the feet are unquestionable. It's just a shame that he will likely only be remembered for one moment.

Chuck Liddell - Light-Heavyweight (21-8)
With a strong background in wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the heavy-handed Iceman was a phenom when he broke onto the scene in the late 90s, and his battles with Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture are now legendary. He was a central part of the growth of the UFC in the 2000s, perhaps just as important as the now iconic TUF 1 Finale fight between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar.

Having lost his light-heavyweight title at the hands of Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, a reign that had lasted four defences in nearly two years, the Iceman's career melted. Liddell would go on to lose four of his next five fights, including two of the best brutal knockouts in the company's history.

BJ Penn - Lightweight/Welterweight (16-11-2)
Having burst onto the UFC scene at the tender age of 21, the Hawaiian was fresh off becoming the first American gold medallist at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. However, it was his striking that initially helped him shine above the rest, knocking out the likes of Din Thomas and Caol Uno.

As Penn continued to rise, he returned to his basics to gain success, choking out legends including Hughes, Gomi and Pulver, and is one of three fighters to hold belts across two different weight classes. He remains the longest reigning lightweight champion of all time, being undefeated at the class for more than eight years.

The reason that Penn appears so far down the list despite his many accolades is his insistence at fighting way past his prime. In total, the Hawaiian has lost all five of his most recent bouts, stretching back to 2011. While he has consistently fought top 10 lightweights, his powers are fading and he should call it a career before he does more damage.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Heavyweight (34-10-1)
One of the most iconic PRIDE fighters of all time, who reached the UFC perhaps a few years too late. 'Big Nog' made his name in Japan, fighting everyone from 186lb Jeremy Horn to a steroid-ridden 329lb Bob Sapp. However, Nogueira would become one of the first heavyweights to make use of jiu-jitsu, claiming wins by way of armbar, triangle, anaconda choke, americana and rear naked choke.

Over the coming years Nogueira would fight a who's who of MMA and kickboxing royalty, including Dan Henderson, Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko Cro Cop, Semmy Schilt, Sergei Kharitonov and Fabricio Werdum, before claiming the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship from Tim Sylvia in 2008.

Sadly, having compiled a record of 29-4-1 prior to entering the UFC, he never hit the heights of his previous form.

Randy Couture - Light-Heavyweight/Heavyweight (19-11)
The only man who has earned a bow of respect from the legendary announcer Bruce Buffer, Randy 'The Natural' Couture, was one of the original UFC legends, and has been credited will some of the growth in the sport's popularity in the 2000s. Switching seamlessly between heavyweight and light-heavyweight, the collegiate wrestler and ex-US military boxer earned a reputation for his dirty boxing approach.

Having already won, lost and vacated the UFC Heavyweight Championship between 1997 and 2002, Couture would become the first man to hold titles across two different weight divisions. He would start an iconic trilogy with fellow Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, as well as fights with legends like Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfort, in total winning five separate championships.

Anderson Silva - Middleweight (34-8)
Widely considered by many to be the greatest of all time, 'The Spider' makes only number four on my list. This is for three reasons. Firstly, in his waning years, Silva has lost some of the invincibility that he had between 2006 and 2012. Consecutive losses to Chris Weidman, as well as defeats at the hands of Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier removed that psychological edge to Silva's game.

Secondly, as a complete mixed martial artist, Anderson has shown he has holes in his game. While he is practically unparalleled on the feet, he has shown a deficiency when it comes to the ground. For four and a half rounds, Silva was completely dominated by Chael Sonnen, before a mistake by the American handed him the opportunity to retain his title.

Finally, Silva has also been the making of his own downfall. Following his unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz, the Brazilian tested positive for an anabolic steroid, ruling him out for a year and calling all past achievements into contention. Is it a coincidence that he has been a shadow of his former self in the fights since? A victory over Kelvin Gastelum would certainly go some way to righting some of the wrongs, but it is unclear, whether his reputation will ever fully heal.

Georges St-Pierre - Welterweight/Middleweight (25-2)
One of the four dominant champions in the early 2010s alongside Rousey, Jones and Silva, GSP has shown himself to be adept across all of the aspects of mixed martial arts throughout his career. Whether that's the headkick TKO of Matt Hughes to claim his first UFC title, or his ability to utterly shut down the attack of some of the world's greatest strikers - Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit and Johny Hendricks among the challengers pushed back.

The French-Canadian has amassed the largest number of title bout wins in the history of the UFC, as well as the second-longest combined time as champion. His legacy as one of the greatest is secure, but a successful return at UFC 217 could see him enter the conversation as the best fighter to step foot into the Octagon.

Jon Jones - Light-Heavyweight (22-1, 1 NC)
While the aftermath of UFC 214 may have called his previous successes into question, his talent inside the Octagon cannot be questioned. There are few that have been able to innovate in the way that Jon Jones has, and even fewer that have been able to dominate fights both on the feet and the ground.

Think back to his successful spinning elbows on both Stephan Bonnar and Alexander Gustafsson, or his outrageous standing guillotine that sent Lyoto Machida to sleep. Was there always a hint of controversy, either through an eye-poke or personal indiscretion? Sure. But if there was one thing you could guarantee with a Jones fight, it was going to be a spectacle.

While his latest failed drug test could keep him away from the cage for up to four years, there can be no denying that 'Bones' has played a key role in the difficult adolescent period for the sport of mixed martial arts, demonstrating both what and what not to do to the next generation.

Demetrious Johnson - Flyweight (27-2-1)
By head and shoulders the greatest complete technical fighter we have ever seen, particularly following the indiscretions that have hit both Jones and Silva. Over the last five years, the UFC's only flyweight world champion has cleared out his division, with 11 consecutive title defences as part of a 13 fight win streak since a bantamweight world championship defeat to Dominick Cruz.

His win last weekend was perhaps his most impressive to date, utterly dominating a helpless Ray Borg, with the strike count hopelessly one sided. He has also shown his propensity to innovate even under threat, with his picture perfect suplex to armbar combination a shoo-in for Submission of the Year.

For all of Jones' and Silva's style and flair, the basis of Mighty Mouse's success has been pure technique whether on the feet, in the scrambles or on the ground, and as has been proven by the past five years, he truly is unrivalled.

Do you agree with the list? Are there any I've missed? If you want to discuss this, or any of the topics I've discussed, feel free to contact me on Twitter @TheWeighInMMA.

UFC: Top 10 Knockouts

There is nothing more exciting as a spectator than a highlight reel knockout, and the reaction that it gets is often enormous. All fighters look for it, for both the prestige and the potential of a $50,000 bonus.

With the power that many fighters across the divisions have, it is unsurprising that there are a wealth of options for me to choose from. Nevertheless, these are my top 10 knockouts in UFC history.

10. Thomas Almeida vs Brad Pickett - UFC 189 (flying knee)

Having established a 19-0 record, albeit mostly in lesser organisations, Thomas Almeida was matched against the veteran Brad Pickett in a fight expected to test the youngster. And it certainly did that, with the Londoner flooring the Brazilian in the opening round and forcing him to recover quickly. However, when the bell rang for the second round, it took just 30 seconds for Almeida to land a devastating flying knee to leave his opponent out cold.

9. Paige VanZant vs Bec Rawlings - UFC Fight Night: Maia vs Condit (switch kick)

If there is one thing you don't expect from female fighters, it is outlandish knockouts, with the majority of fights either going the distance or ending by submission. Step forward 22-year old Paige VanZant, who in her ninth professional fight battled Bec Rawlings, who had had a decidedly up and down ride coming off the strawweight season of The Ultimate Fighter.

After an uneventful first round, VanZant landed a picture perfect flying switch kick to the head of Rawlings just fifteen seconds into round two, before finishing her opponent on the ground.

8. Junior dos Santos vs Mark Hunt - UFC 160 (spinning hook kick)

Similarly to the above example, this was a knockout that surprised many. While heavyweights are accustomed to knocking one another into the middle of next week with their fists, there are not all that many that end fights with head kicks - and spinning ones at that!

Nevertheless, in the final minute of a bloody war, JDS used this technique to perfection to stop the notoriously tough Mark Hunt - only the second time in history that the Super Samoan had been stopped by strikes. This propelled Cigano back into the title picture, and a third bout with Cain Velasquez.

7. Rashad Evans vs Chuck Liddell - UFC 88 (punch)

Brutal. That's the best way to describe the knockout of UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell at the hands of Ultimate Fighter winner Rashad Evans. Whether you believe the Iceman should still have been competing at that point or not, it was still painful to watch Liddell crumple under the right hand of Evans, as well as seeing him cradled in the arms of Herb Dean.

Having come into the fight as a considerable underdog, the power and ferocity of the knockout even seemed to surprise Evans, with his celebration a combination of shock and awe at the spectacular finish.

6. Rashad Evans vs Sean Salmon - UFC Fight Night: Evans vs Salmon (head kick)

It seems Rashad Evans doesn't do a normal finish to a fight. Suga finds his way onto this list for a second time with his crunching head kick knockout of decorated collegiate wrestler Sean Salmon in 2007. Having been frustrated throughout the first round, frequently taken down by Salmon, Evans found the perfect, and final, response, catching the 9-1 fighter with what can only be described as a volley to the dome.

Having remained unconscious for several minutes, this KO seemed to have significant consequences for Salmon, who was unable to reclaim his form up to that point. He retired in 2013 with a record of 18 wins and 21 losses.

5. Gabriel Gonzaga vs Mirko Cro Cop - UFC 70 (head kick)

As a specialist of delivering highlight reel head kick knockouts, Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic found himself on the receiving end of a right high kick from Gabriel Gonzaga at Manchester's 'MEN Arena'. With Napau not known for his kickboxing ability, this came as a real shock in what was considered a title eliminator match-up in 2007.

Adding to the brutality was the way that Cro Cop fell. As his eyes rolled back into his head on impact, his knee contorted below his falling body, detaching a ligament in the Croat's knee.

4. Lyoto Machida vs Randy Couture - UFC 129 (jump head kick)

When the movie 'The Karate Kid' came out in 1984, I can guarantee that every martial artist was practicing the perfectly executed crane kick landed by Daniel LaRusso to win his tournament. However, few were ever likely to pull it off in active competition, and once the UFC got started in 1993, it seemed impossible that the move would be successful in the Octagon.

However, no-one told Lyoto Machida. Under considerable pressure having lost his two previous fights, The Dragon applied the technique to perfection, landing on the chin of MMA legend Randy Couture in round two of their 2011 encounter to finish the fight.

3. Dan Henderson vs Michael Bisping - UFC 100 (punch)

The punch that spawned a logo and a rivalry to last seven years. After enduring months of taunts from Michael Bisping while filming the US vs UK series of The Ultimate Fighter, Dan Henderson entered into UFC 100 with a rather large score to settle.

Roared on by a partisan US crowd, Hendo corked up the H-bomb to devastating effect in the second round, leaving Bisping unconscious before he even hit the floor, with the American following it up with a vicious, and perhaps unnecessary, second blow.

2. Edson Barboza vs Terry Etim - UFC 142 (spinning wheel kick)

If this list looked at technique alone, this KO wins hands down. The speed at which the Brazilian's heel hit Etim's chin is terrifying, and the way the British fighter toppled to the floor was almost cartoon-esque.

While a shout out has to go to the recent wheel kick landed by Lando Vannata against John Makdessi, Barboza's remains the standard, and the sheer brutality of the knockout left the Brazilian giving the credit for the move to the man upstairs.

1. Anderson Silva vs Vitor Belfort - UFC 126 (front kick)

For me, it's a real toss up between this and Barboza's, but the fact that this happened in a highly pressurised title fight, with more than a little animosity between the parties involved, means that this has to take the top spot. Like both the runner up and number four on this list, this was a technique that had never been used to knock someone out in this way, and the speed and ferocity at which it was delivered was simply stunning.

After a cagy first few minutes, Belfort squared up for one second, but that was one second too long. A front kick crashed into the challenger's chin before he could move, putting him on the floor and sending Silva to victory. The KO became synonymous with the UFC over the next few years, being used at the beginning video package of every single pay-per-view, and this only adds to its significance.

Are there any others that should be on the list? What's your favourite KO? Let me know either in the comments or on Twitter @TheWeighInMMA.