Issue 073

March 2011

MMA is about more than just winning. Pleasing audiences (and your promoters) with electrifying displays throwing in extra fun by way of wacky ring entrances or memorable interviews is the best way to ensure steady paychecks and widespread approval...

1 Kazushi Sakuraba

One of the most beloved and influential figures in MMA history, Sakuraba almost single-handedly carried the mighty Pride FC on his back as Japan’s resident fighting hero in his turn-of-the-century prime. For years ‘The IQ Wrestler’ paid homage to his pro wrestling roots, delighting fans with his costumes, masks and in-ring antics. Now 41, Sakuraba’s career has long since declined. Ruined by injuries, shot to more bits than the executive ED-209 didn’t think had properly complied in Robocop, watching him fight now can be an unhappy experience for those who saw him at his talented best. Check out his May 2000 epic with Royce Gracie and ask yourself if any other fighter on the planet could possibly keep a slow-paced, 90-minute fight so compelling.

2 Genki Sudo

Even more outlandish than Sakuraba – with his elaborately choreographed dance routines and unique fighting tactics (lots of turning his back, throwing all kinds of kicks and oddball poses) – ‘the Neo Samurai’ has been greatly missed since his retirement on New Year’s Eve in 2006 aged just 28. Now studying local government at Tokyo’s Takushuku University graduate school, Sudo still trains in martial arts, writes books and dabbles in calligraphy, acting and hipster music. His finest fighting moment may have been earning rapturous applause at UFC 38 for his utter dismantling of an Englishman (Leigh Remedios), in front of an English crowd. You simply can’t learn or fake that kind of infectiously crowd-pleasing, enigmatic charisma. Preaching peace, love and the noble idea ‘we are all one,’ Sudo was a memorably unique fighter.

3 Clay Guida

The UFC release fighters from their contracts all the time. It’s usually just a matter of trimming a large roster, keeping things manageable and continually injecting fresh blood. Sometimes, one poor performance, or even a disputed loss on an iffy judge’s decision, is enough. Frenzied lightweight wrestler and caveman cardio machine Guida has lost a fair number of contests inside the Octagon but his chances of joining the unemployment line are about the same as Brock Lesnar joining a hippy commune. From the moment he charges into the Octagon, Guida is ferociously entertaining. See his 2009 ‘Fight of The Year’ with Diego Sanchez for the perfect example of how a man can lose a fight and still walk out of the Octagon a much bigger, more popular star.

4 Cung Le

One of the biggest fighting names in the history of MMA hotbed San Jose, Vietnamese-American striking star Cung Le was packing in the crowds in his hometown a decade ago. Strikeforce was a kickboxing outfit until 2006 when MMA was finally fully licensed and regulated in California and promoter Scott Coker jumped to MMA with Le and Frank Shamrock as his biggest stars. Unbeaten in san shou (essentially kickboxing with throws), Le made his MMA debut on the first Strikeforce MMA card and has gone 7-1 for them since. With his only loss coming in a staggeringly entertaining brawl with comeback specialist Scott Smith, Le has repeatedly made a point of showing off the kind of flashy kicks and combinations that years of MMA competition had taught us ‘only worked in the movies.’ Now 38, and working hard to get an acting career going, it’s just a shame Le isn’t ten years younger so we’d have more time to marvel at him.

5 Jon Jones

The youngest and freshest talent on this list, at 23, the 2010 ‘Breakthrough Fighter of the Year’ Jon ‘Bones’ Jones may simply be incapable of ennui inside the Octagon. One of the more creative strikers around, Jones will happily throw spinning back-elbows and crazy kicks. Being a gifted, successful Greco-Roman wrestler also makes him different, since most in MMA come from the collegiate or freestyle versions of wrestling. Of course, Jones has added some creativity there too, using his Greco-Roman clinches alongside judo leg trips. Mix that all together with his alarming athleticism and you have a fighter unlike anyone else in the light heavyweight division. Check out his domination of Stephan Bonnar or his disqualification loss against Matt Hamill (for using the dreaded 12-to-6 elbows like a karate conman on late night television) for the finest examples of ‘Bones’ on his trademark freeform wrecking sprees.