GSP said Fedor is the goat.

[ultramanhyata]

Fighters like fedor and gsp knew how to carry themselves out of the octagon as well. Something clowns like Jones and mctapper and Khabib could never do.

FTFY.

 

[Takamine86]

Conor making 50 million for one fight, seems to say otherwise...and remember, mma is pretty much equal to boxing...if you're a good fighter...you will make great money...while great football players might make 10 million per year, a great fighter can make than in one fight...it's not just conor making good money either...I guarantee khabib is going to make at least 10 million...dc is going to make millions...jones will make millions...if you're a star, you're going to make millions..just like in any other sport...but unlike other sports, this is only for one fight...

Its not the same. There is only one champion in combat sports, that guy gets paid. There are more position in the NFL, NBA, etc. which means more opportunities. Not only that, there is a culture of Football and Basketball in the US, and its starts when these kids are very young all the way to High School and beyond to college. High school athletes in the US who plays sports can guarantee themselves a college education with a sports scholarship. They get popularity representing their Highschool in their respective sport. For young Boxers or Mixed Martial Artists, you go to a gym, blood sweat and tears everyday, and more likely nobody in your school will know. You don't represent the school in combat sports, you represent yourself. So in general, young athletes tend to gravitate towards these sports that offer them opportunities.

Bob Arum explained it best.

 

[knock_you_out]

Fedor was the GOAT but now, it's fair to say that GSP is the GOAT.

 

[IndyCovaHart]

You mother f@$%er.

Was he a friend of yours.

 

[Takamine86]

Nah. A good athlete is not necesarily a good fighter.

True. But the best fighters/champions tend to exhibit the best athleticism in their division.

 

[Airdack]

He's not the GOAT. I'm tired of this conversation.

He was the best fighter in a era where MMA was still coming into its own. Where you had guys who were good at one specific skill set i.e wrestling, BJJ, karate. These days guys are more well-rounded.

MMA compared to other sports is still very young. I wouldn't say it's in its infancy stage, but it's fairly young.

To be fair he beat guys at their specialties. Went into Nog's guard and just fucked him up, beat CC mainly on the feet.

The whole today's Fedor would give top UFC lhw and hws a problem has to stop. Fedor got pretty much koed by Fabio, dropped and finished with a jab by Matt, wobbled by Mir, and was taken down by a former MW.

 

[WhitestKidU’Know]

Fair point, although I think BJ Penn is the all-time GOAT for fighters who had excellent careers but may have never actually reached their true potential.

How the hell did I forget about BJ?

The two are definitely close. But I don’t think we will ever see a HW with Cain’s cardio and output ever again.

 

[Andrei Orlovski]

Fedor and GSP da real goats

 

[acannxr]

Where you had guys who were good at one specific skill set i.e wrestling, BJJ, karate. These days guys are more well-rounded.

Most fighters at the top today are no more well rounded today than Emelianenko's contemporaries:
Cormier - Wrestler with Boxing.
Whittaker - Karate with Wrestling.
Woodley - Wrestler.
Nurmagomedov - Sambo.
Holloway - Kickboxing.
Dillashaw - Wrestler with Kickboxing.
Cejudo - Wrestler.

 

[FedorGOAT]

So did Khabib.

Tony also said that Fedor is his favourite fighter in a press conference before his Kevin Lee fight.

 

[Dirge]

Real GOATs won't call themself the GOAT if you ask them.

People who need to claim they are the greatest usually aren't the greatest.

With that being said, GSP is the GOAT.

Agreed.... Didn't Tyron Woodley claim to be the WW GOAT? lol

 

[Sansnom]

Agreed.... Didn't Tyron Woodley claim to be the WW GOAT? lol

I was actually going to name him as example when I wrote that post but didn't want to start shit lol.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

Not if Lebron chose boxing at a young age. Ask Bob Arum who says all the great HWs are in the NFL/NBA.



I mean there are a lot of variables but the superior athleticism of Lebron compared to Roy Nelson is evident. I know the chin argument is popular when discussing other athletes, but that is hit or miss for anyone. All these guys could end up having solid chins like a Mitrione or Jon Jones or glass jaws. But you don't have to have a iron chin to be successful in MMA or Boxing, see GSP or Vladamire Klitschko. Defense, Fight IQ, and conditioning are more reliable in the fight game than a solid chin. Fighters who rely on Iron chins tend to be gluttons for punishments to fighters with superior defense and fight IQ.

Here is an example of what happens when a superior athlete slips through the cracks and chooses MMA/Boxing of Football/Basketball.

Boxing HW Deontay Wilder who is currently 40-0 and set to defend his WBC HW title against Tyson Fury was a highschool Football/Basketball star. He was going to play college football/basketball and had dreams of playing in the NFL/NBA but the birth of his daughter who suffers from spina bifida forced him to attend a nearby community college. That is when he turned to boxing and with just 2 years of training, he upset the favorites to win the national golden gloves and U.S. championships at 201 pounds. So Deontay basically beat guys who were Boxing their whole lives with just 2 years of training.

Not going to lie though, it would be tougher in MMA because of wrestling. But at the same time, a large majority of NFL athletes have Highschool or College wrestling background. But they chose the sport that made millions as a career choice.


Source:
http://www.sectiononewrestling.com/documents/nfl_players_wrestled.html

Ray Lewis

2X Florida State Champion

Steve Wisniewski

California State Champion

Lorenzo Neal

NCAA Champion


"I'm a huge wrestling fan. Wrestlers have so many great qualities that athletes need to have." - Bob Stoops - Oklahoma Sooners Head Football Coach

Tiki Barber, RB, New York Giants


Rhonde Barber, SS, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Walter Barnes, DL, Washington Redskins - SEC Champ

Eric Bateman, OL, New York Jets

Harris Benton

Brad Benson, New York Giants – PA State Champ

Greg Boone, RB, Oakland Raiders

Jeff Bostic, C, Washington Redskins – SC State Champ

Tedy Bruschi, ILB, New England Patriots

Bob Bruenig, LB, Dallas Cowboys

Phil Bryant, Philadelphia Eagles – 2x National Prep Champ

Ralph Cindrich, Houston Oilers – PA State Runner-Up

Jonathan Condo, LS, Dallas Cowboys - PA State Champ, Dapper Dan Champ

Tom Cousineau, LB, Cleveland Browns – 3rd State

Tom Covert, OT, Chicago Bears

Chris Cooley, WR, Washington Redskins

Roger Craig, RB, San Francisco 49’ers - Oakland Raiders

Damien Covington, LB, Buffalo Bills

Curley Culp, DL, Kansas City Chiefs – NCAA Champ

Larry Czonka, RB, Miami Dolphins

Rob Davis, ST, Green Bay Packers

Dan Dierdorff, OT, St. Louis Cardinals

Donnie Edwards, OLB, San Diego Chargers

Carl Edwards, San Diego Chargers – 3x MD State Champ

Rob Essink, Seattle Seahawks – NCAA DII Champ

Jim Everett, QB, New Orleans Saints

DeMarco Farr, St. Louis Rams

Ronnie Lott, DB, San Francisco 49’ers - Oakland Raiders


Patrick Flannery, OL, Houston Oilers

Ed Flanagan, C, Detroit Lions

Terrell Fletcher, RB, San Diego Chargers

Bill Fralic, G, Atlanta Falcons

Doug France, LT, Los Angeles Rams – OH State Runner-Up

Frank Garcia, C, St. Louis Rams – 2x AZ State Champ

William George, Chicago Bears – 2x PA State Champ

Charlie Getty, RG, Kansas City Chiefs – 2x NCAA All-American

John Gilmore, TE, Chicago Bears

Kevin Glover, C, Detroit Lions

La’Roi Glover, DE, Dallas Cowboys

Mike Goff, G, Cincinnati Bengals

Bob Golic, DT, Cleveland Browns – OH State Champ

Mike Golic, DE, Philadelphia Eagles

Darien Gordon, PR/CB, Denver Broncos

Scottie Graham, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Tim Green, DE, Atlanta Falcons

Kelly Gregg, NT, Baltimore Ravens, 3x KS State Champ

Morlon Greenwood, OLB, Miami Dolphins

Archie Griffin, HB, Cincinnati Bengals

Nick Griesen, LB, New York Giants

Randy Grossman, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers

John Hannah, G, New England Patriots

John Hartunian

Carlton Haselrig, Pittsburgh Steelers, 3x NCAA Champ

Ron Heller, TE, Seattle Seahawks

Chad Hennings, DT, Dallas Cowboys – IA State Champ

Jay Hilgenberg, C, Chicago Bears – IA State Runner-Up

Orlando Huff, MLB, Seattle Seahawks

Corey Hulsy, G, Oakland Raiders

Steve Wisniewski, G, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders - CA State Champ

Bo Jackson, RB, Oakland Raiders


Mario Johnson, DT, New England Patriots

Dahanie Jones, LB, New York Giants

Henry Jordan, DT, Green Bay Packers

Dave Joyner, OL, Green Bay Packers

John Jurkovich*, DT, Cleveland Browns

Alex Karras, Detroit Lions

Tim Krumrie, DL, Cincinnati Bengals – WI State Champ

Ernie Ladd, DL, Kansas City Chiefs

Nick Lecky, C, - KS State Champ (in 2004 NFL Draft)

Jess Lewis, LB, Houston Oilers

Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens – 2x FL State Champ


Kirk Lowdermilk, OL, Minnesota Vikings

Sean Mahan, G, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Malczyk, LS, New York Giants

Joel Mackavicka, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Steve Martin, DT, Houston Texans

Mickey Marvin, RG, Oakland Raiders

Napolean McCallum, RB, Oakland Raiders

Randle McDaniel, G, Minnesota Vikings

Mark McDonald, SS, Arizona Cardinals

Chris McIntosh, T, Seattle Seahawks

Bryant McKinnie, T. Minnesota Vikings

Greg Meisner, DL, Los Angeles Rams

Matt Millen, LB, Oakland Raiders

Ronald Moore, RB, Cleveland Browns

James Mungro, HB, Indianapolis Colts

Jim Nance, FB, New England Patriots – NCAA Champ

Lorenzo Neal, FB, Tennessee Titans - NCAA Champ

Stephen Neal, OL, New England Patriots – NCAA Champ

Jeremy Newberry, C, San Francisco 49’ers

Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh Steelers – PA State Champ

Leo Nomellini, T, San Francisco 49’ers – Big 10 Champ

Jonathan Ogden*, OT, Baltimore Ravens

Irv Pankey, Los Angeles Rams – 2x MD State Champ

David Patten, WR, New England Patriots

Scott Peters, G, New York Giants

Bob Pickens, OL, Chicago Bears

Jim Plunkett, QB, Oakland Raiders

Dave Porter, T, Green Bay Packers

Mike Pyle, C, Chicago Bears – IA State Champ

Rocky Rasley, G, Detroit Lions

Mike Reid, Cincinnati Bengals

Eric Rhett, RB, Cleveland Browns – FL State Champ

Willie Roaf, OT, New Orleans Saints

Warren Sapp, DT Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Oakland Raiders - FL State Champ


Mark Schlereth, OL, Washington Redskins - Alaska State Champ

Cory Schlesinger, LB, Detroit Lions - NE State Champ

Steve Sefter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles, 2x PA State Champ & NCAA All-American

Tony Siragusa, DT, Baltimore Ravens – NJ State Champ

Fred Smerlas, Buffalo Bills - MA State Champ

Bruce Smith, DE, Washington Redskins

Brad St. Louis, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

Matt Suhey, RB, Chicago Bears

Bill Szott, OL, Washington Redskins – NJ State Champ

Dave Szott, Kansas City Chiefs – NJ State Champ

Woody Thompson, RB, Atlanta Falcons – PA State Champ

Jim Thorpe, HB, New York Giants

Mike Trgovac, DC, Carolina Panthers – OH State Champ

Kyle Turley, T, St. Louis Rams

Ryan Turnbull, RB, Cleveland Browns

Tommy Vardell, RB, San Francisco 49’ers

Adam Vinatieri, K, New England Patriots

John Ward, OL, New York Jets – NCAA All-American

Fred Weary, DB, St. Louis Rams

Charles White, HB, Los Angeles Rams

Randy White, DT, Dallas Cowboys

Cory Widmer, LB, New York Giants

Leo Wisniewski, NT, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts - PA State Champ

Ricky Williams, RB, Miami Dolphins


Coy Wire, LB, Buffalo Bills – PA State Runner-Up

Greg Wojochowski, St. Louis Rams

Shane Olivea

Alex Stepanovich

Nick Leckey - TX State Champ

Gregory Walker - State Finalist

Jonathan Condo

Zachary Wilson

Chris Laskowski

Luis Castillo, DT, San Diego Chargers (First Round Pick)

Lincoln "Drew" Hodgdon, C, Houston Texans - CA State Champ

Nick Hardwick

Fred Weary, C, Houston Texans - AL State Champ

Coy Wire, SS, Buffalo Bills - PA State Champ

Kevin Breedlove - SC State Finalist

Kevin Sampson - NJ State Champ

Benjamin Claxton - GA State Finalist

Trevor Johnson

Clinton "C.J." Brooks, Jr.

Tai Tupai

Leon Robinson - GA State Runner-Up

Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons - 2x SC State Champ (First Round Pick)

Eric Ghiaciuc, C, Cincinatti Bengals - MI State Champ

Joey Hildbold

Adam Seward, ILB, Carolina Panthers - NV State Champ

Cody Johnson

Rodney Michael

Marques Harris - CO State Champ

Larry Turner

Andrew "Tyler" Lenda - District Champ

Tim Anderson - OH State Champ

Tony Pape

Matt Roth - IA State Champ

Mike Patterson, DT, Philadelphia Eagles (First Round Pick)

David Pollack

Tim Burrough - OK State Champ

Antoineo Harris - IL State Champ

Claude Harriott

Scott Wells - TN State Champ

Alex Lewis - District Champ

Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami Dolphins (#2 Pick)

Rodney Leisle

Nick Newton

Sean Tufts

Brian Save

Kevin Atkins

Josh Minkins - District Runner-up

Tim Euhus

Andrew Tidwell-Neal - MN State Champ

Renaldo Works

Patrick "Bucky" Babcock - IL State Champ

Morgan Pears

Art Baker, RB, Buffalo Bills

did anyone actually read that shit

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

I think you guys are forgetting how actually washed out Fedor is.

He is a legend, but his last victory against an old, mediocre fighter (Shale) does not change the fact that he has been atrocious for the last 5 years at least.

 

[Mikeydontgiva]

Who hasn't called Fedor the goat?

Fedor vs DC could end the GOAT discussion forever.

 

[Deleted member 549255]

Fedor and Anderson were confirmed GOATs by their peers.

 

[Despotic]

1. It takes more than just being an "A-level athlete" to fight. There are so many ways to lose in MMA so you need intelligence as well. That being said, people like RG3, Adrien Peterson, Aaron Hernandez (glad he's burning in hell), and even guys like Gronk and Antonio Gates (tanks) would probably have done great in MMA. You also need toughness. Surprisingly a lot of great athletes are also pussies and quit when things dont go well. Countless examples of that. Ray Rice showed a good right hook.

2. Fedor is the goat because he is a natural LHW or even a big MW and he dominated HW for years. Some people have accused him of steroid usage back in PRIDE along with everyone else. I just have trouble believing if he did steroids and trained as much as he did that he'd be able to keep that dad bod he started sporting as early as 2000.

 

[Takamine86]

did anyone actually read that shit

I dunno. Not much to read though, mainly 2 paragraphs. The bottom portion is just an outdated listing of NFL players with wrestling backgrounds. Then there is the video of Arum's opinion of the great HWs of Boxing of this generation being in other sports. I found it interesting anyways, thought I'd share.

 

[SpedDaddyV]

GOATs don't get massacred by Giant Silva and get KO'd by a Middleweight in their early 30s. They don't go to hell and back to beat Brett Rogers. They don't have a record fluffed against fighters who are 1-3 professionally like Hiroya Takada and Levon Legvilla. You can through the majority of Fedor's wins and his opponents have atrocious win/loss records.

Fedor is good and a pioneer of MMA, but aside from Nog, Cro Cop, Randleman, and Coleman, he has wins against absolute cans in a questionable and possibly corrupt organization. He made a living winning against one dimensional fighters who couldn't defend an armbar. It is similar to calling Ronda Rousey the female GOAT. She was a pioneer of the sport, but when you look back at the whole picture she was clearly not the best.

For many years he had the opportunity to come over into the UFC and prove himself giving the fans what they want, but his team essentially wanted his worth and then some up front knowing his stock will be diminished once he fights and loses to legitimate competition.

He ducked the likes of Overem and essentially all legitimate competition for years. His first fight against a top-tier fighter, and he gets subbed in the first round because of amateurish ring-awareness.

 

[Dirge]

Fedor and Anderson were confirmed GOATs by their peers.

Did their "peers" take into account multiple failed drug tests by Silva?