George St. Pierre or Fedor Emelianenko - Who's the most iconic MMA fighter? (The Finals)

[jjjjjjjjjjohnny]

interesting question... arguments can be made for both.

1. Fedor would have to be the purest iconic during his time. I don't care what anyone else says, if you were invested at the time, there was no fighter on the planet that even came close to Fedor's appeal and reign.

2. GSP was on a credible run but he lost to matt and matt, losing steam, while he was a great fighter and probably the GOAT, his set backs take away a bit of steam during his rise - he went out in a blaze of glory with he MW title which makes him the GOAT. I would have love to seen him fight khabib, i truly believe he would have beat him.

 

[IDGETKTFO]

Never fighting in the UFC should be an automatic DQ.

 

[Gamer007]

The one damning thing about GSP is that he is considered the goat basically by default, due to other people being popped by USADA. But we really don't know who was using during that entire UFC period of no effort testing......do people really believe they caught everyone? How many people slipped through the cracks or just stopped using when testing got stricter?

Because I know for a fact that many of you including the entire MMA community didn't even have GSP top 2 PFP during many years of his prime. I'm going to go back and watch GSP's entire career again because something is seriously wrong, I don't see how people really think GSP was better than Fedor, he wasn't even considered the best fighter of his era during his peak!!!!

I get that GSP was super popular back in the day, I remember how big his PPV's were, but I don't think he's a better fighter than many GOAT candidates. If he lost to Bisping I truly believe most people would have a different opinion, even if he lost at a higher weight class fans heavily rise fighters who don't have a losing period in their 40's, fans are calling him the GOAT mainly because of that and not being caught with PED's, but on a fighting basis most aren't acknowledging that most media and fans were at least in agreement that GSP wasn't PFP #1 during his peak, and even young Jones was regarded as better and more dominant fighter during periods of GSP's prime.

I can see an argument for GSP being more "Iconic" on a media and popularity basis because of his look and background. But in the true annals of MMA history GSP is not Fedor's equal, that's my view.

Every other goat tier fighter had a strong period of dominance as the #1 PFP. Fedor had it until he lost to Werdum, Silva had it until he lost to Weidman, Jones took it afterwards and has only given it up to incidents outside the cage. GSP never had that, as great of an ambassador and champion for the sport as he is, he wasn't quite at that level of MMA dominance and recognition. That's not to say there wasn't a few media members and fans vouching for him, but it was not widely considered.

UFC releases its first official fighter rankings (sportsnet.ca)
These are the officially UFC rankings in February 2013, if I remember correctly GSP would fight only one more time before retiring the first time. His career has to be one of the most interesting in terms of where he stood then versus now, and how things have changed within 2 fights during his career.

 

[wwkirk]

Indeed. Truly great and secure human beings are not afflicted by the issues that simple people face in their lives.

Who is the lady?

 

[IloveTHIS]

Tough question to be honest.

GSP is still the only ATG Canadian fighter. He had boring decision fights but still had the entirety of Canada behind him. Especially the French Canadians.

Fedor was a dad body HW so that automatically used to give him the nod. But now there are tons of Russian/Dag fighters such as Khabib, kinda taking the shine off Fedor

Although Fedor was still massively loved by the Japanese. So worldwide, I'd say Fedor is still more iconic

GSP not being able to finish a fight to save his life, refusing the Anderson fight, and cherry picking the worst MW champ of all time docks him significantly

 

[Frank Kain]

Never fighting in the UFC should be an automatic DQ.

uhh…no. Still believe the last election was fixed, huh? It’s ok, counter with your fantasy.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Who is the lady?

I think I knew at one point but I can't remember. I may have also never had a clue. Hard to say anymore.

 

[wwkirk]

I think I knew at one point but I can't remember. I may have also never had a clue. Hard to say anymore.

 

[legcramp]

The one damning thing about GSP is that he is considered the goat basically by default, due to other people being popped by USADA. But we really don't know who was using during that entire UFC period of no effort testing......do people really believe they caught everyone? How many people slipped through the cracks or just stopped using when testing got stricter?

Because I know for a fact that many of you including the entire MMA community didn't even have GSP top 2 PFP during many years of his prime. I'm going to go back and watch GSP's entire career again because something is seriously wrong, I don't see how people really think GSP was better than Fedor, he wasn't even considered the best fighter of his era during his peak!!!!

I get that GSP was super popular back in the day, I remember how big his PPV's were, but I don't think he's a better fighter than many GOAT candidates. If he lost to Bisping I truly believe most people would have a different opinion, even if he lost at a higher weight class fans heavily rise fighters who don't have a losing period in their 40's, fans are calling him the GOAT mainly because of that and not being caught with PED's, but on a fighting basis most aren't acknowledging that most media and fans were at least in agreement that GSP wasn't PFP #1 during his peak, and even young Jones was regarded as better and more dominant fighter during periods of GSP's prime.

I can see an argument for GSP being more "Iconic" on a media and popularity basis because of his look and background. But in the true annals of MMA history GSP is not Fedor's equal, that's my view.

Every other goat tier fighter had a strong period of dominance as the #1 PFP. Fedor had it until he lost to Werdum, Silva had it until he lost to Weidman, Jones took it afterwards and has only given it up to incidents outside the cage. GSP never had that, as great of an ambassador and champion for the sport as he is, he wasn't quite at that level of MMA dominance and recognition. That's not to say there wasn't a few media members and fans vouching for him, but it was not widely considered.

UFC releases its first official fighter rankings (sportsnet.ca)
These are the officially UFC rankings in February 2013, if I remember correctly GSP would fight only one more time before retiring the first time. His career has to be one of the most interesting in terms of where he stood then versus now, and how things have changed within 2 fights during his career.

Good write-up but I disagree about GSP not being "dominant". After the first Serra fight until the Hendricks fight he was pretty much dominant minus the finishing ability which was the knock against him. Also he definitely sold more PPV than someone like Jones, probably just right below Lesnar somewhere if that's what you mean by recognition.

 

[IDGETKTFO]

uhh…no. Still believe the last election was fixed, huh? It’s ok, counter with your fantasy.

No, I am not a Trumptard.

 

[Typrune Goatley]

At his height Fedors aura was unmatched..maybe Anderson Silva matched it.. but Fedor had too many embarrassing fights towards the end.. I'm going with GSP at this point in time

So you think GSP is a better fighter because he quit the sport at 32 years old and with less than 30 fights? Fedor has almost 50 fights and he fought into his mid 40's. Fedor could have retired at 33 years old with a record of 31-1 but he chose to keep challenging himself. If GSP had 20 more fights you would see a lot of "embarrassing" performances out of him too.

 

[Kampfpanzer]

Fedor by far

1. Fedor finished a ton of opponents, while GSP tended to win by decision.

2. Fedor's fights were always exciting. GSP had a lot of boring lay 'n pray wins.

3. Fedor would take risks. GSP always played it safe.

4. Fedor's worst opponent was Zuluzhino, who he crushed. GSP's worst opponent was Serra, who TKO'd him, took his belt, and sent him to a sports psychologist.

5. Fedor would beat people at their own game, like jumping into Nog's guard, fighting Cro-Cop on his feet, getting pinned under Coleman, boxing with Arlovski, etc... GSP always tried to take the fight to where he was comfortable.

6. Fedor was HW, GSP was WW. And whether it's fair or not, the best HW is always held in higher regard than the best of the smaller weight classes.

7. Fedor was small for his division. GSP was big for his division, but he was good at dehydrating for the weigh-in.

8. Fedor was undefeated until he was 34 years old and had over 30 fights. GSP lost twice when he was still in his prime. In his 8th and 15th fights.

9. The worst cheating Fedor's been accused of is fighting in a league that allowed steroids, which means that even if he did use them then he had no advantage because everyone else was using them too. (Side note, there's nobody that's even ever seen or heard of him using roids).

The worst cheating GSP had been accused of was having Vaseline rubbed on his upper body to make him more slippery and less susceptible BJJ techniques. To which he basically admitted doing, but just denied it was with the intent to cheat. The rules had to be changed to prevent future greasing incidents.

10. Fedor kept fighting past his prime. Win or lose. Legacy be damned. He just liked fighting.

GSP retired in his prime after barely squeezing by a decision over Hendricks in a fight that many believe he lost. It seems clear that he got out to avoid risking more losses. Coming out of retirement to take advantage of a disadvantaged belt holder doesn't change that.

Ones a fighter, the other is a sportsperson. GSP was like a tennis player that went into MMA, Fedor was a warrior

Tough question to be honest.

GSP is still the only ATG Canadian fighter. He had boring decision fights but still had the entirety of Canada behind him. Especially the French Canadians.

Fedor was a dad body HW so that automatically used to give him the nod. But now there are tons of Russian/Dag fighters such as Khabib, kinda taking the shine off Fedor

Although Fedor was still massively loved by the Japanese. So worldwide, I'd say Fedor is still more iconic

GSP not being able to finish a fight to save his life, refusing the Anderson fight, and cherry picking the worst MW champ of all time docks him significantly

It's really not a hard question, if you had to show your casual friend a person to represent mma are you going to show them the Russian berserker or the boring guy half his size that point fights.

One is playing a sport, the other is a literal warrior. I think it's an easy choice.

 

[Gamer007]

Good write-up but I disagree about GSP not being "dominant". After the first Serra fight until the Hendricks fight he was pretty much dominant minus the finishing ability which was the knock against him. Also he definitely sold more PPV than someone like Jones, probably just right below Lesnar somewhere if that's what you mean by recognition.

No doubt, I agree he was very dominant as champ. But he never had a dominant run as the #1 PFP, where Jones, Silva, and Fedor all did for YEARS. There were years where they were undisputably the best fighter in the world and were recognized as such, while GSP even at his best had this Silva guy hanging over him, and this young guy Jones who was already considered superior (if only slightly) very soon after.

GSP was one of the biggest stars in UFC history, though after doing some quick research it appears GSP's highest selling event as headliner was around a reported 950,000 buys against Nick Diaz. Anderson Silva was such a huge star in 2013 that he pulled over 1 million buys against a largely unknown Chris Weidman at the time, and reportedly did nearly a million for the 2nd Chael fight. GSP may have been a higher PPV draw on average (don't know for sure), but Silva actually had the biggest event between them. He was sponsored by Burger King and was super popular in the US. It's interesting to think how big Silva would've been if he came to the west and fought at a younger age. Now that I think about it Silva headlining a 1mil PPV card at 38 years old has to be a record, maybe Lesnar has more, pretty sure Nunes headlined UFC 200 lol ??

Thx for reading, I just feel like this "case" shouldn't be closed yet. There needs to be a real deep dive into this stuff, the fans are too fickle and there are so many facts being left out. I went from defending GSP as he was being berated and called boring, to now he became the "GOAT" in a two-fight span (Hendricks & Bisping). I know there are other fans who feel the same way.

 

[Royce's Gi]

Who is the lady?

If i was a joker i'd say Fedora

 

[Royce's Gi]

uhh…no. Still believe the last election was fixed, huh? It’s ok, counter with your fantasy.

Biden with his 81 million voters?

 

[krelianx]

Because Fedor was undefeated for so long and was at the crown of HW at the time where PRIDE was at its height, with its insane production, Fedor had a mystique that simply never has been replicated in the sport. The closest was perhaps Rickson before him.

It's hard for people to understand just how extraordinary Fedor appeared during his reign to those who saw it. The way he decimated Nog, and then plowed through everyone that crossed his path was unreal. The rivalry with Mirko alone was more goosebump inducing than anything the sport has seen, to this day. It's not like Conor vs. Khabib where anyone with a morsel of a brain knew what was going to happen.

GSP I think is the superior fighter and has the better record at the end of the day. But he showed vulnerability and lost twice before his long reign, so he never had the same mystique.

 

[ryun253]

Who is the lady?

his daughter

 

[Crash-override]

Wow surprised Fedor made it this far

He is not known to anyone who watches ufc alone which is most of the world

That's why it's a stupid poll for old hard-core fans.. nobody knows who Fedor is unless you are almost 50 yrs old or a super hard-core fan.

Jones/silva/gsp are the most iconic that will be remembered and talked about in 50 yrs.

Not some bloated lhw that bounced around in the b-leagues racking up loses to guys he should have beat if he was half as good as he was labeled.

 

[Crash-override]

This is fuckin ridiculous dude.

The sport existed before TUF.

Pride was only good for a couple years.. even rampage said this week it was never about the best fighting the best or even being the best but entertaining people..

Fedor was a guy that everyone said was washed at 31-32 when in reality he was a prime version that was just losing.. fighters hit there peak around 8-10 yr mark at late to early 30's and Fedor was losing to big foot and Dan and getting slapped around by Brett Roger's before the hail Mary Haymarket.

He was fun to watch and very exciting but one of the absolute most over rated guy on this site..

It was so bad that people at the time started blaming on him becoming Christian was why he was performing so terrible.

 

[HHJ]

Who is the lady?

Daughter