Most honorable/respectful fighters

[Dr Fong]

Volk is definitely a class act

Australian fighters in general are pretty respectful and humble for cultural reasons. There are always exceptions, but arrogance is not tolerated like it is in US/UK/Ireland.

It's also why it is no coincidence that the most commonly cited respectful American fighter, Wonderboy, is from the South.

 

[thegr8st]

good list, agree.

-- I'd add in Wonderboy Thompson. Never talks smack, extremely respectful to his opponents (even when Woodley was trying to goad him into it).

-- Add in Jim Miller. Show me another fight who hates him? Bet you cannot find one. Super guy, just shows up on weight and fights and *insane* number of UFC fights.
-- add in maybe Michelle Waterson too.
-- maybe add in Max Holloway too.
-- maybe add in Frankie Edgar.

I agree with all except Holloway. I like the guy but can't call him respectful since he decided to teach oretega how to defend himself mid fight

 

[BJJ4Tone]

 

[Banana Tree's Nemesis]

Seems to me like that list is more based on accomplishments than anything else.
Like 5-10% of fighters are remarkably nice.
Look at an all time p4p list, and you'll remain with the ones listed.
There are plenty more nice fighters. Not all of them can get GSP and Fedor level recognition for being nice.
Moreno, KKF, Sandhagen, Munhoz, Holloway, Beneil, Gamrot, Leon, Whittaker, Hermansson, Jiri, Jan, Khalil Rountree are all pretty grounded and generally not looking to trashtalk.

 

[HaulParris]

Carlos Condit
Chris Lytle
Matt Brown

All bad-asses who are men of action, not words.

 

[ventrue]

What about old Rich Franklin? He was always classy, imo

 

[Oris79]

Forever my boy !

 

[Lee_]

Seems to me like that list is more based on accomplishments than anything else.
Like 5-10% of fighters are remarkably nice.
Look at an all time p4p list, and you'll remain with the ones listed.
There are plenty more nice fighters. Not all of them can get GSP and Fedor level recognition for being nice.
Moreno, KKF, Sandhagen, Munhoz, Holloway, Beneil, Gamrot, Leon, Whittaker, Hermansson, Jiri, Jan, Khalil Rountree are all pretty grounded and generally not looking to trashtalk.

True, but I would say:
1) 5-10% is pretty small.
2) GSP was the biggest PPV draw during his heyday, and the fact that he did this while being a super nice guy is amazing and unprecedented. Asshole = MMA popularity and money- true of the vast majority of the other big draws- Conor, Ronda, Paddy, etc.
3) It gets even harder to keep your ego in check and remain classy when you are that successful, which really adds to how classy GSP and Fedor are.

 

[Banana Tree's Nemesis]

True, but I would say:
1) 5-10% is pretty small.
2) GSP was the biggest PPV draw during his heyday, and the fact that he did this while being a super nice guy is amazing and unprecedented. Asshole = MMA popularity and money- true of the vast majority of the other big draws- Conor, Ronda, Paddy, etc.
3) It gets even harder to keep your ego in check and remain classy when you are that successful, which really adds to how classy GSP and Fedor are.

I don't think that's much of a 'but' to what I wrote at all.
I don't disagree with any of this.
My post was mainly aimed at op saying he can't think of many others.
As I said, not everybody can become champ. As far as I'm concerned the ones less famous shouldn't get any less credit for being nice.
On the other hand this is just weirdly obscured by a lot of guys being absolute ass. Is being humble and nice really worthy of praise or is it just normal? Idk.
I would tend to think that nice people will stay nice under mostly all circumstances, so it's not really something they have to put any effort in.
Maybe instead of glorifying normal behaviour, the ones behaving badly should get more negative feedback to their behaviour. Just my two cents. Not that I could enforce that anyways.

 

[michi972]

DJ, Edgar?

 

[loisestrad]

Probably the ones who didn't speak english fluintly.

 

[Wormwood]

Forever my boy !

View attachment 996582

Was gunna post this…

 

[Spath]

Wonderboy would be my vote. This guy is so nice, respectful and well-spoken. Teaches kids karate and is a great role model, for sure.

 

[moosaev]

Volk is definitely a class act

Baselessly accusing an opponent of cheating isn’t classy at all. If it weren’t for that he might’ve made the list.

 

[Qays Stetkevich]

Fedor and GSP in MMA, Klitschko brothers in boxing.

The Klitschkos were/are such gentlemen and good role models. Always rooted for them.

P.S. Still rooting for Vitali as mayor of Kyiv!

 

[JPW328]

For someone that was wild and disrespectful in the buildup, I always loved how respectful Nick Diaz was after his fights. It showed how composed he was in battle and a true martial artist once it’s over. He just had to get himself pumped up beforehand . lol

legendary fight

.

 

[Paolo Delutis]

I was thinking that over the years there haven't been a great deal of honorable/respectful fighters that really stand out. Ones that don't talk shit & other fighters as well as the fans hold in high regard.

What do View attachment 996576 think, brothers?

Fedor & GSP have to be the top two, but can't think of many others.

View attachment 996573

Lol at Tito being there..

Wheres Chuck at?

Randy?

Carlos Newton?

Anderson Silva? ..

Big Nog?

Probably atleast 20 japanese MMA fighters ..

DJ?

..

Epic fail T.S

 

[Iroh]

Maia is easily up there too. And even though he is hated, Sage Northcutt has always been very respectful.

 

[Cobra 03]

Anderson Silva. He was always pure class before and after a fight.

 

[haj02]

Definitely Jon Jones. Always classy and humble. Never gets into any fights or verbal arguments. Has high morals and a heart of pure gold
Just an amazing father and amazing human being. A true martial artist
A wonderful role model to the younger generation, with all the positive personality traits there is