Now That Yoel's UFC Career Is Over, Where Would You Rank Him Amongst GOAT UFC 185ers???

[GoshiShun17]

Top 5 IMO

*edit*
Just to make my case, I'm not factoring in Yoel's controversial title bouts, although those just show how talented he was. I want to point out that Yoel started his UFC career on an 8 fight win streak with 6 KO/TKO stoppages.

Check the stats to see how many fighters at 185 have done similar. I understand he didn't capture the belt, some of those factors being out of his control, but there was a time where he was clearly the top guy.

 

[Goat St Pierre]

Definitely ahead of Anderson.​

 

[fullspar]

Savage

 

[rjmbrd]

Its a weird one because he dropped multiple pick-em decisions to elite fighters in Izzy and Costa.

If both of those fights went his way, his standing would be indisputable. The fact that he dropped both as he tapered off his UFC career puts him in a bit of limbo.

It should be safe to say Yoel would be competitive with any middleweight that ever was. That is for sure.

 

[The Demon Sword]

Wins over

• Rockhold
• Adesanya
• Brunson
• Kennendy
• Weidman
• Jacare
• Tavares
• Machida

Plus some controversial decision losses.
One of the best middleweights ever!

 

[jojoRed]

Anyone who says top 5 has no knowledge of how great MW used to be. He's not top 5 at all. He'd definitely give every MW ever a tough fight, but he's not among the top.

 

[The Demon Sword]

Anyone who says top 5 has no knowledge of how great MW used to be. He's not top 5 at all. He'd definitely give every MW ever a tough fight, but he's not among the top.

Who’s your top 5 skill wise

 

[GoshiShun17]

Anyone who says top 5 has no knowledge of how great MW used to be. He's not top 5 at all. He'd definitely give every MW ever a tough fight, but he's not among the top.

Look at Yoel's win streak in the organization and his performances in his losses and how close they were. Now name me 5 fighters who have put together a better run.

 

[ExitLUPin]

Top 5 for sure

head to head im not sure theres any MW ever id be confident picking over him at their bests

 

[JustOnce]

Top 5 IMO

Top 3

 

[Tornikidou]

GOAT

 

[Striker Fox]

43 year old Yoel shouldn't have gotten a loss against Adesanya, Coata and Whittaker imo. He's the 2nd best MW all time behind Anderson.

 

[GoshiShun17]

43 year old Yoel shouldn't have gotten the loss against Adesanya and Whittaker imo. He's the 2nd best all time behind Anderson imo.

I understand they were close fights. But let's not rewrite history for the sake of the integrity of this thread.

Yoel has also had some controversial calls go his way during his run as well.

 

[jojoRed]

Look at Yoel's win streak in the organization and his performances in his losses and how close they were. Now name me 5 fighters who have put together a better run.

He has 5 impressive names on his list.

Jacare, Rockhold, Machida, Kennedy and Weidman. His resume has stacked names, but would you put him ontop of Izzy, Silva, Hendo, Whit etc

 

[CallMeCasual]

No one beat Yoel in the UFC, they only survived him.

 

[Ringluv]

I wouldn't. Not to say he hasn't had an amazing career though.

 

[GoshiShun17]

He has 5 impressive names on his list.

Jacare, Rockhold, Machida, Kennedy and Weidman. His resume has stacked names, but would you put him ontop of Izzy, Silva, Hendo, Whit etc

Personally I have him at number 5 behind Silva, Adesanya, Whittaker, and maybe Weidman. Now I'm just focusing on UFC success. Unfortunately, as great and legendary of a career as Hendo has had in the UFC, he did not really compete long at 185 during his prime in the UFC.

 

[gluehuffer1776]

not even top ten in bellator

 

[HockeyBjj]

Never even won the title

Hard to call him a Greatest of All Time when he was never even greatest over a ~6 month span

 

[DoctorDeelon]

Top 5 IMO

#2 just behind Cung Le.