out of all the strikers that have competed in mma, most impressive striking background before mma

[it is what it is]

I kept hearing people say that Wonderboy is the best striker to compete in mma. I know he was 52-0 in karate before competing, but I would think there would be more impressive striking accomplishments from striking arts deemed more challenging. He is a total badass, and I may be ignorant to sport karate, but it just seems like there would be some pretty impressive striking accomplishments from others at this level

 

[Steve-French]

James Toney

 

[BlueMerle]

 

[BisexualMMA]

James Toney and Ray Mercer, I guess.

Most of the K-1 legends had at least one MMA fight.

Cung Le was pretty good.

 

[Davemeddlehed]

James Toney

/thread

 

[Hans Gercmiov]

Valentina Shevchenko however you spell it is 56-2. That's the only one I can think is close. A lot of Thai guys have crazy records if any of them have transitioned to MMA.

 

[Reach4theSky]

Holly Holm

 

[it is what it is]

James Toney and Ray Mercer, I guess.

Most of the K-1 legends had at least one MMA fight.

Cung Le was pretty good.

Always heard Cung Le was pretty great. You know how his art compares to Karate?

 

[BisexualMMA]

Always heard Cung Le was pretty great. You know how his art compares to Karate?

Not really. I've never really seen a Sanshou vs Karate match.

I just know they both hold up well against this...

 

[Grill master]

Terms of accomplishments I'd say Jim Toney followed closely by olympic gold medallist and HW belt holder Mercer. Holly is a no brainer for WMMA.

Overeem, Hunt and Schilt deserve a mention for their K1 open weight titles.

Hoost too but it's hard to overlook those losses to Sapp.

 

[punky brewster]

 

[Aranha21]

Peter Aerts. Semmy Schilt. James Toney. Ray Mercer. Ricardo Mayorga.

 

[it is what it is]

Not really. I've never really seen a Sanshou vs Karate match.

I just know they both hold up well against this...

This clip never gets old. Lol

 

[Glove]

Mirko (Cro-Cop) Filipovic
Jose (Pele) Landis-Jons
Jose Aldo
Igor Vovchanchyon
Pedro Rizzo
Junior Dos Santos
Anderson Silva
Vitor Belfort
Bas Rutten

These were some of the best strikers in MMA history i ever seen. K-1 kick boxers especially from 1993-1999 were elite strikers...guys like Andy Hug,Peter Aerts,Ernesto Hoost,Ray Sefo,Fransisco Filho and Jerome LeBanner

 

[it is what it is]

Peter Aerts. Semmy Schilt. James Toney. Ray Mercer. Ricardo Mayorga.

Sadly, most of those names came in a shadow of themselves.....at least the boxers

 

[mmafan559]

There are many, and it's not surprising that they are some of the more exciting fighters in the sport.

I love the kick boxers and Muy Thai fighters who are able to deal with humpy dumpy wrestlers.

 

[nanika]

it's not prior to his MMA career but Overeem was K1 champion concurrently to his MMA career. i believe that is unprecedented in modern MMA

 

[it is what it is]

Mirko (Cro-Cop) Filipovic
Jose (Pele) Landis-Jons
Jose Aldo
Igor Vovchanchyon
Pedro Rizzo
Junior Dos Santos
Anderson Silva
Vitor Belfort
Bas Rutten

These were some of the best strikers in MMA history i ever seen. K-1 kick boxers especially from 1993-1999 were elite strikers...guys like Andy Hug,Peter Aerts,Ernesto Hoost,Ray Sefo,Fransisco Filho and Jerome LeBanner

I don't think Aldo, Vitor, Anderson, or JDS did anything impressive pre-mma.....seems like they had some small success then developed further in mma

 

[it is what it is]

/thread

True, but sadly he was a shadow of himself, but you may be right

 

[emog1]

Ubereem by far
He destroyed all those names i see