Poatan is THE best UFC striker ever.

[Killer Kadoogan]

Yes, but in terms of the best kickboxer to ever lace up a pair of UFC gloves, I would put personally put Schilt at the top of the list…

He was just far from being a top mixed martial artist…

but i must change the argument, as to fit the question that i really wanted to answer. sir.

yea semmy schilt was the best kickboxer to lace up UFC gloves. if we are talking purely kickboxing accomplishments. but i don't even think that equates that he was the best kickboxer. semmys style was just so plodding and slow and it was just his pure lumbering size that gave opponents difficulty. peter aerts beating him to me proved that he's a better kiokboxer, beat him in his prime, while he was maybe 40 something? i would even say cro cop was a better kickboxder that laced up UFC gloves, despite not achieving the same accomplishments. maybe this makes no sense. cheers.

 

[kuroro]

I think when he fought Adesanya @ Glory, Izzy was the better KBer.
But Alex got better and is the only fighter to become a double champ in Glory. He is an all-time top 20 (top 15, maybe) KB. Yes, he is a better KBer than Cro-cop and Overeem (even Ubereem).

I believe his victory in his 1st MMA fight vs Izzy was not fluke-ish, but very calculated.
The punch that wobbled him (badly) in the 1st round was well after the bell. I don't think it was intentional, Izzy loaded prior to the bell rang, but a point deduction would not be crazy at all.
Then there's the well-known "Pronto para matar" (ready to kill) he said before the 5th RD, and the TKO came with 3 minutes left. It was not a Leon-Usman kind of situation, at all.

In his second MMA fight, he got reckless and paid for it. Strategic mistake/great gameplan from Izzy, but he was landing calf kicks at will and had Adesanya already badly hurt a minute or so into RD 2.

Yes, I think if Pereira was a natural not coal-like dehydrated MW, he would beat prime Silva if AS kept it standing.
And P4P, although it's stupid to say things like "if Aldo/Ilia/Wonderboy/Yan/Volk/Sean... grew up or Alex shrank...", I can't see anyone near his level.
Just an example: his calf kicks thrown with the lead leg. Impressive technique that he executes so effortless and carrying crazy power.


*Up to HW, I believe Tom Aspinall -without the need of wrestling/grappling- would destroy him standing by size discrepancy and unreal quickness for his weight.

he's nowhere near Anderson's level or even Adesanya. They showed unlimited dominance and they didn't get the red carpet rolled out for them. Poatan got the Sean O'Malley fast track special

 

[RoyJonesJr]

this guy?

You post this like Izzy & Khalil are less strikers than Weidman or Bisping lol

 

[KAZSoliloquy]

The most technically skilled KB era was K1 heavyweights

the world max era of the mid to late-2000's was absolutely more technical. you had petrosyan, buakaw, souwer, kraus, kyshenko, zambidis, masato, etc.

 

[KAZSoliloquy]

You post this like Izzy & Khalil are less strikers than Weidman or Bisping lol

anderson was 45 and had 20 ufc fights by the time he fought bisping and weidman lmao

 

[rjmbrd]

but even the non midgets for the lower weight classes like Omalley or Sandhagen cannot use framing or a long guard since they are fighting higher level strikers than alex. Omalley and Sandhagen have to use complicated footwork and lateral movement to be defensively safe, they almost never use alex's style of defense which is effective because he is fighting guys like Jiri and Hill who are sloppy brawlers for the most part

Anyone who doesn't acknowledge the overall skill level of lower weight divisions is substantially higher than >185lbs is just being a biased weirdo.

Roster Depth - Division:

88 - Lightweight
79 - Bantamweight
74 - Featherweight
73 - Welterweight
66 - Middleweight
44 - Flyweight
36 - Light Heavyweight
31 - Heavyweight


205/265 are dead last in depth and guess which divisions has the oldest average age?

You can be an old single skill ranked fighter at 205/265. That is simply not possible in the lower weight divisions.

It is literally 2.4x the depth at 155lbs compared to 205lbs. They can't even find enough guys to fill out the ranks, where the talent pool for lightweight is overflowing and they cap it.

Until the UFC revenue split changes, suitably young suitably athletic guys the size of LHW/HW will not chose 12k to get brain damage live on PPV.

 

[Trabaho]

Hw is not top 30 best kickboxers ever. At all. You're what's called a new f@g. You have been a fan for 2 years and think what happens now is the greatest thing ever. The UFC hypes current fighters up as the best ever cause they are the ones bringing in the new money.

 

[NoSmilez]

about what? spong having a mid kickboxing resume? or about anderson one-shotting a mythical fighter in the first round?

lol ok you don’t watch kickboxing

 

[2004 account]

I see it like this


Alex perreira is the best pressure striker in the ufc who actually adapts mid fight


Anderson is the best counter striker and overall striker for now. Although he couldnt always solve puzzles and couldnt finish certain opponents.

 

[Gamer2k4]

At 205, he’s probably the best eva striking UFCeh

Jones is better. He doesn't get many KOs, but that's because he doesn't have as much power in his punches. But he'll go anywhere with anyone, even (or rather, especially) when that's the other fighter's specialty. His dirty boxing against Glover is probably one of my favorite examples of striking in any of his fights. Plus, Jones is incredibly solid defensively, which is an aspect people tend to forget when they talk about "great striking."

To reiterate - Jones makes a point to beat his opponents at their own games, and is so dominant that people here will consider a 50-44 fight a "win" for his opponent, simply because they weren't finished. And much of that comes from his incredible striking.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

He was a Glory champion, so your argument makes sense. However let's not get ahead of ourselves too fast, he will be facing a butcher in a week who happens to have incredible striking skills as well. It's very interesting to see who outduels who in that fight.

Does ank really have “incredible” striking though?

 

[cws80us]

He was a Glory champion, so your argument makes sense. However let's not get ahead of ourselves too fast, he will be facing a butcher in a week who happens to have incredible striking skills as well. It's very interesting to see who outduels who in that fight.

"A butcher" lol. It cracks me up how so many on this board have built up Ankolev as some kind of killer. He has a lot of decisions and his 2 big KOs are against Walker and Anthony Smith who have both been KOed multiple times and are basically washed up at this point. He had a previous title shot vs Jan, which ended up being a completely boring draw, and they had to rebook the title with Hill vs Glover.

 

[rjmbrd]

Jones is better. He doesn't get many KOs, but that's because he doesn't have as much power in his punches. But he'll go anywhere with anyone, even (or rather, especially) when that's the other fighter's specialty. His dirty boxing against Glover is probably one of my favorite examples of striking in any of his fights. Plus, Jones is incredibly solid defensively, which is an aspect people tend to forget when they talk about "great striking."

To reiterate - Jones makes a point to beat his opponents at their own games, and is so dominant that people here will consider a 50-44 fight a "win" for his opponent, simply because they weren't finished. And much of that comes from his incredible striking.

He left the division after back to back controversial decisions at a suitably young age for the class.

Arguably his most iconic / toughest fight was Gus, who IMO clearly out boxed him.

This is setting aside flagging for 3 separate PEDS and the best eye-poking game in town.

IMO hard to say he's a better striker than Poatan. Jones is a world class submission grappler that was enormous for his division and struggled with the two guys nearby his size.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Poatan isn't a better fighter than Anderson Silva, that's dumb. You're essentially saying that if you say he is a better striker than Silva.

Poatan hasn't even proved his striking can get past grapplers yet. Isn't that pretty damn important? I dont know why people act like it is kickboxing, how strikers match up against grapplers is just as important as how they match up against other strikers.

 

[alchemy]

Does ank really have “incredible” striking though?

Well, no one has been able to outstrike him yet and he's a #1 LHW. He hasn't lost since 2018 and is 19-1. Pereira has a worse record of 12-2 coming into this fight and he's already been KOed in the UFC and rocked even by Khalil Rountree, while Ankalaev hasn't been in serious trouble even once. So what do you think?

 

[wildchild88]

not skillwise, the heavier weight classes can never have the best striker. Someone like Petr Yan or Ilia are more skilled

No man.

It’s easy for Illia to look good against mma fighters in striking, but he’s not winning any titles in boxing or kickboxing.

Poatan is definitely a better striker, especially re kicks and his overall game.

He has the best calf kicks in mma history, and his left hook is up there with the best as well.

 

[BowserJr]

I think when he fought Adesanya @ Glory, Izzy was the better KBer.
But Alex got better and is the only fighter to become a double champ in Glory. He is an all-time top 20 (top 15, maybe) KB. Yes, he is a better KBer than Cro-cop and Overeem (even Ubereem).

I believe his victory in his 1st MMA fight vs Izzy was not fluke-ish, but very calculated.
The punch that wobbled him (badly) in the 1st round was well after the bell. I don't think it was intentional, Izzy loaded prior to the bell rang, but a point deduction would not be crazy at all.
Then there's the well-known "Pronto para matar" (ready to kill) he said before the 5th RD, and the TKO came with 3 minutes left. It was not a Leon-Usman kind of situation, at all.

In his second MMA fight, he got reckless and paid for it. Strategic mistake/great gameplan from Izzy, but he was landing calf kicks at will and had Adesanya already badly hurt a minute or so into RD 2.

Yes, I think if Pereira was a natural not coal-like dehydrated MW, he would beat prime Silva if AS kept it standing.
And P4P, although it's stupid to say things like "if Aldo/Ilia/Wonderboy/Yan/Volk/Sean... grew up or Alex shrank...", I can't see anyone near his level.
Just an example: his calf kicks thrown with the lead leg. Impressive technique that he executes so effortless and carrying crazy power.


*Up to HW, I believe Tom Aspinall -without the need of wrestling/grappling- would destroy him standing by size discrepancy and unreal quickness for his weight.

Most decorated for sure but IMO prime Silva and CroCop beat him

 

[Otto!]

Prime Anderson Silva was something else. I would have him first and Poatan second, but close.

 

[Dreyga Hates You Sherbums]

 

[Streeter]

Counter-argument:

View attachment 1084590

Best TDD EVER yes . He's not a better striker than Pereria.