Russia vs. Brazil vs. United States - Which country has the best MMA fighters? (The Finals)

[Takes Two To Tango]

Continuation to this thread.

https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/which-3-countries-has-the-best-mma-fighters-overall.4337762/

Which has the best fighters?


Please vote, thanks.

Spoiler

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@Fox by the Sea @sutherland @gosuasus @RockyLockridge @JudoThrowFiasco @omawho402 @PRESIDENT TRUMP @Pequeño Corey @Mammothman @OwNeDUp @Diet Butcher
@ssBaldy @Striker Fox @vlz @Vqtanh1403 @HuskySamoan @TeenageMutantLesnarTurtle @Jon's Drug Dealer @Amianto @25 characters @Eternalwarriorking @chuckspadina
@Hassan Mouzine @SL1200 @El Panteron @Joshua Judd @Colemanstove @Hellowhosthat @Chael_Sonnen @Goutfather @Koala @tornado362 @Sticko @fprado @fedorthegoat777
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@TOMFDJYEDH @notmyrealname @GiganticMeat @AmonTobin @Matt Brown's Elbow @MalhadomedoEv @Elegant

 

[Davidjacksonjones]

so hard to pick
Russia have Fedor Islam Khabib
Brazil Pereira Aldo, Silva
US has DC, Jones, Cain, Chuck etc

I think US has the most elite MMA fighters, but Russia/Brazil have a higher concentrated number of elite fighters if that makes sense. Like the average Russia or Dagestan fighter is probably better than the average US

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

Continuation to this thread.

https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/which-3-countries-has-the-best-mma-fighters-overall.4337762/

Which has the best fighters?


Please vote, thanks.

Spoiler

@HHJ @JKS @TheChance @TCE @ASUThermo @flynny @NicholasJBasile @Reach4theSky @moreorless87 @CombatCyborg @cheesus @Ares Black @Tweak896 @tat2man5k
@HI SCOTT NEWMAN @BoomCannon @balkanbomber85 @WoozyFailGuy @FrankMirFan89 @Bubba Kid @ulteriormotive @Spiderbite @arathans @Bobby Boulders @Forever Young
@fortheo @HCS @sonhow @Pitier of Fools @BJJ4Tone @jko1355 @Psychojoe86 @Deceasedxo @Nobru @BlankaPresident @Harlekin @SalvadorAllende @Caicara @Sanctus
@Fox by the Sea @sutherland @gosuasus @RockyLockridge @JudoThrowFiasco @omawho402 @PRESIDENT TRUMP @Pequeño Corey @Mammothman @OwNeDUp @Diet Butcher
@ssBaldy @Striker Fox @vlz @Vqtanh1403 @HuskySamoan @TeenageMutantLesnarTurtle @Jon's Drug Dealer @Amianto @25 characters @Eternalwarriorking @chuckspadina
@Hassan Mouzine @SL1200 @El Panteron @Joshua Judd @Colemanstove @Hellowhosthat @Chael_Sonnen @Goutfather @Koala @tornado362 @Sticko @fprado @fedorthegoat777
@TJ Dillashank @Young Calf Kick @HunsonAbadeer @andgonsil @AL-Tappo McSnappo @PEDRO IVO RUSSO MIRANDA @geardo @F15 @ShaoKahn34 @Duke Kensington @Brigfa2
@TOMFDJYEDH @notmyrealname @GiganticMeat @AmonTobin @Matt Brown's Elbow @MalhadomedoEv @Elegant

I have to admit, it was a hard choice, in the end i chose Russia although USA is a great choice too.

 

[Goutfather]

until it becomes more common for people to live, train, and stay in their own countries, it’s the usa. you can find a pretty large chunk of “brazil’s” top talent here in the states. i understand khabib lived and trained here too for a time. that’s why i respect drikkkus duplessy when he reps south africa — he lives and trains there.

 

[sonhow]

Brazil because of fighting nerds. Future champions of everything

 

[fortheo]

They've all produced truly great fighters, brazil is still pumping out champs left and right like pantoja, Charles recently, pereira....and has pretty much always had at least one champ. They also have divisional goats like Silva and Aldo.

The same can be said about the US pretty much always having a champ, and having divisional goats like mighty mouse, cruz, jones.

Russia I feel like is the outlier as they haven't really always had a champ or as many, but that is arguably because the ufc barely signs their top talent. What they have done with the talent that the UFC signs has been phenomenal.

 

[Koala]

If we were in a World Cup, we will have:
HWs: Jones vs Volkov vs Jailton => 1 for the US
LHWs: Pereira vs Hill or R3 vs Nemkov or Ankalaev => I would say 1-1 Russia and USA or 1-1 USA and Brazil
MWs: Chimaev vs Strickland or Eblen vs Borralho => I would say 2-1 Russia or 1-1-1
WWs: Umalatov vs Belal vs Gilbert Burns => I would say 2-2 Russia USA or 2-1-1 USA
LWs: Makhachev vs Oliveira vs Poirier => 3-2 Russia or 2-2-1 Russia and USA
FWs: Holloway vs Evloev vs Diego Lopes, I think the best is Holloway => 3-3 or 3-2-1
BWs: O'Malley vs Nurmagomedov vs Figiereido, I think Nurmagomedov will win => 4-3 Russia or 3-3-1
FLWs: Pantoja vs Royval vs Askarov => 4-3-1 Russia or 3-3-2
Coin toss between the US and Russia
HWs: Jones
LHWs: Nemkov 1-1
MWs: Chimaev 2-1
WWs: Belal 2-2
LWs: Makhachev 3-2
FWs: Holloway 3-3
BW: Nurmagomedov 4-3
FLW: Royval 4-4

Let's go to the substitutes
HW: Pavlovich beats Blaydes
LHW: Ankalaev beats R3 2-0
MW: Eblen beats Imavov 2-1
WW: Usman beats Kuramagomedov 2-2
LW: Tsarukyan beats Gaethje 3-2
FW: AJ McKee beats Khizriev 3-3
BW: Yan beats Mix or Sandhagen 4-3
FLW: Mokaev has beaten Alex Perez 5-3

Russia wins

 

[HuskySamoan]

Continuation to this thread.

https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/which-3-countries-has-the-best-mma-fighters-overall.4337762/

Which has the best fighters?


Please vote, thanks.

Spoiler

@HHJ @JKS @TheChance @TCE @ASUThermo @flynny @NicholasJBasile @Reach4theSky @moreorless87 @CombatCyborg @cheesus @Ares Black @Tweak896 @tat2man5k
@HI SCOTT NEWMAN @BoomCannon @balkanbomber85 @WoozyFailGuy @FrankMirFan89 @Bubba Kid @ulteriormotive @Spiderbite @arathans @Bobby Boulders @Forever Young
@fortheo @HCS @sonhow @Pitier of Fools @BJJ4Tone @jko1355 @Psychojoe86 @Deceasedxo @Nobru @BlankaPresident @Harlekin @SalvadorAllende @Caicara @Sanctus
@Fox by the Sea @sutherland @gosuasus @RockyLockridge @JudoThrowFiasco @omawho402 @PRESIDENT TRUMP @Pequeño Corey @Mammothman @OwNeDUp @Diet Butcher
@ssBaldy @Striker Fox @vlz @Vqtanh1403 @HuskySamoan @TeenageMutantLesnarTurtle @Jon's Drug Dealer @Amianto @25 characters @Eternalwarriorking @chuckspadina
@Hassan Mouzine @SL1200 @El Panteron @Joshua Judd @Colemanstove @Hellowhosthat @Chael_Sonnen @Goutfather @Koala @tornado362 @Sticko @fprado @fedorthegoat777
@TJ Dillashank @Young Calf Kick @HunsonAbadeer @andgonsil @AL-Tappo McSnappo @PEDRO IVO RUSSO MIRANDA @geardo @F15 @ShaoKahn34 @Duke Kensington @Brigfa2
@TOMFDJYEDH @notmyrealname @GiganticMeat @AmonTobin @Matt Brown's Elbow @MalhadomedoEv @Elegant

My opinion is Russia has the best fighters but if you aren't educated in MMA, you may not be able to properly assess this. But I think it's mostly close between the big 3.

Keep in mind, there's 100+ Brazilians in the UFC, 300+ US fighters and only about 30 Russians. On top of this the UFC doesn't tend to sign good Russian prospects and even let's top 10 ranked Russians go from their promotion. If there were 60-80 of the best Russians in the UFC, I think this poll would be a little lopsided towards Russia even. Imagine....if they signed (if you don't know half these guys it's okay)

Renat Khavalov, Magomed Magomedov, Khasan Magomedsharipov, Usman Nurmagomedov, Baki Chamsoudinov, Ramazan Kuramagomedov, Magomed Umalatov, Timur Khizriev, Alexandr Shabliy, Khuseyn Shaykhaev, Adam Masaev, Amru Magomedov, Murad Magomedov, Askar Askarov, Muhammad Mokaev, Vadim Nemkov, Magomedrasul Gasanov, Islam Omarov, Bibert Tumenov, Albert Tumenov, Shamil Musaev, Evgeniy Ignatiev, Eduard Vartanyan, Movlid Khaybulaev, Ramazan Gitinov, Saygid Izakhamaev, Imamshafi Aliev, Anatoly Malykhin, Dzhamaludin Aliev, Vladimir Mineev, Khabib Nabiev, Azamat Kerefov.

Just 30 of the better Russian fighters outside the UFC off the top of my head. If they just signed these guys...it'd literally fucking warp the top 10 rankings and title pictures horribly badly and there'd still only be about 60 Russians in the UFC compared to 100+ Brazilians and 350+ US fighters. Think about it. You can't make long lists of top talent from Brazil and the US in the same way that don't get signed to the UFC and the crazy thing is I could probably throw up another 30 elite names...

 

[AmericanMMA]

 

[Brigfa2]

My opinion is Russia has the best fighters but if you aren't educated in MMA, you may not be able to properly assess this. But I think it's mostly close between the big 3.

Keep in mind, there's 100+ Brazilians in the UFC, 300+ US fighters and only about 30 Russians. On top of this the UFC doesn't tend to sign good Russian prospects and even let's top 10 ranked Russians go from their promotion. If there were 60-80 of the best Russians in the UFC, I think this poll would be a little lopsided towards Russia even. Imagine....if they signed (if you don't know half these guys it's okay)

Renat Khavalov, Magomed Magomedov, Khasan Magomedsharipov, Usman Nurmagomedov, Baki Chamsoudinov, Ramazan Kuramagomedov, Magomed Umalatov, Timur Khizriev, Alexandr Shabliy, Khuseyn Shaykhaev, Adam Masaev, Amru Magomedov, Murad Magomedov, Askar Askarov, Muhammad Mokaev, Vadim Nemkov, Magomedrasul Gasanov, Islam Omarov, Bibert Tumenov, Albert Tumenov, Shamil Musaev, Evgeniy Ignatiev, Eduard Vartanyan, Movlid Khaybulaev, Ramazan Gitinov, Saygid Izakhamaev, Imamshafi Aliev, Anatoly Malykhin, Dzhamaludin Aliev, Vladimir Mineev, Khabib Nabiev, Azamat Kerefov.

Just 30 of the better Russian fighters outside the UFC off the top of my head. If they just signed these guys...it'd literally fucking warp the top 10 rankings and title pictures horribly badly and there'd still only be about 60 Russians in the UFC compared to 100+ Brazilians and 350+ US fighters. Think about it. You can't make long lists of top talent from Brazil and the US in the same way that don't get signed to the UFC and the crazy thing is I could probably throw up another 30 elite names...

Most of those guys are bums except maybe 5 of them. You are the most biased guy in this forum and we have some crazy Jones and Fedor fans. I hope you are not doing all of these for free

 

[Conan the K-9]

If we were in a World Cup, we will have:
HWs: Jones vs Volkov vs Jailton => 1 for the US
LHWs: Pereira vs Hill or R3 vs Nemkov or Ankalaev => I would say 1-1 Russia and USA or 1-1 USA and Brazil
MWs: Chimaev vs Strickland or Eblen vs Borralho => I would say 2-1 Russia or 1-1-1
WWs: Umalatov vs Belal vs Gilbert Burns => I would say 2-2 Russia USA or 2-1-1 USA
LWs: Makhachev vs Oliveira vs Poirier => 3-2 Russia or 2-2-1 Russia and USA
FWs: Holloway vs Evloev vs Diego Lopes, I think the best is Holloway => 3-3 or 3-2-1
BWs: O'Malley vs Nurmagomedov vs Figiereido, I think Nurmagomedov will win => 4-3 Russia or 3-3-1
FLWs: Pantoja vs Royval vs Askarov => 4-3-1 Russia or 3-3-2
Coin toss between the US and Russia
HWs: Jones
LHWs: Nemkov 1-1
MWs: Chimaev 2-1
WWs: Belal 2-2
LWs: Makhachev 3-2
FWs: Holloway 3-3
BW: Nurmagomedov 4-3
FLW: Royval 4-4

Let's go to the substitutes
HW: Pavlovich beats Blaydes
LHW: Ankalaev beats R3 2-0
MW: Eblen beats Imavov 2-1
WW: Usman beats Kuramagomedov 2-2
LW: Tsarukyan beats Gaethje 3-2
FW: AJ McKee beats Khizriev 3-3
BW: Yan beats Mix or Sandhagen 4-3
FLW: Mokaev has beaten Alex Perez 5-3

Russia wins

lol,this was some next level mmath.

Thanks for the laughs

 

[Conan the K-9]

Most of those guys are bums except maybe 5 of them. You are the most biased guy in this forum and we have some crazy Jones and Fedor fans. I hope you are not doing all of these for free

I really have a feeling Husky is trolling us all big time from his bathtub

 

[ssBaldy]

As of today, counting active fighters, it's probably USA>Russia>Brazil, however I see a trend of Russia and other former Soviet countries slowly producing more and more elite fighters. We now have champs and/or top contenders in mist divisions in every major promotion.

 

[kingmob6]

Whatever Country Izzy represents.

 

[Sticko]

My opinion is Russia has the best fighters but if you aren't educated in MMA, you may not be able to properly assess this. But I think it's mostly close between the big 3.

Keep in mind, there's 100+ Brazilians in the UFC, 300+ US fighters and only about 30 Russians. On top of this the UFC doesn't tend to sign good Russian prospects and even let's top 10 ranked Russians go from their promotion. If there were 60-80 of the best Russians in the UFC, I think this poll would be a little lopsided towards Russia even. Imagine....if they signed (if you don't know half these guys it's okay)

Renat Khavalov, Magomed Magomedov, Khasan Magomedsharipov, Usman Nurmagomedov, Baki Chamsoudinov, Ramazan Kuramagomedov, Magomed Umalatov, Timur Khizriev, Alexandr Shabliy, Khuseyn Shaykhaev, Adam Masaev, Amru Magomedov, Murad Magomedov, Askar Askarov, Muhammad Mokaev, Vadim Nemkov, Magomedrasul Gasanov, Islam Omarov, Bibert Tumenov, Albert Tumenov, Shamil Musaev, Evgeniy Ignatiev, Eduard Vartanyan, Movlid Khaybulaev, Ramazan Gitinov, Saygid Izakhamaev, Imamshafi Aliev, Anatoly Malykhin, Dzhamaludin Aliev, Vladimir Mineev, Khabib Nabiev, Azamat Kerefov.

Just 30 of the better Russian fighters outside the UFC off the top of my head. If they just signed these guys...it'd literally fucking warp the top 10 rankings and title pictures horribly badly and there'd still only be about 60 Russians in the UFC compared to 100+ Brazilians and 350+ US fighters. Think about it. You can't make long lists of top talent from Brazil and the US in the same way that don't get signed to the UFC and the crazy thing is I could probably throw up another 30 elite names...

I don't know if any of those guys are actually good, but if they are it makes sense because Russia is a big country and the UFC only has about 19 or 20 Russians in it at the moment.

If there were only 20 Brazilians in the UFC we'd all be talking about how many talented Brazilians were outside the UFC.

 

[CroCopsLHK]

Fedor and Khabib have Russia and that's hard to beat. I might go with Brazil for the Gracies, Aldo, the Silvas, Machias, Ruas...

USA has Sonnen, Couture, DC, Penn, Hendo, Jones, Rampage, Edgar, Penn. The list never ends lol

 

[TeenageMutantLesnarTurtle]

I would say Russias talent pool has the highest ratio of good fighters in it. It feels like there are very few bums in Russian MMA.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

My opinion is Russia has the best fighters but if you aren't educated in MMA, you may not be able to properly assess this. But I think it's mostly close between the big 3.

Keep in mind, there's 100+ Brazilians in the UFC, 300+ US fighters and only about 30 Russians. On top of this the UFC doesn't tend to sign good Russian prospects and even let's top 10 ranked Russians go from their promotion. If there were 60-80 of the best Russians in the UFC, I think this poll would be a little lopsided towards Russia even. Imagine....if they signed (if you don't know half these guys it's okay)

Renat Khavalov, Magomed Magomedov, Khasan Magomedsharipov, Usman Nurmagomedov, Baki Chamsoudinov, Ramazan Kuramagomedov, Magomed Umalatov, Timur Khizriev, Alexandr Shabliy, Khuseyn Shaykhaev, Adam Masaev, Amru Magomedov, Murad Magomedov, Askar Askarov, Muhammad Mokaev, Vadim Nemkov, Magomedrasul Gasanov, Islam Omarov, Bibert Tumenov, Albert Tumenov, Shamil Musaev, Evgeniy Ignatiev, Eduard Vartanyan, Movlid Khaybulaev, Ramazan Gitinov, Saygid Izakhamaev, Imamshafi Aliev, Anatoly Malykhin, Dzhamaludin Aliev, Vladimir Mineev, Khabib Nabiev, Azamat Kerefov.

Just 30 of the better Russian fighters outside the UFC off the top of my head. If they just signed these guys...it'd literally fucking warp the top 10 rankings and title pictures horribly badly and there'd still only be about 60 Russians in the UFC compared to 100+ Brazilians and 350+ US fighters. Think about it. You can't make long lists of top talent from Brazil and the US in the same way that don't get signed to the UFC and the crazy thing is I could probably throw up another 30 elite names...

Very good post.

 

[RockyLockridge]

I picked Russia.

I think their fighters (atleast in the UFC) are better on average today. the lowest level russian guys in the UFC are better than the lowest level brazillians and Americans.


Russia seems to have the highest skill floor, and highest skill ceiling.

 

[HuskySamoan]

I don't know if any of those guys are actually good, but if they are it makes sense because Russia is a big country and the UFC only has about 19 or 20 Russians in it at the moment.

If there were only 20 Brazilians in the UFC we'd all be talking about how many talented Brazilians were outside the UFC.

Skip the next fight night filled with cans and do some homework, it's worth it. So many of those guys are going to be top guys in the world. I promise this post will age well.

Guys like Vartanyan won the ACA 1 Million dollar tournament and has beaten plenty of high level guys and Sambo world champs from Dagestan. His last loss was 7 years ago and it was a crooked split decision. He trains with Arman Tsarukyan as well. He's 25-3 and went to Vegas after getting his visa to discuss with the UFC, they offered him a contender series contract. Renat Khavalov is 8-0 26 years old, amateur mma and combat sambo background, Eagles FC former champ and has fought really good competition relatively speaking...He tried to get a contender series contract and was sent packing so PFL scooped him. Shabliy, Bellators number 1 contender who knocked out Primus and Tofiq Musayev...tried to sign with the UFC, offered to be a last minute replacement was turned down multiple times. 17-0 Azamat Kerefov ACA Flyweight champ tried to sign with the UFC, they didn't want him. Some of these guys don't have visas or are tied up in other promotions, but the blatant rejection of Russian talent is wild. Casual fans just assume all the best Russians or most are in the UFC, truth is very few are. And they sign cans like Slava Claus and Tiululin for God knows what reason. Obviously Islam Omarov, Bibert Tumenov and Timur Khizriev are amongst the best 145ers in the world. Zabits bro is super talented too, Magomedrasul Gasanov is a top shelf guy at 185 I think, Nemkov I think is the best 205er in the world. I dunno..