The #2 middleweight all time

[Aegon Spengler]

Anderson Silvia’s run had a kind of magic to it that will never be touched. 185lbs champ that popped up to 205 to finish people on occasion, making it look easy.

Who is the clear #2 behind Anderson?

It has to be between Hendo and Izzy…

Hendo never won a belt in the UFC, but did win tournaments, was duel champ in Pride, and KO’d Fedor.

Izzy we already know everything about

Who you got?

 

[RenegadeMMA]

Yoel Romero

 

[DOMMA]

Silva
Izzy
Hendo
Weidman

 

[BigOlJeet]

Yoel Romero

Screw that overrated bum, Hendo is the #2.

 

[World eater]

Probably Izzy at second place, especially if he continues winning. If he somehow falls off a cliff, a strong argument could be made for Hendo.
That said, I’ll always prefer Hendo myself.

 

[Dan O'Burke]

Probably Izzy at second place, especially if he continues winning. If he somehow falls off a cliff, a strong argument could be made for Hendo.
That said, I’ll always prefer Hendo myself.

Good, fair answer.

 

[kellier]

For a long time I said Belfort but Izzy has probably surpassed him now

Hendo had more success at 205 than 185

 

[DS66]

I think it's pretty clearly Izzy at this point. He gets a ton of hate obviously, but his 12 fight win streak at MW over all of the top contenders in the era is something pretty special. And then avenging the Pereira loss with the big KO has definitely cemented it. Hendo obviously had an amazing career and is a legend, but a bunch of his biggest wins are at LHW and he just doesn't have the run of success at MW that Izzy does.

 

[Toizumi]

Izzy does not have the same aura that some all time greats have (or maybe it's just nostalgia blurring my view), but he's probably the #2 all time at this point.

 

[JKS]

It's very hard to narrow down a clear #2. I would have it between Izzy and Mousasi.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Good, fair answer.

How’s it “fair” to “always” prefer one fighter over the other?

Just means youll detract from Izzy any opportunity if you ask me.

 

[Dan O'Burke]

How’s it “fair” to “always” prefer one fighter over the other?

Just means youll detract from Izzy any opportunity if you ask me.

I didn't detect any bias at all in their response. Yes, they prefer one over the other but gave the one they don't prefer their due...actually putting them at the 2 spot...assuming Izzy keeps winning.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

Top Tier
Anderson

Second Tier
Israel, Hendo

Third Tier
Mousasi, Weidman, Franklin, Belfort

 

[Cameron]

Hendo at MW isn’t in the conversation. His run is fraught with controversial decisions in pride and a non title fight loss. His ufc MW run was ok. Most of Hendo’s run was lhw

#1 Anderson
#2 Izzy
#3 weidman

 

[Dan O'Burke]

How’s it “fair” to “always” prefer one fighter over the other?

Just means youll detract from Izzy any opportunity if you ask me.

And personally, I have Izzy at two and arguably at one, since he beat Anderson already, but I'm fine with him at the two spot.

 

[OneOfOne]

Izzy is the clear #2 and its not even close

 

[RockyLockridge]

And personally, I have Izzy at two and arguably at one, since he beat Anderson already, but I'm fine with him at the two spot.

He can only be one or two in my eyes. I’ll reserve 1 for Anderson for a bit longer but if Izzy holds that title til 2025 I’m off it

 

[Dan O'Burke]

Top Tier
Anderson

Second Tier
Israel, Hendo

Third Tier
Mousasi, Weidman, Franklin, Belfort

Solid list...where would you put Bisping at?

 

[Masturbin]

The real debate is number 3.


No way the top 2 is not Izzy and Silva

 

[SeattleFightFan]

Izzy.

Hendo doesn't quite fit into 185 or 205 solely. Similar to Couture at 205 & HW, and probably a few others (Edgar maybe).

Which of course is one of the small problems with a simple list like "weight class". It's like defining top 10 HW's based on UFC accomplishments only; it's going to be a pretty shit list.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't do it. We should just be aware of the limitations of defining a complex world (e.g. where does Hendo rank) using simple models (e.g. 185 fights only).

In fact, I wouldn't argue with someone who ranked Izzy above Hendo at 185 and Hendo above Izzy at P4P GOAT.