Murilo Bustamante came up a lot in the early 00’s as a p4p great but I always thought that was vastly overblown.
First of all, such recognition came from being the best student of the widely regarded as best coach in Brazil back in the day, Carlson Gracie.
Regarding his performances in competition
>Bustamante was a 200lber who went to a draw with one of the most avoided HWs from the '90s, the 300lbs standout wrestler Tom Eriksson. Bustamante had also dispatched two men that same night in one round, including the underrated legit LHW Chris Haseman.
> KOed Jerry Bohlander, one of the most respected 200lbers from the 90s, who actually came into the fight with Murilo as the UFC 12 LW tournament champion
> Outclassed his opponents in the two UFC MW tittle fights he took part, only to vacate the belt looking for better money
>Gave prime Chuck Liddel and Dan Henderson all they could handle. Arguably has a W over both, as well as Rampage Jackson despite Murilo took the fight in short notice.
Regardless of how impressive his record looks, many pundits and fellow fighters credited Bustamante as a legit #1 p4p contender because of the skills he displayed:
>One of the most advanced BJJ games in the world at the time
>Capable of outmaneuvering an Olimpic Greco-Roman wrestler in Matt Lindland from the clinch and take him down
>Capable of stand with one of the best strikers specialist in Chuck Liddeld, despite giving up in weight
>Tough, experienced, calm, composed and well-conditioned.
If you think it was "vastly overblown" considering Bustamante as a legit contender for #1 p4p. Who in you opinion had much better credentials around the turn of the century-early '00s?