Who was the best fighter in MMA every year since 1993.

[VAfan]

it's a good list. diggin that there's no mcgregor on there. makes me happy.

 

[Subline]

2024 | Topuria
2023 | Islam
2013 - 2022 | Demetrious Johnson
2011/12 | Jon Jones/Jose Aldo/GSP
2009/10 | GSP
2007/08 | Silva
2002 - 2006 | Fedor
2001 | Big Nog
2000 | Sakuraba

Just my personal opinion on who the best fighter in the world was for those years. Not a fighter of the year list because that doesn't seem to be the OP's intention (putting 2024 Islam over Ilia, 2021 Volk over Usman, 2020 Khabib over Figgy only make sense if we aren't focusing on accomplishments for those years too much).

 

[pankrat]

By 2011, Anderson was clearly starting to decline.

In 2007, GSP was just ramping up to his prime form. In my post I'm not even including GSP until 2011.

Edit: In the TS post I just noticed he has Anderson 2007,2008, and 2010. Did something happen in 2009? lol

By 2011 Anderson styled on legitimate top contenders Belfort and Okami for the KO, extending his record streak of UFC tittle defenses.
He was mostly ranked as p4p best by most media outlets, including official sherdog rankings; plenty of fellow fighters regarded him as the best, as well as Dana White or Joe Rogan, not to mention millions of fans.
You can say now in 2025 that he was "clearly" declining and whatever but the facts are the stated above

 

[Clark Rogers]

2024 | Topuria
2023 | Islam
2013 - 2022 | Demetrious Johnson
2011/12 | Jon Jones/Jose Aldo/GSP
2009/10 | GSP
2007/08 | Silva
2002 - 2006 | Fedor
2001 | Big Nog
2000 | Sakuraba

Just my personal opinion on who the best fighter in the world was for those years. Not a fighter of the year list because that doesn't seem to be the OP's intention (putting 2024 Islam over Ilia, 2021 Volk over Usman, 2020 Khabib over Figgy only make sense if we aren't focusing on accomplishments for those years too much).

Fedor gets 4 years, Jones/Aldo share 2, GSP 2 and shares 2... Anderson 2... but DJ 9 years straight?

LOL

 

[Subline]

Fedor gets 4 years, Jones/Aldo share 2, GSP 2 and shares 2... Anderson 2... but DJ 9 years straight?

LOL

Problem? He's the most skilled fighter of all time

 

[Tweak896]

Silva hindsight is interesting

MW was a bit of a mess until 2007. Silva came out of nowhere even for people who knew who he was.

His ko of fryklund was awesome as was his win over Murray but that was sort of B league wins when they happened. Even Leben was seen as OK and Silva destroying him proved it (at the time)

He beat Franklin but Franklin was seen as 2nd to Hendo and Hendo was hot & cold at mw.

It was like 2007 or 8 when Silva was seen as godly. GSP cemented himself at around the same time. Fedor had been there for a min already

Both GSP and Silva won the titles 34 days from each other in Oct/Nov 2006. The real divergence was Silva kept winning, while GSP lost to Serra 1st round in his first title defense.

Silva had 7 finishes in a row from 2006-2008 including title reign, while GSP went to decision 2/7 fights during that time, including getting finished by Serra.

Considering the streak Silva was on, his iconic finishes, you can say he beats him 2006-2012. 2013 Silva lost 2x to Weidman, while GSP fought Nick Diaz+Hendricks.

Hindsight now you see GSP retired, besides the Bisping fight, while Silva just came to lose after Nick Diaz. People started rating GSP over Silva probably because Silva didn't retire after Bonnar.

 

[honzo]

No ties, be bold

 

[BowserJr]

Both GSP and Silva won the titles 34 days from each other in Oct/Nov 2006. The real divergence was Silva kept winning, while GSP lost to Serra 1st round in his first title defense.

Silva had 7 finishes in a row from 2006-2008 including title reign, while GSP went to decision 2/7 fights during that time, including getting finished by Serra.

Considering the streak Silva was on, his iconic finishes, you can say he beats him 2006-2012. 2013 Silva lost 2x to Weidman, while GSP fought Nick Diaz+Hendricks.

Hindsight now you see GSP retired, besides the Bisping fight, while Silva just came to lose after Nick Diaz. People started rating GSP over Silva probably because Silva didn't retire after Bonnar.

Yes, you are correct. Now that I think about it Fedor was still considered #1 in 2006 cuz MW was still a bit of a mess with Silva barely winning the belt that year and not being on anyones radar as top 3 before the Leben fight.

The way Silva won definitely set him way above everyone. He had the stinkers with Maia, Leites, Cote but it was obvious he was playing with food, way more than people claim Jones did with the likes of Reyes, Smith, Santos. Santos/Smith were very close fights.

Maia, Leites, Cote were not.

I think in hindsight people are realizing that while GSP went to decision a lot it was pure domination for 5 rounds for many fights. That is impressive innanother way. It shows more dominance I guess. I do prefer the Silva style of winning more and weigh it more favorably.

Silva would have absolutely wrecked GSP. With 20/20 hindsight Silva was visibly declining as early as Sonnen 1. He had never been dropped before with much harder punches from bigger punchers.

In a nutshell yeah Silva was #1 for 1 maybe 2 more years instead of GSP on my list