Few things generate as much debate among mixed martial arts fans as trying to order the great legends of UFC. There is no perfect formula and each ranking usually leaves more questions than answers. Precisely that has happened with the new Top 25 of the best American fighters of all time, a list that has caused intense debate since its publication.
The first big surprise appears at number one. Demetrious Johnson takes the top spot ahead of Jon Jones, Randy Couture, Matt Hughes and Frank Shamrock, completing a Top 5 full of historical champions.
Demetrious Johnson appearing at the top is not a far-fetched decision from a sporting point of view. His dominance of flyweight was practically absolute. He became the first champion of the division, defended the belt eleven consecutive times – a historical record in the UFC – and for years gave the feeling of being several steps ahead of all his rivals. His technique, speed, intelligence and ability to adapt to any style made many consider him one of the most complete fighters to have passed through the octagon.
However, the big controversy inevitably comes with Jon Jones.
For a huge part of the MMA community, Bones is still the best fighter to ever step foot in a cage. He won the light heavyweight belt at just 23 years old, becoming the youngest champion in the history of UFC, and since then practically all his fights have been for a championship. He defeated an unrepeatable generation of legends such as Maurício Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, Alexander Gustafsson, Daniel Cormier, Glover Teixeira or Ciryl Gane, among many others.
The main argument for placing him behind Johnson has nothing to do with his performance inside the octagon, but with everything that happened outside of it. His disciplinary problems, sanctions, positives for banned substances and several extra-sporting controversies have marked a career that, solely from a competitive point of view, has very few precedents in the history of sport.
Third place goes to Randy Couture, a choice few dispute. A two-division champion, five-time UFC champion and capable of conquering belts in his forties, The Natural represents one of the longest-running and most successful careers the organization has ever seen.
Matt Hughes appears fourth thanks to one of the most dominant reigns that welterweight has known. For years he was the man to beat and built a legacy that still serves today as a reference for any 170-pound champion.
Perhaps the most striking name in the Top 5 is Frank Shamrock. His influence on the development of modern MMA is enormous and he was one of the first truly complete champions of the organization. However, many fans believe that figures such as Daniel Cormier, Stipe Miocic or even Cain Velasquez could have stronger arguments to occupy that position.
Outside the Top 5 there are also decisions that have not gone unnoticed.
Ronda Rousey occupies the sixth position. Her impact was revolutionary. Not only did she dominate her category for years, but she forever changed the perception of women's MMA and opened the door to an entire generation of female fighters. Her influence transcends even sports results.
Daniel Cormier is seventh despite having been champion in two divisions and defeating numerous champions. For many he should be much higher.
Stipe Miocic appears eighth, a position that some consider too low considering he remains the heavyweight with the most consecutive belt defenses in UFC history.
The presence of Max Holloway within the Top 10 is also striking. Although his sporting nationality represents the United States having been born in Hawaii, some fans expected to see names such as Chuck Liddell, Cain Velasquez or B.J. Penn before.
B.J. Penn is ranked number 13. For many veterans of this sport, the Hawaiian was one of the most advanced fighters of his time and one of the first champions capable of winning titles in two different divisions. His position has been another of the most discussed.
In the final part of the standings there are also historical names such as Tito Ortiz, Chris Weidman, Mark Coleman, Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, Benson Henderson, Frankie Edgar or Aljamain Sterling.
One of the most recent additions is Justin Gaethje, whose victory at the UFC Freedom 250 allowed him to enter the list after being left out in an initial version. His conquest of the lightweight belt ended up tipping the scales in his favor and reinforced a legacy that was already one of the most spectacular in the division's recent history.
As always with this type of classification, the debate is served.
Should longevity be rewarded? Do title defenses outweigh the quality of the opponents? Should what happened outside the octagon have an influence? Is it more important to change a sport than to dominate a division for years?
There is probably never a definitive answer.
The only thing that is certain is that placing Demetrious Johnson ahead of Jon Jones has reopened a discussion that has been dividing fans for more than a decade. And looking at the curriculum of both, it seems a debate that will continue to be very much alive for many years to come.