The most heated sporting debates often revolve around one question: Who is the greatest of all time?
Some will argue that it’s the athlete with the greatest statistics, or the individual with the most championships, or perhaps the competitor who changed their sport forever. Regardless, picking a sport’s greatest athlete is no easy task, and it gets even harder with an individual discipline like mixed martial arts.
So we want your help: Who is the greatest all-time pound-for-pound fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship? Submit your vote below, or join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook using the #SNcountdown hashtag.
Tune in to Sportsnet Countdown on April 23rd for the results (check our TV schedule for times in your area).
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Anderson Silva
With the most knockdowns and highest significant strike accuracy in UFC history, there was never a moment where his opponents could feel comfortable across the cage.
Georges St-Pierre
GSP is as gifted as they come, both offensively and defensively, with the most dominant wrestling game the UFC has ever seen. The Canadian garnered more mainstream attention than any other MMA fighter before taking a break from the sport late in 2013.
Jon Jones
He became the youngest champion in UFC history in 2011 and the way he rolled through former champions at such a young age is something to marvel at.
Matt Hughes
With farm-boy strength and elite wrestling skills, Hughes dominated opponents for years. He was the first person to defeat Georges St-Pierre and is the only person to beat Royce Gracie in the UFC.
Chuck Liddell
The former light-heavyweight champion was the first true MMA superstar to gain mainstream popularity. Whether it was his classic tilt with Wanderlei Silva, his rivalry with Tito Ortiz or the epic trilogy with Randy Couture, it was always exciting watching “The Iceman” let his hands fly.
Randy Couture
On paper, Randy Couture’s 19-11 MMA record doesn’t seem impressive, but the man known as “Captain America” was the first fighter to become a multi-division UFC champ. MMA’s ageless wonder retired in 2011 at the age of 47.
BJ Penn
Nicknamed “The Prodigy” for a reason, the Hawaiian is one of only two fighters to win UFC titles in multiple weight classes. Penn has knockout power, world-class jiu-jitsu and a granite chin. And, even Anderson Silva has said Penn is the best mixed martial artist of all-time.
Jose Aldo
The Brazilian honed his craft in the now-defunct WEC, going 8-0 and becoming featherweight champion, before continuing his dominance in The Octagon. He has world-class grappling ability, but relies on his ferocious Muay Thai to defeat his opponents.
Tito Ortiz
Known as one of the true bad boys of the sport, Ortiz holds wins over Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva, Forrest Griffin and Ken Shamrock. He was one of the sport’s most infamous fighters, both inside and outside the cage.
Royce Gracie
Mixed martial arts wouldn’t be what it is today without Gracie. The Brazilian changed the face of combat sports by using leverage and technique, as opposed to brute strength, to submit bigger men en route to three UFC tournament championships.
