Combat sports have been around since the earliest forms of human society. Most historians agree that the evidence of sports like wrestling and boxing have been around since the Ancient era. Civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and Rome practiced the sports frequently, and they were even included in the Ancient Olympics. Quite a few historians agree that wrestling and boxing might even pre-date the Ancient world, and that they’ve been around since the pre-historic age.
3 Best Fighters in MMA History
Boxing, for its part, remains popular, and at the forefront of people’s minds. In fact, it is the most popular combat sport, and has been for all of human history. However, in recent years, a new contestant has entered the arena, competing for the title of most popular martial art. Mixed Martial Arts has quickly been gaining traction, since it was introduced officially in the 20th Century.
Today, the UFC, which is the most popular MMA organization in the world, has become a billion-dollar company, growing in popularity with each passing season. While it is still not as big as certain boxing organization, it is quickly getting there, acquiring huge popularity on online betting sites like Novibet.
In this article, we are going to look at a few of MMA’s greatest athletes in the history of the sport. Let’s take a look.
Anderson Silva
Dabbling in both boxing and mixed martial arts, Anderson Silva is often considered one of the most important fighters in the history of MMA. He has won 16 consecutive victories over a span of 2,457 days, and to this day, still holds the record for longest title reign in UFC history.
ANDERSON SILVA 🥋🥊
* 11 World Championships
* Longest Reigning Champion in UFC History
* 34 Wins 11 Losses
* 61% Significant Striking Accuracy
* 77% Takedown Accuracy pic.twitter.com/bCZoE50S1f— UFC LEGENDS (@ufc_legends) April 27, 2022
Silva began his career in combat sports as a pro-MMA fighter in Brazil. In 1997, he made his debut, winning his first two bouts. In 2000, he experienced his first loss, but came back strong with a 9-win streak. His popularity grew over the course of six years, from 2000 to 2006, fighting in Pride Fighting Championships and Cage Rage, before joining the UFC.
In 2020, Anderson Silva left the UFC, and announced he would be returning to boxing, and in 2021, he was scheduled to go up against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Despite Chavez Jr. exceeding the weight cap, the fight carried on and Anderson Silva won via split decision.
Jon “Bones” Jones
A light heavyweight American fighter, Jon Jones is one of the most beloved, popular, and highly-respected fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His notable career achievements include becoming the youngest champion in the history of the organization, at age 23, when he took down Mauricio Rua. Currently, he is ranked 9th in the official UFC Pound-for-Pound rankings.
Jose Aldo
Currently fighting in the UFC bantamweight division, Jose Aldo is a Brazilian fighter. During his time, he has also competed in the featherweight division, and is considered by many to be one of the best fighters in the history of the sport. His first loss in 2005, drove Aldo to an 18-win streak, which was broken by Conor McGregor in their iconic fight in 2015. Today, he is often called, the greatest featherweight in MMA history.
