Mixed Martial Arts Hall Of Fame

MMAFO has noticed that there is no universal "Hall Of Fame" for mixed martial arts and free fight warriors. We aim to remedy that situation with the 1st 10 inductees into the soon to be hallowed hall. This is not a popularity poll, but based upon their career body of work and talents.

• Rickson Gracie 11-0 Though the legend has him at around 400-0, in Jiu-Jistu, Sambo, freestyle wrestling, and Vale Tudo fighting. There is no doubt he is a Sambo gold medalist, 2-time Brazilian wrestling champion, and Middle-Heavyweight and Open Weight World Jiu-Jistu champion for almost 2 decades. The cocky 8th degree blackbelt is without a doubt a pioneer of the sport
• Royce Gracie 14-3-3 At 6'1, 171 lbs., Royce began the rise of Jiu-Jistsu in America by besting much larger and stronger opponents winning the UFC tournaments for UFC 1, 2, and 4! Royce had legendary fights against Kimo, Ken Shamrock, Hidehiko Yoshida, and an hour and a half fight with Kazushi Sakuraba. Royce was a submission master before the art was even known in most parts of the world and is still legendary in many fans eyes
• Fedor Emelianenko 28-1 The "Last Emperor" has tasted defeat once in a 9 year MMA career via a cut, which he would later avenge. He would command the MMA team the "Red Devils" and has won 2 Rings Heavyweight Tournaments, 2004 Pride Grand Prix, the Pride FC Heavyweight Championship, WAMMA Heavyweight Championship, as well as Russian National Champion in Judo, and Sambo Championships in 1997 (2), 1998, 2002 (3), 2005, 2006, 2007 (2), and 2008. Widely considered the best pound for pound fighter in all the world, the Russian is one of the most well rounded MMA artists who has 6 (T)KO's and 15 submission wins. Emelianenko holds wins over Antonio Nogueira (2), Mark Coleman, Mirko Flipovic, Heath Herring, Renato Sobral, and Mark Hunt
• Wanderlei Silva 32-8-1 The "Axe Murderer" was the Pride Middleweight Champion for 6 years, the 2oo6 Pride Grand Prix Champion, and IVC Light Heavyweight Champion. Known for his brutal non-stop stand up attack style, Silva had impressive wins over Kazushi Sakuraba (3 times), Quinton Jackson (twice), Ricardo Arona, Hidehiko Yoshida, Kazuyuki Fujita, and Keith Jardine. He is a devastating striker with an amazing chin and ability to withstand punishment.
• Kazushi Sakuraba 24-11-1 "The Gracie Hunter" is known as a cerebral fighter with amazing submission skills and unorthodox striking. Always gentle and smiling outside the ring, inside he bested such fighters as Carlos Newton, Vitor Belfort, Royler Gracie, Royce Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Ryan Gracie, Quinton Jackson, and Ken Shamrock. Sakuraba came from "Professional Wrestling" but fought any man at any weight class becoming the biggest star in all of Japan. He is an UFC Ultimate Japan Tournament Winner and has come back from almost certain defeat to claim victory in many a match.
• Matt Hughes 42-7 The greatest Welterweight fighter of all time held the UFC's title for 3 years overpowering and out thinking opponents like Frank Trigg (2), BJ Penn, Georges St. Pierre, Royce Gracie, Carlos Newton (2), Hayato Sakurai, and Sean Sherk with his patented wrestling and submission style. Matt Hughes at one time had an 18 fight winning streak (T)KOing 15 and submitting 18 men in his professional career!
• Bas Rutten 28-4-1 "El Guapo" was the perennial all around fighter winning 12 fights by (T)KO and 13 by submission. A 3 time King Of Pancrase, UFC Heavyweight Champion, had a 22 fight winning streak and though retired in 2006, he had not lost a fight since 1995! Bas has notable wins over Frank Shamrock (2), Guy Mezger, Maurice Smith (2), Vernon White, and Kevin Randleman.
• Dan Henderson 23-7 "Hendo," or "Hollywood," helped to form the MMA squad called Team Quest and is the only fighter to ever hold the Pride FC Middleweight and Pride FC Light Heavyweight titles at the same time. Dan was also a 2 time Greco-Roman Wrestling Olympian for U.S.A. and won the UFC 17 Middleweight Tournament as well as the Pride FC 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix. His right hand is known for its KO ability and he has successful wins over Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Renato Sobral, Murilo Rua, Murilo Bustamante (2), and Kazuo Misaki.
• Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 31-4-1 "Minotauro" is the current "Interim" UFC Heavyweight Champion, was the 1st Pride FC Heavyweight Champion, the King Of Kings 2000 Tournament winner, and is a Brazilian Blackbelt genius who has never been stopped in a 36 fight career! With 20 submissions on his resume, "Big Nog" has beaten Mark Coleman, Jeremy Horn, Heath Herring (3), Bob Sapp, Semmy Schilt, Josh Barnett, Mirko Flipovic, Tim Sylvia, and many more.
• Mark Coleman 15-8 "The Hammer" was almost unstoppable at the height of his career winning UFC Tournaments 10 and 11, was the 1st ever UFC Heavyweight Champion, and the Pride FC 2000 Open Weight Grand Prix. A two time Mid-American Conference wrestling champion Coleman also competed on the 1992 Olympic team. The "Godfather Of Ground And Pound," Mark helped invent the ground punishing style in almost every MMA fighters tool box today. He founded the successful fight team Hammer House and has beaten Don Frye (2), Dan Severn, Kazuyuki Fujita, Igor Vovchanchyn, and Allen Goes.

If you are wondering why Randy Couture, Oleg Taktarov, Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Don Frye, Dan Severn, or Pat Miletich were omitted from the Hall Of Fame list, they either aren't 1st ballot entries, or possibly don't belong. Something to discuss either way. MMAFO wishes you a happy Thanksgiving and remember, this list is unfallible.