When Kamaru Usman defends his welterweight title in Saturday’s UFC 261 major occasion, he’ll be competing in opposition to extra than simply Jorge Masvidal.
Usman will likely be competing in opposition to the legacies of the best welterweights in MMA historical past. Usman has put himself in that dialog by successful his first 13 UFC fights, one thing no different welterweight has ever executed. If Usman wins Saturday, he’ll stand alone with the second-longest successful streak in UFC historical past, behind Anderson Silva’s 16 from 2006-12. At present, Usman is tied with Max Holloway, Jon Jones, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Demetrious Johnson and Georges St-Pierre for the second-longest.
There is no denying Usman is in Corridor of Fame firm statistically, however the place does he rank among the many best welterweights of all time? The place is Usman’s place on the MMA Mount Rushmore of welterweights?
“In the event you had to take a look at a few of the greatest ever within the division, after all you must put GSP there,” Usman advised ESPN lately. “I hate to do it, however I must put myself in that dialog, as a result of I feel I am probably the most well-rounded one out of everybody, simply because the game has developed a lot.
“I feel I might throw Pat Miletich in there as properly. Pat was a savage. And you bought to place Matt Hughes in there as properly.”
Usman’s MMA welterweight Mount Rushmore is similar to the one picked by an 11-member ESPN panel, which options — so as — GSP, Hughes, Usman and Tyron Woodley.
Might Usman finally surpass GSP because the welterweight GOAT? Our panel breaks it down.
GSP’s greatness transcended weight class
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Ariel Helwani particulars why Georges St-Pierre is the best blended martial artist of all time, successful a file 13 UFC title fights.
Georges St-Pierre is the best welterweight blended martial artist who’s ever walked the face of the earth. Interval. Finish of story … not less than till the day when Usman or another work-in-progress successor writes a dramatic new chapter. Why do I really feel so assured in proclaiming St-Pierre as the best 170-pounder ever? As a result of, to me, GSP is the best MMA fighter in any weight class who’s ever graced our planet.
Making a case for GSP as the best general, although, is an eye-of-the-beholder argument that additionally weighs the appreciable deserves of dominant males at mild heavyweight, middleweight, light-weight and flyweight, for starters, plus a sure girl who reigns in two weight courses. It is a aggressive race, to make sure. But when we stick with the welterweight dialogue, St-Pierre is the MMA equal of Usain Bolt, operating far forward of the pack.
When St-Pierre stepped away from the game as reigning UFC welterweight champion in 2013 — he would return 4 years later for one title-winning middleweight bout — he was driving a 12-fight successful streak. His ultimate 9 fights at 170 kilos have been title defenses, a file for the load class. GSP additionally owns UFC welterweight information for many title combat victories (12) and most victories general (19). He landed probably the most strikes of any 170-pounder in historical past (2,523) and likewise probably the most takedowns (87).
St-Pierre’s versatility transcended the numbers he piled up. He features type factors for being equally comfy, adept and harmful as a standup fighter and as a grappler. GSP was masterful at using his strategic strategy and finely tuned athleticism to take his opponents out of their consolation zone. In the event you spent an evening contained in the cage with St-Pierre, you nearly definitely have been going to combat his combat. And also you nearly definitely have been going to finish up settling for second place.
GSP did have two losses on his file, however he confronted each of his conquerors in rematches and knocked them out. Georges St-Pierre left no stone unturned.
— Jeff Wagenheim
Hughes was a trailblazer
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On April 16, 2005, Matt Hughes retained his welterweight title vs. Frank Trigg and Chuck Liddell received the sunshine heavyweight belt for the primary time by knocking out Randy Couture. For extra UFC, enroll right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Earlier than there was an Usman, earlier than there was a Woodley, even earlier than there was a St-Pierre, there was Matt Hughes. Within the early-to-mid aughts, with the division (and sport as we all know it) nonetheless in its infancy, Hughes outlined what it meant to be the UFC welterweight champion. He received the title with an unimaginable slam knockout of Carlos Newton on Nov. 2, 2001 at UFC 34, and he then reeled off 5 title defenses in a few two-year span.
Hughes wasn’t simply establishing himself as among the best fighters on the planet at the moment, he was serving to cement 170 kilos as one of many elite divisions within the UFC. Throughout that reign, Hughes beat Newton once more, stifled the up-and-coming Sean Sherk and completed Frank Trigg in a grudge match. Hughes dropped the welterweight belt to BJ Penn at UFC 46 on Jan. 31, 2004, however regained it later that 12 months with an armbar end over St-Pierre at UFC 50 on Oct. 22. Hughes defended the title twice throughout his second reign with a submission-of-the-year win over Trigg — he carried him throughout the cage, slammed him and choked him out — and by avenging his loss to his rival, Penn. St-Pierre would take the welterweight torch from Hughes for good at UFC 65 on Nov. 18, 2006.
All advised, in that span of about 5 years, Hughes defended the title seven instances, beat the likes of St-Pierre and Penn, and racked up a 12-1 UFC file. It stays among the best five-year stretches in UFC historical past, and on the time Hughes was thought of maybe one of the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. Hughes nonetheless has probably the most finishes in UFC welterweight historical past (11) and he has the second most finishes in UFC title combat historical past (Eight). Solely St-Pierre has extra title defenses and title fights in UFC welterweight historical past than Hughes.
On high of all these successes contained in the cage, Hughes was a significant draw on the field workplace and on pay-per-view. His rivalries with St-Pierre and Penn are a few of the greatest within the historical past of the game, not simply within the 170-pound weight class. Hughes had trilogies with each males and all six of these bouts have been huge sellers. Hughes additionally had huge wins over the likes of Matt Serra, Royce Gracie and Renzo Gracie.
Hughes was inducted into the UFC Corridor of Fame in 2010. His work in constructing the welterweight division right into a UFC stalwart continues to be paying dividends, with a few of the greatest fights in promotion historical past coming at 170 kilos.
— Marc Raimondi
Usman needs to be No. 2, for now
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Kamaru Usman offers his ideas on one of the best welterweights of all time.
There was a time when it could have been unfathomable to assume a UFC welterweight might ever surpass the legacy set by Georges St-Pierre — however such is the case with Usman.
The mystique and grandeur of St-Pierre’s accomplishments will all the time be troublesome to beat. Along with being a dominant champion, he was a trailblazer for the game in so some ways. But when Usman continues to comply with his present path, this query: “Who’s the best welterweight of all time?” will turn out to be a real debate.
Statistically, Usman is among the greatest we have ever seen. He’s one in all solely three fighters — together with Silva and Nurmagomedov — in MMA historical past to start his UFC profession 13-Zero. He has surpassed St-Pierre’s divisional file of a 12-fight win streak. He has defended 100 % of opponents’ takedown makes an attempt. And he’ll search his fourth consecutive title protection in opposition to Masvidal at UFC 261 in Jacksonville.
And when it comes to competitors, I do not assume there’s any debate that Usman has confronted — and can proceed to face — a barely increased degree than did St-Pierre. That is not an indictment of anybody St-Pierre fought. In reality, I might argue that in comparison with different champions of his period, St-Pierre’s listing of title contenders was one of many tougher. However St-Pierre has admitted that blended martial arts has developed leaps and bounds during the last decade. Contenders are extra well-rounded and divisions are deeper. St-Pierre was in a position to safe a UFC title shot in simply his third look for the promotion. Usman was 9-Zero and three years into his UFC profession earlier than preventing for a championship.
This ‘Mt. Rushmore’ listing is predicated on what a fighter has executed, not what he may do by the tip of his profession. However in Usman’s case, it is arduous to not look forward. As a result of he’s already, undeniably, one of many high 4 welterweights on this sport’s historical past — and for my part, he is already, undeniably, No. 2. That begs the query of whether or not he’ll finally turn out to be No. 1. Though a few of his potential title fights within the close to future are rematches — Masvidal, Colby Covington, Leon Edwards — there’s a lot to achieve from them. And I do know for a truth he desires to be energetic proper now.
Inside the subsequent 12 months, it isn’t arduous to ascertain a situation by which Usman defends his 170-pound championship three extra instances (bringing his variety of defenses to 6), and doubtlessly assume the title of greatest pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. If he does these two issues … not solely would he solidify his spot on a welterweight Mt. Rushmore, I feel he dethrones GSP as welterweight GOAT.
— Brett Okamoto
Historical past will deal with Woodley properly
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Take a look at one of the best performances of former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.
They may respect him when he is gone.
That is what involves thoughts after I consider Tyron Woodley, who I do not assume was appreciated sufficient throughout his title reign from 2016 to 2019.
Why? Possibly it was as a result of the primary two names he known as out when he received the title – through an unimaginable knockout of the traditionally unknockoutable (is that a phrase?) Robbie Lawler — have been Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz, as an alternative of the highest contenders on the time. I feel that may have rubbed some folks the flawed manner, together with the UFC brass. Which leads me to a different potential purpose: it by no means really felt just like the UFC bought behind Woodley as a result of they butted heads too many instances. Why? I would like to know, however that is the way it all the time got here throughout.
Some guys join with the viewers, others do not. Woodley was the latter, and that may be a actual disgrace as a result of he was an incredible fighter with a fair higher backstory.
However his resume speaks for itself: 19 wins, 12 finishes, 63% ending fee (which is greater than GSP, Usman, Johnny Hendricks …), and 4 victories in title fights.
He had wins over Darren Till, Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Robbie Lawler, Kelvin Gastelum, Dong Hyun Kim, Carlos Condit, Josh Koscheck, Paul Daley, to call just a few.
Is he on the extent of a GSP or Matt Hughes? No. GSP had 11 victories in welterweight title fights, whereas Hughes had 9. However he is tied with Usman (for now) and had greater than Lawler and Hendricks.
Plenty of discuss today surrounds whether or not Usman is near surpassing GSP for the best welterweight of all time. He is nowhere close to that dialog but. He is within the Woodley dialog for the time being, and that is an ideal place to be.
Woodley clearly will not be surpassing Usman. His UFC run is perhaps executed. And we’ll miss him when he is gone.
— Ariel Helwani
Others receiving votes: Carlos Condit, Royce Gracie, Robbie Lawler, Douglas Lima
Panel: Kel Dansby, Andrew Davis, Andrew Feldman, Ariel Helwani, Eric Jackman, Roman Modrowski, Morgan Mularski, Phil Murphy, Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi, Jeff Wagenheim