10 Most Well Rounded Fighters In UFC 2020
It's called MIXED Martial Arts and don't you forget it.
When the UFC invited fighters from all over the world to test themselves against each other in the early days of the company, most of these stars turned up to the show with one specific discipline that they'd spent the majority of their life mastering.
This was all well and good and the events definitely delivered on the promise of a mix of martial arts, but it did tend to lead to some one-sided exhibitions. For example, when Sumo wrestler Teila Tuli came face to face with Savate boxer Gerard Gordeau at UFC 1, let's just say that Tuli wasn't well equipped for such an occasion.
As the sport began to evolve, the term 'Mixed Martial Artist' began to take on a whole new meaning. In order to be successful inside of this brave new world, you couldn't just be an expert in your one chosen discipline. You needed to add more layers to your game and incorporate different styles and techniques in order to successfully nullify whatever opponent you were faced with.
In 2020, we are now at a stage where most UFC fighters practise multiple martial arts. However, some fighters have become so unbelievably well-rounded that it's almost impossible to figure out which skill is their strongest.
So, let's just admire how good they are...
10. Jose Aldo
Up until a couple of years ago, a serious argument could have been made for Jose Aldo being classed as the pound-for-pound best mixed martial artist on the planet.
The Brazilian went nearly a decade undefeated at Featherweight and only lost once in his first 26 fights as a professional. Those victories included countless knockouts, decisions and even the odd triangle choke submission.
Yet, it's when you truly delve into Aldo's training that his seriously well-rounded class starts to become evident.
Aldo possesses a black belt in both Jiu-Jitsu and Luta Livre - two grappling-heavy arts - and also trained in the art of Capoeira at a young age to defend himself when he was caught up in fights on the street. Aldo has also demonstrated supreme Muay Thai skills throughout his career and has stopped fights with knees and kicks on multiple occasions.
To top it all off, Aldo is also an extremely proficient defender, currently clocking a staggering 91% success rate when it comes to defending takedowns.
He may have lost a few fights in recent memory, but he's still one of the most well-rounded performers on show in the Octagon today.