8 MMA Legends You've Never Heard Of
2. Jose Landi Jons (29-16)
Jose 'Pele' Landi-Jons carved a legacy as one of the best strikers in the early days of MMA and has had an unquestionable impact on the sport. With many of his fights, including an insane bout with a young Chuck Liddell, coming during the era when gloves were not commonplace in MMA, you know that Pele was a pioneer.
Despite having fought in PRIDE, and holding wins over the likes of world champion fighters like Matt Hughes, Pat Miletich, and Alexander Shlemenko, the Brazilian striker doesn't even have an English language Wikipedia page!
Landi-Jons even holds two wins in Muay Thai over UFC legend and striking wizard Anderson Silva, later going on to coach Brazilian fighters such as Silva, Wanderlei Silva, and Shogun and Ninja Rua in the aggressive striking style that was so characteristic of Brazilian fighters from the Chute Boxe camp during the 2000s.
Unfortunately, Landi-Jons' career would be hampered by injuries, with a leg break in 2008 that is eerily similar to the one that student Anderson Silva would later suffer in a bout against Chris Weidman in 2013.