Rock hard muscles can be built in the weight room, but what good are they if a fighter does not have nerves of steel? Champions in all sports have testified to the vital role that a strong mind plays in their success, and that includes fighters, who will say mental tenacity plays a far greater role in becoming an elite mixed martial artist than strength, conditioning or technique.
From personal experience as an amateur boxer, I can attest that if your mind and nerves aren't in sync, the results will be catastrophic. The hardest part of boxing for me was the long walk into the ring where I expended most of my energy thinking how embarrassing it was going to be getting knocked out.
The fear of failure consumed me and drained most of my energy. I had the technique and power but was missing a champion's mindset. If you don’t want to fight it doesn’t matter how great your conditioning or technique is, because when you feel that punch, you'll turn, run and hide into a cloud of fear.
Depending on your point of view, there could be plenty of reasons to dislike Nick Diaz and maybe even hate him. There was the famous hospital fight with Joe Riggs after UFC 57 or the positive marijuana test following a spectacular submission over Takanori Gomi in 2007 or the in cage brawl with Jason Miller following fellow Skrap Pack member Jake Shields' victory over Dan Henderson in Nashville.
Or perhaps it's the relentless taunting of his opponents during bouts. A well placed middle finger during a bout goes a long way toward fueling stereotypes. Nick diaz has been called every name under the sun by fans, but the idea that he's a thug particularly irks him. "I don't have a criminal record," he says when asked about fan misconceptions. "Just because I like to speak my mind doesn't make me a thug. I don't like to be looked as the bad guy. When I fight, I've got to do what I've got to do." What he does is put on exciting fights and if you're a fan of exciting fights, Diaz is deserving of your eyes and your respect.
Nick Diaz versus George St-Pierre will be an interesting battle because of the pace at which Diaz fights and the endurance that he brings along with that style of fighting. It's one thing to be constantly on the offensive and it's another to be able to do it for 25 minutes. Good bye for now.
1. Anderson Silva - Topping the list of the Best MMA fighters is the impressive, half man, half amazing Anderson Silva, but as you’ve read in my first blog, He won’t be fighting for a few months due to a serious shoulder injury. Check out the Youtube clip below and you can see why he’s the undefeated champ and the number 1 stunner! His incredible win over Vitor Belfort in February proved he’ll remain firm on top of his division.
2. Jon Jones – Considered the baby of MMA at 23 and an all-round athlete, Jon Jones is the second best fighter in MMA today, at least in my list. Many would disagree since he really hasn’t been around too long, but what he has proven in this short time leaves spectators speechless. Critics are all taking back their “Don’t believe the hype” remarks and have jumped on his bandwagon.
3. Georges St. Pierre – This UFC legend is so good at his game he has no one else to fight in his weight class. His only opponents are all in higher weight classes and still then he’ll strangle them or drop an arm or leg lock fairly easy to gain the win. His gymnastics background and lightning speed make him superhuman. Most spectators would argue that he is the best fighter in the UFC and is ranked so in most lists of greatest fighters, and rightfully so, laying out the best opponents in his weight class.
4. Anthony Pettis – Anthony “Showtime” Pettis is a very well rounded fighter, formally from the WEC division and fresh fish to the UFC. After his “Matrix kick” to then ranked number 1 fighter in the WEC Henderson, his massive popularity increased and looks prime to become a UFC champion in the very near future.
5. Frankie Edgar – My fellow Rutgers alumni and New Jerseys pride, UFC champ Frankie Edgar is best known for upsetting B.J. Penn to win the UFC Lightweight title at UFC 112. Though his title win was controversial, Edgar cemented his status by dominating Penn in the rematch at UFC 118. He is well respected for both his performance in the ring as well as his humble demeanor outside the ring.
6. Cain Velasquez – Velasquez’s win over Brock Lesnar was so impressive that every heavy weight in the UFC is looking for an excuse to dodge their inevitable knockout. His potential is as immense as his build and watching him swing at an opponent face is like watching a horror film.
7. Josh Koscheck - Josh Koscheck is a former collegiate wrestling champion and is currently fighting in the welterweight division for the UFC. He made his debut with the organization on the first season of the reality television show, The Ultimate Fighter and was the most hated fighters due to his childish antics on the show. Koscheck has since fought for the company a record 24 times, matured and is now ranked among the top ten welterweights in the world by leading MMA publications. He has the talent and the ambition to stay as one of the best fighters for a long time.
8. Jon Fitch - Jon Fitch is a wrestler who trains at American Kickboxing Academy. Fitch has used his wrestling to great success in the UFC, including earning a title shot at UFC 87. A training partner with Josh Koscheck, Fitch has controversially stated that he and Koscheck would never fight in the UFC.
9. Jake Shields - Jake Shields is an accomplished wrestler and jiu-jitsu practitioner from Cesar Gracie's California-based team. Shields has found great success at both welterweight and middleweight, winning the EliteXC welterweight and Strikeforce middleweight titles. Shields was famously involved in a post-fight brawl at "Strikeforce: Nashville" which involved Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Shields' teammate Nick Diaz, among others.
10. Gilbert Melendez - Melendez is the only non-UFC fighter on the list, though Strikeforce in now owned by the UFC, so he is practically part of the family. He hasn’t fought since April, and his next move isn’t clear yet, but Melendez is a lightweight who will make a lot of noise before he is done.
