Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a fast growing sport with an increasing audience. Fans are attracted to the incredible toughness, athleticism, and courage that MMA fighters possess. MMA fighting is intense and brutal. Unlike pro wrestling, the matches are completely real and are decided solely by the fighters themselves. Some high caliber athletes have found great success in this sport. All of the following fighters are decorated veterans of MMA. Here is a look at the world’s best MMA fighters.
Tony Lopez is the current King of the Cage (KOTC) Super Heavyweight Champion. Lopez, nicknamed “Kryptonite”, has reigned since September 2011. Lopez also holds both the Brace for War and Gladiator Challenge heavyweight championships. He is also a former two time Heavyweight Division champion and a former light heavyweight champion. Lopez has a total record of 32-10, with most of the losses occurring early in his career. He once won sixteen consecutive fights. Lopez is based in Huntington Beach, California.
Junior Dos Santos is a Brazilian Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter. He has an 11-2 record and was the UFC heavyweight champion from November 2011 to December 2012. Dos Santos has won eleven fights by knockout and two by submission. He has a history of decisively defeating his opponents.
Cain Velasquez is the current Ultimate Fighting Heavyweight Champion and a two time champ overall. He is widely renowned as one of the greatest MMA fighters in the world. Velasquez’s first title reign ended with a loss to Junior Dos Santos in November 2011. He later regained the title in a rematch in December 2012. He has an 11-1 overall career record. Nine of his victories were by knockout. Velasquez’s quick, hard-hitting style has made him one of UFC’s most formidable competitors.
Daniel Comier is a new UFC fighter who enters the organization with a perfect 11-0 career record. He previously competed in the Olympic Games as a wrestler. Comier has won several mixed martial arts titles, including the Strikeforce Grand Prix Heavyweight Championship and the King of the Cage Heavyweight Championship. Comier’s experience in freestyle amateur wrestling has helped him succeed. He won the gold medal at the United States Championships for six consecutive years from 
2003-2008. Comier hails from San Jose, California.
Frank Mir is a former two time UFC heavyweight champ with an overall career record of 16-6. He is well known for winning over former UFC champ and WWE performer Brock Lesnar by submission – the only person to ever beat Lesnar in this manner. Mir has the most wins of any fighter in the UFC heavyweight division. Along with this success in the octagon, Mir is also known for his outspoken personality.
Josh Barnett is another former UFC heavyweight champ with an overall career record of 32-6. He also has a background in professional wrestling. He won the Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling Openweight Championship in 2003. Barnett was also the 2011 Strikeforce Grand Prix Runner Up in 2011. Barnett competed in the Olympics as a member of the U.S. grappling team.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’][/author_image] [author_info]Sampson Edwards is an avid fan of both WWE & UFC. In his spare time, he watches the games, loves finding out more information about the two leagues and the fighters, and trains in MMA at Salvosa BJJ Ascension.[/author_info] [/author]
