The 10 Best MMA fighters from the 2000s

3. Fedor Emelianenko

Fedor Emelianenko is arguably the greatest heavyweight across MMA’s decorated history,  and competed against and defeated some of the most terrifying athletes on the planet.

From 2000 to 2009, Emelianenko totaled a 31-1 record during stints in promotions such as Pride and Affliction. He would eventually avenge his lone defeat to Tsuyoshi Kohsaka at Pride Bushido 6. The loss to Kohsaka was controversial in the fact that the doctors stopped it when Emelianenko and his team wanted to continue fighting, much to the dismay of the crowd in attendance.

During his time competing in Affliction, he got his opportunity to face a couple of would-be heavyweight champions in Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski. In his debut against Sylvia, he finished him in just 36 seconds.

After earning the Pride heavyweight title; he defended it against the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko Cro Cop, and Mark Hunt, to name a few.

Emelianenko tended to challenge some of the best specialists in the fight game, including Mark Coleman in grappling and beat them at their own game. Instead of just challenging the weaknesses of his opponents, he sought out to prove a point that he could impose his will on all challengers in every aspect of fighting.

Emelianenko was close to competing in the UFC but he and his team couldn’t come to terms with UFC president Dana White and the brass. Fans clamored for a possible matchup between Emelianenko and Brock Lesnar at one point too.

What made Emelianenko especially dominant was his electric striking to go with his world-class Sambo. In addition to his MMA titles, he also earned multiple gold medals in Sambo at the FIAS World Combat Championships.

The MMA Hall of Famer will go down as a one-of-a-kind legend who became arguably the first true dominant force in the sport.