Relating to the undisputed GOATs of MMA, Joe Rogan has three names in thoughts — and none of them are Jon Jones or Georges St-Pierre.
The talk over who ought to be hailed as the best blended martial artist of all time has been raging on for years. Lately, Dana White made his opinion abundantly clear by dubbing ‘Bones’ Jones the undisputed GOAT and getting straight-up argumentative with anybody who disagreed.
However in accordance with the longtime UFC coloration commentator, Jones doesn’t even rank within the high three.
Throughout an episode of his ever-popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Expertise, the previous Worry Issue host shared who he sees topping the checklist, beginning with one of the best middleweight champion of all time, Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva.
“You gotta look at them in this window of time,” Rogan mentioned. “And sometimes it’s just a few years where they’re accomplishing things in a way that it’s extraordinary you go, ‘I’ve never seen anybody better’. Anderson Silva, when he was in his prime, he was operating at a different speed than [his opponents]. He was processing things with like a 2024 computer, and they were using a Windows ’95” (h/t GiveMeSport).
Up subsequent for Rogan, and maybe essentially the most controversial choose, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“That’s just how good Khabib was (on his wins over Poirier & Gaethje),” Rogan continued. “He’s so good. It’s almost a tragedy that he never wants to fight again. He’ll go out, without a doubt, as one of the greatest to ever do it. If not the best ever, he’s definitely in the argument.”
The Eagle’ went 29-0 in his illustrious profession and retired because the UFC light-weight world champion following a trio of profitable title defenses towards Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. Nonetheless, some dispute Nurmagomedov’s standing as certainly one of MMA’s greats, noting his lack of notable opponents outdoors of the three names talked about above.
Joe Rogan closes out his checklist with flyweight nice demetrious Johnson
Final however actually not least for Rogan was Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson. Because the UFC’s first-ever flyweight titleholder, efficiently defended his belt an unimaginable 11 occasions, securing the file for many consecutive title defenses in promotional historical past.
Johnson additionally holds the file for many submission wins in UFC title fights and was simply the second fighter in UFC historical past to seize efficiency bonuses in all 4 classes — Struggle, Knockout, Efficiency, and Submission.
“When he was in his prime, ‘Might Mouse’ was a motherf*cker to watch,” Rogan mentioned. “He would do sh*t that no one could do. There’s not a champion alive that can do that [suplex] the way “Mighty Mouse” can do this. When [Johnson] fought [Henry] Cejudo the primary time, it was a masterclass. I keep that he’s the best expression of martial arts I’ve ever seen.”
Even after leaving the UFC, Johnson’s dominance continued beneath the ONE Championship banner. He went on to win the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix match earlier than claiming the ONE flyweight championship.
He additionally competed within the promotion’s first-ever mixed-rules bout, scoring a second-round submission victory over Muay Thai icon Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
