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The current era of combat sports, dominated by superstars like Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya and Khabib Nurmagomedov, has brought several new fans to the UFC.
As the promotion and the sport of MMA continue to grow, fans have found solace in supporting their favorite fighters through thick and thin. The UFC has never been more popular than it is now, and it's important to recognize the efforts of the men who've brought the organization to where it is today.
Here are five UFC fighters from the previous generation all new fans should know about. Interestingly, all five have been inducted into the UFC's Hall of Fame for their contributions to the promotion and MMA as a whole.
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#5 Former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten
Bas Rutten fought only twice in the UFC (his final professional fight was under the WFA banner, which the UFC later bought out). But 'El Guapo' left an indelible impact on the sport of MMA, resulting in UFC president Dana White inducting him into the Pioneer Wing of the Hall of Fame.
Rutten competed in Japan's Pancrase for most of his career, losing only four fights - to Ken Shamrock (twice), Frank Shamrock and Masakatsu Funaki. The Dutchman won the King of Pancrase Openweight Championship in a promotion which had rules that seem awfully strange now - submissions could be stopped by grasping the ring's rope at the cost of a point; closed-fist punches to standing opponents weren't allowed; ground-and-pound was allowed but not encouraged.
Nevertheless, Rutten worked hard to improve his ground game, which proved to be his undoing during most of his early fights in Pancrase. He eventually managed to complement his lethal kickboxing with a decent submission offense, making a name for himself as a fast learner and a dangerous fighter.
Rutten made his UFC debut in 1999 and won the vacant heavyweight title in his second fight, beating Kevin Randleman in a slightly controversial decision. He would fight only once more before injuries forced him to retire from professional competition, but his contribution to the sport cannot be brushed under the carpet.
#4 Former UFC superfight champion Ken Shamrock
![Ken Shamrock [L] competing at UFC 1: The Beginning](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/07/ae53e-16265227771253-800.jpg)
One of the biggest names in the early stages of the UFC, Ken Shamrock competed professionally well after the age of 50 to slightly diminish his legacy. However, over the course of a storied MMA career, 'The World's Most Dangerous Man' became the first UFC Superfight Champion, the first King of Pancrase, a WMMAA Champion and a PRIDE Grand Prix 2000 Finals Winner.
Shamrock's rivalries with Royce Gracie, Tito Ortiz and Dan Severn were immense for the UFC in its early days. Under the Pancrase banner, the California native competed against names like Bas Rutten, Masakatsu Funaki and Kimo Leopoldo.
One of the first American torchbearers in the UFC, Shamrock used his exceptional grappling skills to secure 22 submission wins in his MMA career and was one of the best fighters in the world during his prime. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in November 2003.
#3 Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes
Widely regarded as a top-two UFC welterweight of all time, Matt Hughes was the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world during his first reign as a UFC champion. An accomplished wrestler who was the only person to submit Georges St-Pierre, he brutalized his opponents with ground-and-pound and ushered in an era of wrestling-dominant fighters in the UFC.
Hughes was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame's Pioneer Wing in 2010, and his rematch against Frank Trigg holds a place in the Fight Wing. He defended his welterweight title a total of seven times and holds the record for the most finishes in the UFC welterweight division (11).
Known for his patented slam, Hughes amassed 18 wins in the UFC, putting together an incredible streak in the early part of the 21st century. His fights with St-Pierre, BJ Penn, Carlos Newton and Royce Gracie are etched in MMA history.
#2 Former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Randy Couture
The first UFC fighter to win the title in two separate divisions, Randy Couture enjoyed a storied MMA career spanning 14 years. 'The Natural' was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in June 2006, following which he fought eight times in the promotion.
Couture holds several impressive records. He is the oldest fighter to win a UFC title (43 years and 255 days) and won four championship fights after turning 40. He has also competed in the most championship fights in UFC history (15), putting on six championship reigns and main eventing 18 times.
Couture beat legends like Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfort in the UFC, and faced other top-tier competitors like Brock Lesnar, Lyoto Machida and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
#1 Royce Gracie
Arguably the most influential figure in the history of MMA, jiu-jitsu legend Royce Gracie shaped the sport as we know it today. The Brazilian, who won the UFC 1, UFC 2 and UFC 4 tournaments, was the first inductee in the UFC Hall of Fame.
Gracie participated in the longest fight in UFC history (36 minutes) against Ken Shamrock at UFC 5. Using his incredible submission skills to beat considerably bigger fighters who hadn't been exposed to the world of grappling, he introduced a new aspect of MMA to the world.
Gracie's legacy is often contested by critics, but there's no doubting the fact that the UFC wouldn't be anywhere near where it is right now if not for his contributions.
