Counting down to the best MMA fighter of all time

#1 George St. Pierre (2002 to present)

GSP: Achievements unrivalled in MMA

The greatest Welterweight in company history, Canadian, George St. Pierre or GSP, is also the greatest fighter in UFC history.

Debuting in the Octagon, at UFC 46, back in January 2004, GSP quickly worked his way up the ranks, earning a Welterweight Championship shot at Matt Hughes at UFC 50 on October 22nd that same year. Although GSP came up short on that occasion, he put Hughes on notice that he was a serious contender for that crown.

On the 18th November 2006, GSP finally defeated Hughes to take the Welterweight crown. From there, he shockingly lost the belt during his first defense to Matt Serra before reclaiming it in another bout with Hughes at UFC 79 in December 2007. GSP then defended that title an incredible 10 times, building up a winning streak of 12 consecutive victories before he announced an extended leave from the sport citing burnout, following victory over Johnny Hendricks at UFC 167 in November 2013.

In February 2017, it was announced that GSP had signed a new multi-year deal with the UFC. His comeback began with a bang. In his first MMA fight in four years, he defeated Michael Bisping for the Middleweight Championship in a stunning bout which concluded when GSP submitted the Champion with a rear naked choke.

In doing so, he became only the fourth UFC fighter in history to win titles in different weight classes and also equalled Bisping’s UFC record of 20 victories in the promotion.

GSP vacated the belt soon afterward due to a bout of ulcerative colitis. He has still npy yet returned at time of writing. However, when he does return, there is no telling what the greatest ever can further achieve. Bouts versus Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov have been mooted. Do not bet against GSP continuing to add to his legacy for many more years yet.