The most unappreciated fighters in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
Take any sports in the world; there will always be the superstars, the underdogs and the unappreciated athletes. There are men and women who work throughout their lives and do not get the recognition and respect they deserve for their hard work and effort.
Here is a rundown for the top 6 most unappreciated MMA fighters:
Johny Hendricks is an amateur wrestler who has a record of 8 wins in the MMA and has 0 losses; no doubt he has had a short career, but in the Welterweight division he is unbeaten till date. Experts say that Hendricks is one of the most unappreciated fighters of MMA even though he has demonstrated tremendous and amazing play especially after he knocked Amir Sadollah in the beginning of the first round of UFC 101 (and his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut).
Gerald Harris has fought a total of 19 fights out which he won 17 and lost only 2. He fights under the Middleweight division and has eliminated most of his opponents by knocking them out. Gerald’s original profession was actually a high school teacher, but it all changed when by accident one of his friends persuaded him to take part in a mixed martial arts exhibition; Gerald was desperate for money and so he did. After thrashing his opponent really badly, he realized he was good and started his professional career in 2006. Gerald’s last victorious fight was against Dave Branch, who he power slammed to the floor knocking him out instantly.
Evan Dunham, also known as 3-D, is an undefeated Lightweight champion weighing 70 kg standing at 5 feet 10 inches, who also holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His unheralded rise to prominence began in 2007 when he beat Gabriel Martinez in the second round by unanimous decision. Although Evan has a credible resume, the fact that he is unbeaten in his division, winning 11 matches with no losses, has been overlooked by the MMA world. He has taken down highly regarded fighters like Tyson Lee Griffin and veterans like Marcus Aurelio. Evan is scheduled to fight former UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk on 25th September, 2010, at UFC 119. Experts say that if he emerges the victor in this match, he might just get the recognition he deserves.
Michael Bisping is one of the most disruptive fighters in the MMA. The Englishman has a strong personality: he is either loved or hated, although for some reason the majority hates him. Experts say that could be because of his tea drinking habit. He might have an annoying personality, but he should be given credit for helping MMA flourish throughout the UK. He also has an impressive resume, with an astonishing number of 19 wins and only 3 losses till date. Michael has one of the most diverse style of fighting, including Kickboxing, Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Wrestling.
MMA pundits predict Jim Miller will be the next star in the UFC Lightweight division. He has a record of 17 wins with only 2 losses. He has won 6 professional matches in the UFC and lost only one, to Gray Maynard, yet he is not appreciated much by the organization. Experts say that he is quietly building his fortress, and will soon win a title and have a large fan following. However, as of now, not many people care about Mike and his regime in the UFC.
Hector Lombard: who is he? As most would ask. The Cuban-Australian fighter is a true veteran; he has 29 fights in his resume from which he has won 26. He fights in the Middleweight division and holds a black belt in Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Lombard has not lost a fight since 2006, and has won 18 consecutive fights with 1 fight which resulted in a draw against an Australian fighter named Kyle Noke. He has won 6 gold medals under the lightweight division and 1 in welterweight. Experts say that he is no doubt one of the most talented fighters out there with a Bellator Middleweight Title under him, but is hugely underappreciated even after such a stellar resume.
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