Jiri Prochazka has listed the top five MMA “GOATs,” including lightweight contender Charles Oliveira and former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor.
Before tonight’s thrilling fight against Alex Pereira, the light-heavyweight champion gave RMC Sport access to his list. Prochazka enters the fight fresh off a victory over Glover Teixeira, although he has been out of action for more than a year due to a shoulder injury.
The former 205-pound champion had some time before tonight’s exciting main event to sit down and rank the greatest five MMA fighters of all time. Many fans were taken aback by his selections.
Although McGregor is credited with popularising mixed martial arts, the Irishman has never defended a title. When “The Notorious” defeated Jose Aldo to win the featherweight title in 2015, he achieved his first UFC victory. The 35-year-old overcame Eddie Alvarez to win the lightweight title a year later. By doing this, McGregor made promotion history as the first two-division simultaneous champion.
The Irish fighter hasn’t competed since he was severely injured in his leg during his 2021 first-round loss to Dustin Poirier.
Regarding Oliveira, the Brazilian was considered a bit of a gatekeeper at 145, but after moving up to lightweight, he defeated Michael Chandler at UFC 262 to capture the championship. It would take him two defences of the belt before Islam Makhachev toppled him. Even though the 34-year-old is enjoyable to watch, many people were startled to see him on Prochazka’s list.
Not unexpectedly, Fedor Emelianenko completed the list, with Jon Jones and Georges St-Pierre also listed.
Legends in the MMA world like Anderson Silva and Demetrious Johnson were left off the list, and some fans think Khabib Nurmagomedov should have been included as well.
Silva is regarded as a genuine mixed martial arts pioneer, and Johnson has made the second-most title defences in UFC history with eleven.
Nurmagomedov gave up mixed martial arts in 2020 following his victory against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. With a 29-0 professional record, the former lightweight champion announced his retirement from competition.
Jose Aldo might also experience some resentment. Before losing to McGregor, the former featherweight champion, who once went ten years without a loss, ruled the 145-pound class for many years.
It is hardly surprising that Jones is on the list, as was previously mentioned. ‘Bones’ went up to heavyweight earlier this year and fought Ciryl Gane to become a two-division champion after proving he was the best fighter at 205 pounds.
‘Bones’ was forced out of the bout after sustaining a terrible injury while training. Jones was scheduled to defend his belt against Stipe Miocic tonight.
Another legendary figure in sports is St-Pierre. With a 26-2 record, the former two-division champion announced his retirement from the sport back in 2017.
Even though Emelianenko never competed for the UFC, his time with Pride will always be remembered as one of the most memorable periods in mixed martial arts history.
Prochazka is totally focused ahead of his matchup with Pereira in New York, despite his contentious roster.
He will make an effort to reclaim the UFC title that he graciously relinquished following one of the worst shoulder injuries his employers had ever seen.
Prior to UFC 295, Prochazka made an exclusive statement to Mail Sport, stating, “I want to enjoy the present moment in the cage.” “It is possible to do that, but I never, ever, ever did that.” You perform significantly better and enter a state of flow when you do it. Being the “doing” rather than just doing it is the performance.
To identify the best strategy to employ against my rival, the ideal location, and the weak point.
And for that reason, I adore this game. I want to prove that I am the champion as I have overcome numerous difficult times.
‘My motivation has shifted. Because, in my opinion, that is how humans organically learn to view a different, more significant target than they did before.