7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Nogueira was everything you could ask for in a mixed martial artist. He had terrific submission skills, strong boxing, a granite chin and the heart one needs to walk through hell in order to win. Nobody in the history of the sport showed as much grit or determination as Nogueira. Memorable “Minotauro” moments are too many to count, but he built his name in Pride Fighting Championships. His miraculous come-from-behind submission on the hulking Bob Sapp before more than 90,000 fans at Tokyo National Stadium in Japan was the stuff of legend. Many who watched Sapp slam around Nogueira feared for the Brazilian’s safety. However, he weathered the storm, snatched one of Sapp’s massive limbs and tapped him with a second-round armbar. Nogueira went on to submit Dan Henderson, Mirko Filipovic and Tim Sylvia. He suffered just four defeats in his first 36 fights, all by decision: one to Henderson, one to Josh Barnett and two to Fedor Emelianenko. Nogueira arrived in the UFC a shell of his former self but still managed victories over Heath Herring, Tim Sylvia, Randy Couture, Brendan Schaub and Dave Herman. He remained a must-see attraction right up until his retirement in 2014.
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