Fighters to Watch in the Next Decade
Dec 31, 2009
The past decade saw a karate master take over the light heavyweight
division, a professional wrestler rise to the top of the UFC and a
once scrawny welterweight transform into greatest middleweight the
sport has ever seen. If those are any indications, then trying to
predict which fighters will rule the decade to come could be more
pointless than trying to take down Vegas.
What follows is a rundown of the six fighters on whom I’m banking to become the faces of the sport -- a heady mix of established stars, some elite prospects and a few dark horses that could surprise everyone.
Jose
Aldo
Age: 23
Promotion: World Extreme Cagefighting
Class: Featherweight
With just 17 professional fights under his belt, Aldo is already universally recognized as the best featherweight on the planet. During his ascent, he has accumulated a highlight reel that could fill an entire episode of SportsCenter. Age really makes Aldo the fighter to keep an eye on. At just 23, “Junior” finds himself in a unique position to become the first truly great featherweight of the modern mixed martial arts era.
His path seems like something out of a cheap Lifetime movie, considering Aldo grew up as one of the millions of Brazilians living in abject poverty -- poverty so crushing that his teammates would buy him food just to make sure their friend would not starving to death. Despite those horrific circumstances, Aldo has grown into an exceptionally personable and respectful fighter who approaches his craft with a calm that seems more suited to a professional assassin. That incredible life story, everyman charm and singular athletic talent make Aldo the favorite to become the fighter who defines the upcoming decade come and makes featherweight fights must-see TV.
Jon Jones
Age: 22
Promotion: UFC
Class: Light Heavyweight
Imagine a video game character come to life, and you have a good idea of what it’s like to watch Jones compete inside the cage. Known for a repertoire of incredible throws and sweeps, backed by a striking game that features moves like spinning back elbows, he seems the kind of fighter who could redefine the modern mixed martial artist.
While Jones’ synthesis of technique and talent made him a highlight reel regular long ago, his decision to train with Greg Jackson and Firas Zahabi may be remembered as the move that made him a superstar. With two of the sport’s best trainers by his side, the decade to come could be the one in which Jones makes the transition from exceptional talent to unforgettable fighter.
Current light heavyweight juggernauts like champion Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Rua will undoubtedly have something to say about how far Jones goes, but that day remains a bit further down the road. For the time being, fans will have to be content with watching Jones do his thing in spectacular fashion -- not a bad consolation prize.
Muhammed Lawal
Age: 28
Promotion: Strikeforce
Class: Light Heavyweight
Everyone recognizes Lawal’s considerable skills, inside and outside the cage. Just listen to him talk long enough, and he invariably delivers a monologue on his own greatness that’s equal parts Muhammad Ali and Allen Iverson. From his royal court of honeys to a penchant for gaudy gold accessories, everything about “King Mo” screams towering monument to self-promotion.
While everyone from Shonie Carter to Phil Baroni has gone the Ric Flair route, Lawal has the talent to back up his oversized ego, which seems more of a carefully calculated ploy than an actual reflection of his character. Already a big part of Strikeforce’s future plans, Lawal has been nothing short of dominant in every one of his six professional bouts despite consistently facing far more experienced fighters.
The natural inclination is to give credit to Lawal’s stellar collegiate and international wrestling credentials, but, in reality, Lawal has shown a preternatural inclination for this sport. That, more than anything else, makes him a superstar in the making. Let us hope his management team can convince him to compete at his more natural weight of 205 pounds, rather than risking unnecessary misadventures against the behemoths populating the heavyweight class.
Gegard Mousasi
Age: 24
Promotion: Strikeforce
Class: Light Heavyweight
The beauty of a sport as dynamic as MMA is that charisma is better expressed inside the cage than on the microphone. There can be no better example of this axiom than Mousasi, who, despite having the personality of drying paint, has become a fan favorite thanks to a unique fighting style and a flair for the exotic.
Hitting leg sweeps off one’s back as easily as one uncorks a high kick will secure one plenty of followers, and Mousasi’s ability to keep his opponents perpetually off guard while staying remarkably composed sets him apart from so many of his contemporaries. That trend looks like it will continue in the decade to come, as Mousasi has only now started to find his groove at light heavyweight and has made no secret of his plans to move to the heavyweight class someday.
Those are bold aspirations for a 24-year-old, but you will scarcely find one more equipped to fulfill them. Watching how this once unknown Armenian handles the Herculean task he has assigned himself will be one of the definitive stories of the next 10 years.
Ben Askren
Age: 25
Promotion: Bellator Fighting Championships
Class: Welterweight
A few years back, the forum masses were sent into hysterics when a video surfaced of Askren, then a Div. I collegiate wrestling champion, training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The more level-headed among us thought the idea of Askren competing in MMA was intriguing but not worth starting a fan club, considering he was already regarded as a shoo-in for the 2008 United States Olympic wrestling team.
While Askren’s Olympic dreams ended on a bitter note when he failed to medal at the 2008 Summer Games, his MMA career has only just started to bloom; his decision to train with American Top team has clearly paid dividends. Considered by his trainers to be a natural on the mats, Askren’s unorthodox wrestling style transitions beautifully to MMA, as the newfound freedom to use submissions seems to have created a synergy absent from the game of most any wrestling convert.
The idea of a truly world-class wrestler rapidly absorbing the intricacies of Brazilian jiu-jitsu has remained little more than a pipe dream, but Askren might be the man who brings that archetype to life. If nothing else, it will be fun to watch him bust out moves that leave opponents wondering how in the world some white kid with an afro can throw them around like ragdolls.
Cain Velasquez
Age: 27
Promotion: UFC
Class: Heavyweight
Legitimate heavyweight prospects have become the Holy Grail, fountain of youth and universal solvent all rolled into one. Those reasons alone are enough to land Velasquez on this list, as he backs his 6-foot-1, 245-pound frame with dominant wrestling skills and a thirst to learn that has made him far more polished than most mortal up-and-comers.
In a division where fighters mostly rely on a single skill set or pure brute force to win, Velasquez represents a welcome breath of fresh air, as he utilizes actual technique and strategy to defeat foes. Considering the American Kickboxing Academy’s strong history of converting collegiate wrestlers into elite mixed martial artists, it seems like everything has been perfectly aligned for Velasquez to be the heavyweight who takes over once the 30-plus crowd currently ruling the division loses steam.
Only one worry exists about Velasquez’s future. Because his management team simply could not convince anyone to fight him on the local circuit, he was thrust into the UFC early in his development and has already launched himself into title contention. One sure-fire way to ruin a prospect is to throw him into the deep end of the pool before he’s ready, and no one can be sure if Velasquez will be ready to make that quantum leap. The MMA world will find out soon enough when he takes on heavyweight legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 110 in February.
What follows is a rundown of the six fighters on whom I’m banking to become the faces of the sport -- a heady mix of established stars, some elite prospects and a few dark horses that could surprise everyone.
Advertisement
Age: 23
Promotion: World Extreme Cagefighting
Class: Featherweight
With just 17 professional fights under his belt, Aldo is already universally recognized as the best featherweight on the planet. During his ascent, he has accumulated a highlight reel that could fill an entire episode of SportsCenter. Age really makes Aldo the fighter to keep an eye on. At just 23, “Junior” finds himself in a unique position to become the first truly great featherweight of the modern mixed martial arts era.
Already a dynamic striker with bulletproof takedown defense and a
Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from the vaunted Nova Uniao camp,
Aldo’s talents are borderline preposterous, and he may not reach
his physical peak until the midway point of this decade. Consider
it an especially interesting possibility since Aldo’s praying
mantis frame already has fans wondering about a potential future in
the lightweight division.
His path seems like something out of a cheap Lifetime movie, considering Aldo grew up as one of the millions of Brazilians living in abject poverty -- poverty so crushing that his teammates would buy him food just to make sure their friend would not starving to death. Despite those horrific circumstances, Aldo has grown into an exceptionally personable and respectful fighter who approaches his craft with a calm that seems more suited to a professional assassin. That incredible life story, everyman charm and singular athletic talent make Aldo the favorite to become the fighter who defines the upcoming decade come and makes featherweight fights must-see TV.
Jon Jones
Age: 22
Promotion: UFC
Class: Light Heavyweight
Imagine a video game character come to life, and you have a good idea of what it’s like to watch Jones compete inside the cage. Known for a repertoire of incredible throws and sweeps, backed by a striking game that features moves like spinning back elbows, he seems the kind of fighter who could redefine the modern mixed martial artist.
While Jones’ synthesis of technique and talent made him a highlight reel regular long ago, his decision to train with Greg Jackson and Firas Zahabi may be remembered as the move that made him a superstar. With two of the sport’s best trainers by his side, the decade to come could be the one in which Jones makes the transition from exceptional talent to unforgettable fighter.
Current light heavyweight juggernauts like champion Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Rua will undoubtedly have something to say about how far Jones goes, but that day remains a bit further down the road. For the time being, fans will have to be content with watching Jones do his thing in spectacular fashion -- not a bad consolation prize.
Muhammed Lawal
Age: 28
Promotion: Strikeforce
Class: Light Heavyweight
Everyone recognizes Lawal’s considerable skills, inside and outside the cage. Just listen to him talk long enough, and he invariably delivers a monologue on his own greatness that’s equal parts Muhammad Ali and Allen Iverson. From his royal court of honeys to a penchant for gaudy gold accessories, everything about “King Mo” screams towering monument to self-promotion.
While everyone from Shonie Carter to Phil Baroni has gone the Ric Flair route, Lawal has the talent to back up his oversized ego, which seems more of a carefully calculated ploy than an actual reflection of his character. Already a big part of Strikeforce’s future plans, Lawal has been nothing short of dominant in every one of his six professional bouts despite consistently facing far more experienced fighters.
The natural inclination is to give credit to Lawal’s stellar collegiate and international wrestling credentials, but, in reality, Lawal has shown a preternatural inclination for this sport. That, more than anything else, makes him a superstar in the making. Let us hope his management team can convince him to compete at his more natural weight of 205 pounds, rather than risking unnecessary misadventures against the behemoths populating the heavyweight class.
Gegard Mousasi
Age: 24
Promotion: Strikeforce
Class: Light Heavyweight
The beauty of a sport as dynamic as MMA is that charisma is better expressed inside the cage than on the microphone. There can be no better example of this axiom than Mousasi, who, despite having the personality of drying paint, has become a fan favorite thanks to a unique fighting style and a flair for the exotic.
Hitting leg sweeps off one’s back as easily as one uncorks a high kick will secure one plenty of followers, and Mousasi’s ability to keep his opponents perpetually off guard while staying remarkably composed sets him apart from so many of his contemporaries. That trend looks like it will continue in the decade to come, as Mousasi has only now started to find his groove at light heavyweight and has made no secret of his plans to move to the heavyweight class someday.
Those are bold aspirations for a 24-year-old, but you will scarcely find one more equipped to fulfill them. Watching how this once unknown Armenian handles the Herculean task he has assigned himself will be one of the definitive stories of the next 10 years.
Ben Askren
Age: 25
Promotion: Bellator Fighting Championships
Class: Welterweight
A few years back, the forum masses were sent into hysterics when a video surfaced of Askren, then a Div. I collegiate wrestling champion, training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The more level-headed among us thought the idea of Askren competing in MMA was intriguing but not worth starting a fan club, considering he was already regarded as a shoo-in for the 2008 United States Olympic wrestling team.
While Askren’s Olympic dreams ended on a bitter note when he failed to medal at the 2008 Summer Games, his MMA career has only just started to bloom; his decision to train with American Top team has clearly paid dividends. Considered by his trainers to be a natural on the mats, Askren’s unorthodox wrestling style transitions beautifully to MMA, as the newfound freedom to use submissions seems to have created a synergy absent from the game of most any wrestling convert.
The idea of a truly world-class wrestler rapidly absorbing the intricacies of Brazilian jiu-jitsu has remained little more than a pipe dream, but Askren might be the man who brings that archetype to life. If nothing else, it will be fun to watch him bust out moves that leave opponents wondering how in the world some white kid with an afro can throw them around like ragdolls.
Cain Velasquez
Age: 27
Promotion: UFC
Class: Heavyweight
Legitimate heavyweight prospects have become the Holy Grail, fountain of youth and universal solvent all rolled into one. Those reasons alone are enough to land Velasquez on this list, as he backs his 6-foot-1, 245-pound frame with dominant wrestling skills and a thirst to learn that has made him far more polished than most mortal up-and-comers.
In a division where fighters mostly rely on a single skill set or pure brute force to win, Velasquez represents a welcome breath of fresh air, as he utilizes actual technique and strategy to defeat foes. Considering the American Kickboxing Academy’s strong history of converting collegiate wrestlers into elite mixed martial artists, it seems like everything has been perfectly aligned for Velasquez to be the heavyweight who takes over once the 30-plus crowd currently ruling the division loses steam.
Only one worry exists about Velasquez’s future. Because his management team simply could not convince anyone to fight him on the local circuit, he was thrust into the UFC early in his development and has already launched himself into title contention. One sure-fire way to ruin a prospect is to throw him into the deep end of the pool before he’s ready, and no one can be sure if Velasquez will be ready to make that quantum leap. The MMA world will find out soon enough when he takes on heavyweight legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 110 in February.
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